Atletico set for Christmas number one as Barca travel to Getafe

Atletico Madrid are having a season that their fans will never forget and there is a strong likelihood that they will be on top of La Liga at Christmas.

Diego Simeone’s side are only second behind Barcelona because they have scored one less goal and – assuming they don’t crumble under the anticipation – they should boost their goal difference against Levante on Saturday.

Los Colchoneros have won the last five corresponding fixtures, scoring 13 goals in the process, and they are 1/6 to take all three points once again.

Simeone’s side are unbeaten in their last 13 games in all competitions and have scored 14 goals without reply in their last four La Liga matches.

Opponents Levante have lost four of their last five league games and have only won one of their eight games against top-half opponents this season.

Atletico are unbeaten in their last 13 games in all competitions

Meanwhile table-toppers Barcelona travel to Getafe.

Odds of 4/9 suggest that three points are a formality for Gerardo Martino’s side, however they suffered defeat at the Madrid-based club in the 2011/12 season.

Barca have not been at their best since Lionel Messi was injured against Betis in November – they subsequently lost back-to-back games – and, although still sparkling most of the time, they are not invincible.

They will be without Neymar who has already flown home to Brazil for a Christmas break after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Villareal.

If Atletico better Barca’s result, even by just one goal, then they will be top of the La Liga for the first time since they won the league in 1995/6.

Real Madrid’s last six visits to Valencia have produced 33 goals

Meanwhile, Real Madrid – whose fans are struggling to cope with their neighbour’s lofty position – sit five points off the summit in third and face a tricky away tie at Valencia.