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La Liga round 3 Preview: Atletico Madrid looking to make up lost ground early on

Oddshark

The third round of La Liga action kicks off this weekend with title contenders Atletico Madrid already needing to make up lost ground on their rivals. The club from the capital have four points from two games and will be looking for all three when they travel to take on Celta Vigo this coming Saturday (1 September).

First things first

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Celta Vigo have made an identical start to Atletico this season. The two clubs both have a win and a draw from two games played, and this could be a close one to call.

Both clubs drew their first match before taking all three points in the second, and with home advantage Celta may well fancy their chances of making it two wins in a row. The side won 2-1 away to Levante last time out and will be looking to build up momentum.

When it comes to the head to head record between these sides, however, Atletico have a clear advantage. The Madrid club have won 11 of the last 26 meetings between the two teams and in this fixture last season earned a narrow 1-0 win.

And it is Atletico who come into this game as clear favourites to win their second successive match of the campaign. The visitors are at just 1.70 to take all three points, while Celta are at 5.50 to do the same – a repeat of last year’s 1-0 win for Atletico is priced at 6.00, while you can back under 2.5 goals in the game at just 1.70, according to Oddsshark.

Real Madrid look to maintain 100 per cent start

New boss Julen Lopetegui has made an encouraging start to life at Real Madrid, and his side sit top of the table after two rounds. Los Blancos have scored an impressive six goals so far and will be in the mood for more when Leganes visit the Bernabeu on Saturday.

Leganes have picked up a solitary point and things are unlikely to get any easier for the minnows when they visit the home of the current European champions. A point would be seen as an excellent result but even that is probably too much to ask.

Real are overwhelming favourites for this one and are priced at just 1.14 to make it three league wins in a row to kick off their title challenge. Leganes, meanwhile, are out at 17.00 to pick up a shock win, with even a draw priced high at 7.50.

This would look to be all about how many Real will score and a 4-0 thrashing is priced competitively at 8.00, meaning that a US$5 bet would lead to a US$40 pay out. Meanwhile, you can back Real to win to nil (without Leganes scoring) at just 1.66.

Barcelona will want to keep up with Real

While Real can apply pressure to current La Liga champions Barcelona by winning on the Saturday, the Catalan giants will be looking for three points of their own against Huesca on Sunday afternoon. Barça have already made a 100 per cent start to the season and, while they may not have scored as many goals as Real, they are yet to concede.

Beyond all expectations Huesca have made an encouraging start to the season and have collected four points from their opening two games. First came a 2-1 win against Eibar before they held Athletic Bilbao to a 2-2 draw and, despite the difference in technical quality, they will be no pushovers.

Nevertheless, it is champions Barcelona who come in as the red hot favourites to maintain their 100 per cent record this season. The home side are at just 1.083 to take the points, with Huesca all the way out at 24.00 to record what would probably be the shock result of the year.

A comprehensive, 3-0 win for the home side is priced at 7.00. And Argentine ace Lionel Messi is at just 1.25 to get on the score sheet, while you can back him at 2.87 to score either the first or last goal of the game.

La Liga round 3 fixtures:

Friday, 31 August

(1.70) Getafe x Valladolid (5.50); draw (3.40)

(2.87) Eibar x Real Sociedad (2.50); draw (3.20)

(1.57) Villarreal x Girona (6.00); draw (3.80)

Saturday, 1 September

(5.50) Celta Vigo x Atletico Madrid (1.70); draw (3.40)

(1.14) Real Madrid x Leganes (17.00); draw (7.50)

Sunday, 2 September

(3.80) Levante x Valencia (2.00); draw (3.30)

(2.80) Alaves x Espanyol (2.62); draw (3.10)

(1.083) Barcelona x Huesca (24.00); draw (10.00)

(2.90) Real Betis x Sevilla (2.37); draw (3.40)