La Liga Preview: Betis and Bilbao bring goals

Castro dictates the play for Real Betis
Tobias Gourlay is keeping stakes small for the Barcelona and Real Madrid matches this weekend, but going large on goals elsewhere
Real Betis v Espanyol
Saturday 19.00 BST
Betis 2.0421/20 Espanyol 4.03/1 draw 3.65n/a
This column takes the view that Ruben Castro is the main man for Betis, and Opta is right with us, announcing this week that no Spaniard has scored more La Liga goals in 2012 than his 13.
Castro missed the Verdiblancos' first home game of the season and they lost 1-0 to Rayo Vallecano. He's back now and they should do rather better against Espanyol.
Mauricio Pochettino is in charge of the Parakeets and, as an old centre-half, is pulling out his feathers at the team's defensive performances. They've taken the lead in each of their last three matches, but ended up with only one point from nine. They lost their season opener too and are joint bottom of the table.
Betis' win price is beyond evens and has some appeal, but it's the goals markets that hold the standout bets on Saturday evening's game. Both teams have scored in all four of Espanyol's matches so far, all of which have gone Over 2.5 Goals. Only the singular Athletic Bilbao (see below) have been more goal-laden this term. Two of Betis' three outings have paid out the same bet.
Recommended Bet
Back Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.9620/21
Barcelona v Granada
Saturday 21.00 BST (Live on Sky Sports 4)
Barcelona 1.071/14 Granada 75.074/1 draw 17.016/1
Gerard Pique has hobbled over to the sidelines, joining Carles Puyol on the injured list and leaving Tito Vilanova a touch short of central defenders. Javier Mascherano has been playing in the middle of defence for a while now and usually does OK, but it is not clear how good a chaperone he will be for Alex Song, who is new to the position but seems like to start alongside him against Granada.
Barcelona are winning matches - 4/4 in the league so far and 1/1 in Europe - and it's hard to oppose them while Leo Messi - ten goals in seven games - is in such good form. If the little man starts, think about backing him to score twice or more. He's notched four braces already this season.
Whether Messi is there or not, the price on Both Teams to Score is a good one. Barca have kept only one clean sheet in seven matches and, although Granada have been a little short on goals so far, they are creating chances and the accuracy of their radar should improve soon.
Recommended Bet
Back Both Teams to Score @ 2.77/4
Athletic Bilbao v Malaga
Sunday 18.50 (Live on Sky Sports 1)
Athletic 2.47/5 Malaga 3.55/2 draw 3.259/4
We're keeping stakes small for the Big Two, so there's room to highlight an opportunity in one of the weekend's other televised game, which should be worth 90 minutes of anyone's Saturday night.
Marcelo Bielsa made quite an impact in his first season at Athletic Bilbao, electrifying a team full of young talent. They dazzled in two cup competitions, but fizzled out in the finals. Javi Martinez was sold to Bayern Munich in the summer and their other star, Fernando Llorente, has made it clear he'd like to leave as soon as possible. A remodelled team has won only one of its four league games to date.
This weekend they are depleted in defence. Even without a novice left-back they are conceding at a rate of three goals a game. At the other end, wantaway Llorente scored on his return to the side last week, but faces stiff competition from the underrated Aritz Aduriz for a starting spot in Bielsa's one-striker system.
Muniain and Susaeta can supply more than enough bullets from midfield to trouble Malaga's defence, even if Manuel Pellegrini's men have won two previous away games 1-0.
The Anchovies were supposed to sink without trace once their financial problems were revealed in the summer, but there's a good man in charge and the players are relishing the opportunity to play in the Champions League.
Isco might be the most exciting of all Spain's young prospects and he can now benefit from playing with the former Barcelona and Real Madrid forward Javier Saviola, who marked his debut with a goal and an assist last time out.
Attack should beat defence at both ends this weekend and Over 2.5 Goals appeals at 1.9620/21. If you are concerned that four of the teams' last six meetings have finished 1-1, take Both Teams to Score at 1.728/11.
Recommended Bet
Back Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.9620/21
Rayo Vallecano v Real Madrid
Sunday 20.30 BST (Live on Sky Sports 1)
Rayo 11.5n/a Real 1.331/3 draw 5.95/1
Something's not quite right with the champions. Sergio Ramos' demotion for Tuesday's game with Manchester City suggests there is dissent in the ranks.
Jose Mourinho must quash it immediately because Real have slipped eight points behind Barcelona. With both sides expected to win 30-odd games a season now, that's a helluva gap.
The win from behind against City might be the catalyst for an improvement and this is a fixture in which Real have a good record, winning each of their eight meetings with Rayo.
Rayo made them work hard for a 1-0 victory here last season and Under 2.5 Goals might be worth a small bet this time. There has been a single goal in two matches at Vallecas so far.
Real's four league outings to date have produced only nine goals in total. Opta is keen to remind Gonzalo Higuain in particular that he is underperforming: he has missed seven 'big chances' this season and that's more than anyone else in the league.
Karim Benzema, his rival for a starting spot, found the back of the net on Tuesday, but that was his first goal in 14 games for club and country.
Recommended Bet
Back Under 2.5 Goals @ 2.77/4