When you win football games with the alarming regularity associated with the top team in football, it is something of a shock if you lose two in a row.
Certainly, no realistic sports betting fan would have put betting odds on La Liga debutants Girona shocking Real Madrid last weekend.
And fewer would have expected them to be so out of sorts again little over 72 hours later, even if their Champions League defeat to Spurs wasn’t a shock of the same proportions.
Surely Las Palmas can’t make lightning strike three times in a week?
WEEK 11 SATURDAY:
Real Betis vs Getafe
Newly promoted Getafe will be thrilled with their start to the season.
They’re certainly continuing the theme of the new boys exceeding expectations in the top flight.
What chance does the 11th-placed side have of getting a good result against Europe chasing Betis?
Valencia vs Leganes
The second-placed side are flying with the front pairing of Rodrigo Moreno and Simone Zaza scoring at a better rate than many Champions League outfits.
A total of 27 goals in 10 games have brought a sense of optimism back to the club.
Leganes will not be pushovers. They went more than 500 minutes without conceding until Wissam Ben Yedder breached their rearguard last weekend.
Deportivo La Coruna vs Atletico Madrid
There’s no doubt Champions League elimination would prove costly for Atletico, yet it remains a real possibility,
The domestic form for Diego Simeone’s side is hardly a consolation right now, even if they remain undefeated.
How Los Colchoneros could do with three points to try and keep hold of the fourth spot.
WEEK 11 SUNDAY:
Alaves vs RCD Espanyol
The bottom club badly needs to get going.
Already five points from safety, the hosts will target mid-table Espanyol as a must-win clash.
Their narrow defeat to Valencia last weekend proved they have more to offer.
Barcelona vs Sevilla
This is the big game of the week.
Barca must be thrilled at the poor form of their arch rivals – they would have dreamt of holding an eight-point lead over Real going into November.
Sevilla, boosted by their crucial Champions League victory over Spartak Moscow, will face a team missing Sergi Roberto and, likely, Andres Iniesta.
Levante vs Girona
Deadlocked on 12 points, both clubs should be more than pleased with the early part of 2017/18.
But all the focus at this moment in time must be on Girona, as their defeat of Real Madrid sent shockwaves throughout Europe.
A trip to Levante may seem anti-climactic after such an unforgettable triumph.
Celta Vigo vs Athletic Bilbao
These teams would have hoped to have been placed much higher 10 games into the campaign.
They’ve been perennial European hopefuls in recent years but have work to do this time.
One of Bilbao’s immediate priorities must be to tie goalkeeper Kepa Arrrizabalaga to a new contract.
WEEK 11 MONDAY:
Real Sociedad vs Eibar
Sociedad have one win in five and need to kick on.
Eibar have the edge above the bottom three and may need to show the character they displayed last weekend over the course of the next six months.
Their fightback to earn a point at Levante showed why we should all respect La Liga’s smallest club.
Villarreal vs Malaga
After drawing 1-1 at Atletico, the Yellow Submarine will be confident of seeing off second-from-bottom Malaga.
Malaga go into this one in good spirits, though.
Their first win of the season – a 2-1 success against Celta Vigo last weekend – could be the lift Michel’s boys need.
Real Madrid vs Las Palmas
This is a home banker right?
Just like their visit to Girona was an away cert, right?
Los Blancos may be eight points off the summit, but their performance can’t be as poor as their last two outings.
Manager Zinedine Zidane admits he likes a challenge, and his side can re-charge against lowly Las Palmas.
To say this week has been a mini-slump may be true; to suggest it’s a crisis is over the top.
Of course, life is always OTT at Madrid!
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