LaLiga Matchday 11: Table-topping Sociedad eye seven in a row

 LaLiga Matchday 11: Table-topping Sociedad eye seven in a row

Real Sociedad will be chasing a seventh successive league win when they host fellow high-flyers Villarreal on Sunday evening. 

Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid take on Valencia and Alaves respectively as they look to keep pace at the top, while Barcelona must address their worst start to a campaign in nearly 30 years when Osasuna visit Camp Nou.

Read on for all you need to know about the key fixtures from Matchday 11 in LaLiga Santander. 

Valencia vs Atletico Madrid (Saturday, 3.15pm)

Atleti extended their superb unbeaten run in LaLiga to 24 games last weekend with their first league victory over Barcelona in 10 years. 

Sitting second in the table, just three points behind leaders Sociedad but with two games in hand, Diego Simeone’s men are the only team yet to trail for a single minute in the division this season.

They travel to the Mestalla on Saturday to face a Valencia side who have won just one of the last six in LaLiga, leaving them ninth with 12 points from a possible 30. 

However, the hosts do boast an impressive record of just one defeat in their last seven home league games — winning four of them.

Atletico’s last away defeat in LaLiga came at the Bernabeu back in early in February and they will be confident of grinding out a sixth straight win.

The visitors have not lost any of their last 11 league meetings with Los Murcielagos, with manager Simeone losing just two of his 21 clashes against them in all competitions. 

Real Madrid vs Alaves (Saturday, 8pm)

Real Madrid come into Matchday 11 having won just two of their last five games. 

A draw at Villarreal last time out left the reigning champions in fourth place, with 17 points from nine outings this term. 

Visitors Alaves head to the capital with just two wins to their name — although they are currently enjoying a four-match unbeaten run.

Having lost 14 of their 15 LaLiga meetings with Real at the Bernabeu, something special will be required if that streak is to be extended.

For all their inconsistencies, Zinedine Zidane's men have actually only lost one of their 22 home league games since the start of last season.

But Alaves may find hope in the fact the title-holders have conceded 10 goals in their first nine league games — their joint highest at this stage across any of the last 12 seasons.

Barcelona vs Osasuna (Sunday, 1pm)

With just 11 points from eight league games, Barcelona are experiencing their worst start to a LaLiga campaign in 29 years.

Having played two matches fewer than most teams, they sit 13th in the table and are 12 points off top spot.

Defeat away to Atletico Madrid last weekend means Ronald Koeman’s men have won just one of their last six league matches.

So have Osasuna, who arrive at Camp Nou sitting just below Barca in 14th thanks to an inferior goal difference. 

The visitors sealed a memorable 2-1 victory on their last visit to Barcelona in July and could hardly be facing their prestigious opponents at a better time.

Yet historically, Osasuna have struggled at the Camp Nou more than most.

They have conceded more away goals against Barca than against any other side (112 goals at a rate of 2.9 per game). 

Lionel Messi may only have three LaLiga goals to his name so far this term, but the Argentine has often been the catalyst in this fixture in years gone by,

Messi has 22 goals in 18 LaLiga games against Los Rojillos, including an astonishing 14 in his last six when on home soil. 

Real Sociedad vs Villarreal (Sunday, 8pm)

Real Sociedad's run of six successive league victories cannot be topped across Europe’s top five divisions. 

The head into Matchday 11 three points clear at the summit with 23 points from 10 games — equalling their best start to a league campaign back in 1981-82, when they went on to win the title. 

Third-placed Villarreal have also enjoyed a strong start. They are unbeaten in seven league matches and top their Europa League group. 

A win for the Yellow Submarine would see them record consecutive away victories for the first time under Unai Emery, but they will have to keep tabs on Mikel Oyarzabal (pictured above).

The Spanish star, 23, has been at the heart of his side's impressive form, topping the division's scoring charts with six goals. 

There has been very little to separate these two teams in recent seasons, with both winning three of the last six meetings in LaLiga.