Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images

Atlético head up to Balaídos, hoping to remain unbeaten. Atlético de Madrid head north to rainy Galicia for a Thursday night showdown with free-scoring Celta Vigo in the appetizer to Sunday?s Madrid Derby.
Atlético Madrid (3-3-0, 12 points) are coming off a disappointing draw at Rayo Vallecano, which widened Los Rojiblancos? early-season gap to title rivals Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. That result means Atlético face an ?obligation? to win in Vigo before El Derbi Madrileño on Sunday night ? otherwise, Los Colchoneros could be five points adrift of Madrid and nine behind Barça before kick off on Thursday.
?It?s logical to list Atlético as a candidate to challenge (Barça and Madrid), it?s happened throughout these past 12 years,? Diego Simeone told reporters on Wednesday. ?Nothing else (in the end) has happened other than one of those two teams winning the title, except for the two leagues that we have won.?
Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

Celta (3-0-3, 9 points) have been among LALIGA?s great entertainers in this early stage of the 2024/25 season. Under head coach Claudio Giráldez ? and continually inspired by 37-year-old Iago Aspas ? Celta have scored 14 goals from 11 expected, the second-highest total in the league. The Sky Blues have also shipped 13 goals (albeit from 9.5 expected) across those six games, which is the most in the competition. Key defender Óscar Mingu...