Saturday's La Liga predictions including Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid

Espanyol vs. Mallorca (Saturday, 1.00pm)

Both Espanyol and Mallorca will be bidding to make it back-to-back victories in Spain's top flight when they lock horns at RCDE Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The home side will enter the contest off the back of a 1-0 win over Elche, while Mallorca recorded a 4-2 victory over Villarreal in their last league match.

We say: Espanyol 1-1 Mallorca

Mallorca's away form in recent weeks has been very disappointing, but Espanyol have the second-worst record in front of their own fans this season. Both sides will enter this match off the back of a win, but we are struggling to separate them and have therefore had to settle on a low-scoring draw.

Cadiz vs. Rayo Vallecano (Saturday, 3.15pm)

Rayo Vallecano will be bidding to stretch their unbeaten run in La Liga to five matches when they travel to Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla on Saturday afternoon to face Cadiz.

The visitors are currently 18th in the table, having picked up 22 points from their opening 22 games of the season, while Rayo are up in sixth position, two points ahead of seventh-placed Athletic Bilbao.

We say: Cadiz 1-1 Rayo Vallecano

Cadiz's recent home form must be respected, and we are therefore finding it difficult to back an away victory in this match. Rayo are enjoying an excellent campaign, though, so it is tough to back them to lose. As a result, we have had to settle on a low-scoring draw, which would not be the end of the world for either team.

Real Madrid vs. Atletico (Saturday, 5.30pm)

The latest instalment of the Madrid derby will take place at Bernabeu on Saturday evening, with Real Madrid welcoming bitter rivals Atletico Madrid in Spain's top flight.

The home side are currently second in the table, eight points behind division leaders Barcelona, while Atletico occupy fourth position, just four points ahead of fifth-placed Real Betis in the race for the top four.

We say: Real Madrid 2-1 Atletico Madrid

Atletico are unbeaten in their last six league matches, winning four of their last five, and they will have been preparing for this game since the clash with Athletic ended. Real Madrid, on the other hand, have had their focus elsewhere in the build-up, which could hand the visitors an advantage.

This is not the same Atletico team from previous years, though, and we are expecting Ancelotti's side to navigate their way to an important three points this weekend.

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Valencia vs. Real Sociedad (Saturday, 8.00pm)

Valencia will be bidding to halt a five-game losing run in Spain's top flight on Saturday evening when they welcome high-flying Real Sociedad to Mestalla.

Los Che are currently 19th in the table, two points from the safety of 17th position, while Real Sociedad sit third, six points ahead of fifth-placed Real Betis in the race for the top four.

We say: Valencia 2-2 Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad have won eight of their 11 away league matches this season, drawing just once, but we just have a feeling that Valencia could secure a share of the spoils here. Los Che's losing run is going to end at some stage, and an entertaining contest at Mestalla could finish in a high-scoring draw.