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The La Liga matchday promises plenty of excitement and great opportunities for fans and bettors. Below, we review the weekend's top fixtures with detailed analysis, statistical context and predictions based on each team's recent form.
Villarreal v Rayo Vallecano: Saturday, 14:00 GMT
Villarreal come into this game showing some inconsistency, but there are signs of recovery at home. Since losing away to Real Madrid, they've picked up a point against Betis and beat Athletic Club, both demanding opponents. Over the season, they have constantly maintained a high attacking output, scoring more than two goals in several games. Although they suffered a recent European defeat against English powerhouse Manchester City, their domestic form remains solid, especially at home, where they tend to break quickly and create several chances. Moreover, their recent home record against Rayo Vallecano is favourable, with only one defeat in the last five meetings.
Los Madrileños, for their part, are in a good run of form. They look good, particularly in defence and on the counter-attack, with three wins and a draw in their last five games in all competitions. However, most of those wins have come against lower-ranked teams or at home, and away from home, they tend to concede more space. Against an attacking Villarreal side with the ambition to keep winning, they are likely to struggle at the back. Therefore, Villarreal's double home chance and over 1.5 goals for Villarreal are great odds; the Yellow Submarine usually score easily at home and have shown they can score more than one goal, even if the match is a tight one.
Tip: Villarreal win or draw and Villarreal over 1.5 goals - 8/11 @ bet365
Bet explanation: Villarreal must win or draw, and must also score at least two goals.
Atletico Madrid v Sevilla: Saturday, 15:15 GMT
Atletico Madrid are in great form at the Metropolitano, where they have been virtually unbeatable this season. Simeone's men have won their last five home games, including wins over Real Madrid (5-2) and Eintracht Frankfurt (5-1), with a very fluid attack and a defence that has regained its usual solidity. Despite the European stumble against Arsenal, Atlético maintain an upward trend in La Liga and can welcome back Johnny Cardoso after two months of absence, which further strengthens their defence. With Julián Alvarez and Giuliano Simeone in great form, the Colchoneros are clear favourites to dominate and control the pace of the match.
Sevilla, on the other hand, are going through a more uneasy spell, with two consecutive defeats in the league and several squad problems. The absence of Cesar Azpilicueta, Alexis Sánchez and Batista Mendy through injury, along with the suspension of Lucien Agoumé, leaves the team with a limited midfield and fewer attacking alternatives. Although they have had some good moments away from home, their defensive performance remains inconsistent against a demanding opponent. For this reason, we are confident of a convincing victory for Atletico with the support of their fans and the advantage of having rested a week more than the Andalusian side.
Tip: Atletico Madrid (Asian Handicap -1.5) - 1.975 @ bet365
Bet explanation: Atletico must win by two goals or more.
Real Sociedad v Athletic Club: Saturday, 15:30 GMT
Real Sociedad arrive with good momentum after wins over Sevilla (2-1) and Osasuna (2-0), regaining their goal-scoring talents at home, having netted in four of their last five games at Anoeta, with over 1.5 goals total in three of them. Despite the absences of Yangel Herrera and Karrikaburu, the team maintains its attacking structure with Oyarzabal, Kubo (who will return from injury) and Barrenetxea in great form. Despite Imanol Alguacil's side averaging 1.4 goals per game in the league, they have also conceded in four of their last five matches, showing their defensive vulnerability against opponents of all levels (Barcelona, Rayo, Celta). Moreover, the derby tends to be open at Anoeta, with four of the last five played there having more than one goal, and three saw both teams score.
Athletic Club, on the other hand, don’t have momentum on their side after the narrow 1-0 defeat against Getafe. Still, they show attacking ability, having scored in six of their last eight official matches. The absence of Iñaki Williams limits their attacking depth, although Nico Williams, Oihan Sancet and Gorka Guruzeta are a constant threat, and tend to perform well in intense duels such as the derby. Defensively, Valverde's side have only kept two clean sheets in their last seven games, so conceding is likely. With both teams used to games with high tempo and space, and with a recent history of both scoring (three of the last five), we favour the famous "both will score".
Tip: Both teams to score - 1/1 @ Bet365
Bet explanation: Both Real Sociedad and Athletic must score at least one goal.
Real Madrid v Valencia: Saturday, 21:00 GMT
Real Madrid come into this match in their best form of the season, with a run of five consecutive wins in all competitions and a clean sheet in the Champions League. In those five matches, they have scored 12 goals, with goals in both halves in four of them (against Barcelona, Villarreal, Kairat and Getafe). Xabi Alonso's side combines very effective high pressing with a fluid attack thanks to Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappé, and despite the absence of Dani Carvajal, they have a squad with alternatives (Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Ceballos, Ferland Mendy, Brahim Diaz) that sustain the attacking rhythm. Moreover, the Bernabeu has been key in their good form as Real Madrid have scored in both halves on five out of seven occasions, averaging 2.7 goals per game.
Valencia, on the other hand, are going through a delicate moment, winless in five games, with three defeats and only three goals scored in that stretch. Their defensive shortcomings have been accentuated away from home, where they have conceded nine goals in their last four, and have conceded at least one goal in the first half in three of them. Injuries have played their part with the absence of Mouctar Diakhaby, Dimitri Foulquier and Largie Ramazani leaving the defence even more exposed.
The head-to-head record reinforces the prediction, as in the last five Real Madrid-Valencia matches at the Bernabéu, Los Blancos have scored in both halves in four of them. In terms of pace, attacking quality and local dynamics, everything points to another dominant performance from Real from the start, with goals in both halves.
Tip: Real Madrid to score in both halves - 8/13 @ Bet365
Bet Explanation: Real Madrid need to score in both the first and second half. It doesn't matter how many.
Alavés v Espanyol: Sunday, 15:15 GMT
Espanyol arrive at the Mendizorroza on a positive run and full of confidence after celebrating their 125th anniversary with a 1-0 win over Elche. Manolo Gonzalez's side have taken seven points from their last three league games and have conceded just one goal in that period, showing a solid and balanced unit. Despite the absence of Javi Puado, a key player on the attacking front, Espanyol have maintained their efficiency up top thanks to Roberto Fernández, Kike García and, among others, Carlos Romero, who scored the goal against Elche. Espanyol have also been reliable away from home. They have picked up points in three of their last four outings (2W, 1D), all of which have produced less than 3.5 goals, confirming their tendency to play tight, tactical games.
For their part, Alavés are going through an inconsistent spell, with just one win in their last five league games (2L, 2D). They have improved defensively at the Mendizorroza, but still struggle to generate a sustained attacking threat, having only scored 5 goals in 5 home games. In four of those games, the overall goals were also under 3.5 goals. Defensive losses (such as that of Pacheco) and their difficulty in coming from behind after conceding first are determining factors in this bet. In addition, recent matches favour Espanyol, who won in their last two visits to Vitoria (0-1 in 2025 and 1-0 in 2021) and in the last six meetings between the two, goals have never exceeded 3.
Tip: Draw or Espanyol and less than 3.5 goals - 20/23 @ Bet365
Bet Explanation: Alaves can not win and there should be fewer than four goals scored between the two teams for this bet to win.
Barcelona v Elche: Sunday, 17:30 GMT
Barcelona head into the clash against Elche having lost the Clasico and with a full infirmary, being without Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Robert Lewandowski and Gavi, with Raphinha and Dani Olmo in cotton wool and with Andreas Christensen suffering another setback. Flick’s team maintains its punch, but also a worrying defensive fragility, conceding in six of their last seven matches. Elche, despite their inconsistency, have scored in three of their last four outings and have shown an ability to do damage in quick transitions, especially in second halves, where Barça tend to switch off.
In terms of context, style and momentum, the scenario favours Elche to score at least one goal at Montjuïc. Even with a poor record (no wins in 27 visits), Elche have managed to score in five of their six away games this season and can take advantage of Barca’s defensive fragilities to break lines or surprise at set-pieces.
Tip: Over 0.5 Elche goals - 8/11 @ Bet365
Bet Explanation: Elche must score at least one goal.
Real Betis v Mallorca: Sunday, 20:00 GMT
Real Betis are going through a bad spell. They have only one win in their last five matches, combining good stretches of play with a lack of punch and defensive errors that have cost them points. At the Benito Villamarín, however, Pellegrini's side are usually on top of their game, scoring in eight of their last nine home games and dominating the recent record against Mallorca, with four wins in the last five meetings in Seville. In addition, they have scored two or more goals in four of their last five home games in LaLiga, and have also scored in several recent meetings with Mallorca.
Mallorca, for their part, are in better form than they have been in recent weeks. Jagoba Arrasate's side have lost just one of their last four games and have found a solidity in defence, utilising a more compact structure and Vadat Muriqi regaining his goalscoring touch. However, away from home, they continue to suffer, with just one win in their last twelve outings, and conceding easily on the road (8 goals in their last 10 away games).
Tip: Real Betis over 1.5 goals - 4/6 @ Bet365
Bet Explanation: Real Betis must score two or more goals.
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Odds, correct at time of publication, are subject to change.