So how do you go about trying to cap a 5-0 win against Real Madrid? Simple answer: you don't. It is certain that whatever happens between now and the winter break, the clásico will remain the only subject talked about in Barcelona over Christmas.

 

Osasuna v Barcelona
Saturday
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The Spanish football season reached a gripping climax at the Camp Nou on Monday, maybe not in the ultimate sense of the word, but enough to ensure that whatever happens between now and the winter break, the clásico will remain the only subject talked about in Barcelona over Christmas.

From a psychological perspective, it's potentially perilous situation for the champions but the fact remains their dominance over the rest of la Primera is such they should still collect maximum points from the remaining three matches even if they drop a few cylinders.

Instead, the difference will probably noticed in the extent of their dominance. Whereas the Catalans have triumphed in their last three games by an aggregate score of 16-1, Pep Guardiola might now be content to achieve the same number of points by an overall superiority of just three goals.

It just so helps our case for backing under 2.5 goals that they travel to Osasuna, a club that's developed a reputation for packing bodies behind the ball in recent years.

The Reyna de Navarro is never an easy place for the big teams to visit (illustrated by the fact that Barca and Madrid both dropped points last season) and this is perhaps the closest thing to a banana skin that the fixture computer could have thrown up on the back of the clásico.

Barca will no doubt be brimming with confidence at kick-off but it shouldn't take too long for the sense of anti-climax to kick in they might have to fall back on a side of their game that we haven't seen too much of lately.

Under Guardiola, they have evolved in a way that enables them to grind out slender victories when necessary and we like the look of the 7.50 being offered on Barcelona to win 1-0.

 

Real Madrid v Valencia
Saturday
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Hats off to Jose Mourinho. The Real Madrid supremo was wonderfully composed in the immediate aftermath of his team's embarrassment at the Camp Nou.

The Portuguese doyen of psychology took his medicine with good grace, offering no excuses and congratulating his hosts for their brilliance on the night. But he also wasted no time in spelling out some bare facts to Barcelona.

It was almost as if humiliation was an emotional concept he doesn't understand. Unruffled, he parted by reminding the assembled hacks that the difference in the title race is only two points.

Now the impulsive reaction is to fear for Valencia as the unfortunate team who provide the opposition for a backlash at the Santiago Bernabeu.

It could be argued that Los Che have benefitted from the quirk in the fixture list that sees them face Barca's last opponents throughout the course of the campaign but this is definitely one occasion when foresight would suggest it counts against them.

As such, there was a temptation to pile into the 3.00 on Madrid to win by two clear goals on the handicap and Madrid to win both halves at 2.00. After all, what better way for the Merengues to rid themselves of any lingering anger or resentment?

But then we saw the prices, after which a different narrative presented itself.

Whichever way you look at it, the Merengues look a solid bet at 1.25 against a team with such a dismal recent record in games of this magnitude, but the one price that genuinely sticks out above all others is the 2.60 on under 2.5 goals.

As a team, Madrid will probably be desperate to let out all of their frustration in the space of 90 minutes but, as a manager, Mourinho knows it would serve little purpose.

After all, what good did 6-1 wins over Deportivo and Racing, and a 5-1 win over Athletic Bilbao do them on Monday? They didn't manage a clean sheet in any of those one-sided contests, exposing a few defensive shortcomings that were viciously seized upon when it really mattered.

So it might be a case of back to the drawing board for Mourinho. He has a well of emotional fuel within the dressing room that he would like to keep simmering beneath the surface until the next clásico in April and he might now step up his efforts to transform them into a team in his own image.

Therefore, we'll back up our interest on a low goals count by taking a slice of the staggering 10/1 quote on Real Madrid to win 1-0 as well.

 

Real Sociedad v Atletico Bilbao
Sunday
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The big clubs from the Basque country go head to head for the first time in almost three years at Anoeta on Sunday and with the game likely to be played at a frenetic pace, it's extremely difficult to call a winner.

The two teams have completely contrasting styles but it's something we're inclined to believe will contribute to the entertainment value in San Sebastian, so we'll stake our claim with a bet on over 3.5 goals at 3.25.

Athletic are the more established outfit of the two with a greater physical presence and more intimidating aerial threat and they could repeatedly trouble the home defence if allowed to deliver their customary bombardment of crosses from wide areas.

However, Real Sociedad can be pretty slick when zipping the ball around on the deck and they've caused quite a few problems for some of the bigger teams on their own turf since their return to the top flight.

If the game was being played at San Mames, we'd strongly expect home advantage to count in Bilbao's favour but this promises to be the more evenly-matched derby of the two and for those who need their football fix in the wake of wholesale postponements, this could be essential viewing.

PICKS:
Under 2.5 goals Osasuna v Barcelona at 2.40 at Betsson and Bet365.
Barcelona to win 1-0 at 7.50 at Betsson.
Under 2.5 goals Real Madrid v Valencia at 2.80 at Betsson.
Real Madrid to win 1-0 at 9.00 at Bet365 and Bwin.
Over 3.5 goals Real Sociedad v Athletic Bilbao at 3.25 at Betsson.