Fourth-placed Espanyol travel to Madrid as the surprise package of the season.

After only avoiding relegation on the final day of last season, Miguel Angel Lotina’s side are battling for a place in next season’s Champions League.

Ivan de la Pena’s form in midfield has just earned him his first-ever call-up to a Spain squad and midfielder Maxi Rodriguez has at last found his feet in Spain. However, they will be without key players for Saturday’s game: striker Raul Tamudo is suspended, while David Garcia, Martin Posse and torn calf and Mauricio Pochettino are all out with calf troubles.

It was Espanyol’s 1-0 win over Madrid earlier this season that sparked Jose Antonio Camacho’s departure from the Madrid dugout. A similar result on Saturday would give their neighbours Barcelona a major boost in their title quest. Real Madrid kept themselves in touch with the leaders last weekend when they overcame an icy pitch and Numancia – and they have won all of their Primera Liga games since the arrival of Wanderley Luxemburgo as coach in December. This is going to be a very interesting game. But there is little or no value on going big with Real. instead I’m on Espanyol @ 6/1 with Stan James [£25 Free Bet] – for a team that are playing supebly well at the moment these odds are simply too big and have to be snapped up. Get On! (and bet with someone else’s money – use your free bet!) “