La Liga preview

Real Madrid have the perfect opportunity to extend their lead at the top of La Liga this weekend as Barcelona and Sevilla face tough trips.

Zinedine Zidane’s men can double their three-point advantage when they host second-from-bottom Granada, knowing their closest rivals are up against two of the most challenging away days in the league.

Here’s a look at the three headline clashes…

Real Madrid v Granada (Saturday, 12pm, live on Sky Sports 2)

The Bernabeu faithful could be forgiven for complacency as their home side look to extend their remarkable unbeaten run against struggling Granada.

They arrive on a 38-match undefeated run in all competitions and kicked off 2017 convincingly with a 3-0 Copa del Rey victory over Sevilla, with James Rodriguez showing resolution to nail down a starting berth with a brace.

The visitors, in contrast, started the new year as they finished 2016 with another 2-0 loss, going down to the only side lower than them in La Liga, Osasuna. That leaves them winless on the road this season, with 23 goals shipped in their eight league trips.

A slither of hope can be taken from their shock 2-1 win over Sevilla as the start of December, while they only lost by a single-goal margin in both of last season’s meetings with the European champions.

Real will be out to entertain those braving the rare single-figure temperatures in the capital, so the visitors should have opportunities to grab a consolation, a case supported by Zidane’s side enjoying just six clean sheets from their 18 victories this season.

Sky Bet prediction: Real Madrid to win and both teams to score – 5/4 

Real Sociedad v Sevilla (Saturday, 7.45pm, live on Sky …

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