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Happy New Year! And happy new predictions as we welcome the first matchday of La Liga EA Sports in 2026, which comes just before the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia and brings us a Catalan derby between Espanyol and Barça, a Valencian derby between Elche and Villarreal, and a Madrid derby between Rayo and Getafe. There are also some cracking matches like Real Madrid vs Betis and Real Sociedad vs Atlético de Madrid.
Real Madrid and Atleti will be looking to keep the pressure on Barça at the top of the table, while the battle to avoid relegation is set to heat up as the weeks go by, with Oviedo and Levante desperate not to lose further ground. Here are our top predictions for Matchday 18 of La Liga EA Sports.
Rayo Vallecano vs Getafe: Friday, 8pm GMT
The first La Liga match of 2026 will be played in Vallecas, featuring two Madrid-based teams who are among the four sides with the fewest matches this season to have gone over 2.5 total goals.
Only six of Getafe’s 17 games have seen three or more goals, and just five of Rayo’s 17 matches have reached that mark, with none of the seven games Íñigo’s side have played at Vallecas hitting that figure.
Looking at their attacking stats, both teams are among the three lowest scorers in the league so far, with only Oviedo (seven) having scored fewer than the 13 goals managed by both Rayo and Getafe.
In fact, Rayo have only scored four and conceded four in their seven home league games.
What’s more, you have to go back to the end of 2021 to find a match between these two that produced more than 2.5 goals, as none of the last seven meetings have reached that tally.
With all this in mind, there’s an interesting, if not high, price for this prediction.
Tip: Under 2.5 goals – 4/11 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if there are two or fewer goals in total in the match
Celta vs Valencia: Saturday, 1pm GMT
An intriguing clash between a Celta side in seventh, on the up after four games unbeaten, and a Valencia team in seventeenth, flirting with the relegation zone after four without a win.
The ‘Ché’ are also the second-worst away side in the league (D3, L5) and one of only three teams yet to win away from home this season.
It’s worth noting that Celta have struggled at home (W1, D5, L3), partly paying the price for their European adventure, but they finally managed a home league win last time out, beating Champions League side Athletic Club 2-0.
Interestingly, only three of Celta’s eight home games have been against teams below them in the table, one of which was against the aforementioned Athletic, who are just one place behind Celta.
For all these reasons, and because the Galicians have kept three consecutive clean sheets, we think Celta will beat Valencia at home again, just as they did last season (3-1).
Tip: Celta to win – 19/20 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Celta win the match
Osasuna vs Athletic: Saturday, 3:15pm GMT
Four places and five points separate these two in the league, with the Basques ahead. That’s why the odds have them as favourites, despite their struggles away from home this season (W2, D1, L5), and despite Lisci’s side being in good form in Pamplona (W5, D1, L2), having beaten Alavés and Levante without conceding in their last two home league games.
Valverde’s men have won just one of their last four league matches (L3) and have only managed one win in their last 11 away games in all competitions (D3, L7), and that was against bottom side Levante. For these reasons, we think the double chance on Osasuna or a draw is a good bet.
Tip: Double Chance Osasuna or draw – 1/2 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Osasuna win or the match ends in a draw
Elche vs Villarreal: Saturday, 5:30pm GMT
An exciting Valencian derby between one of the surprise packages of the season and one of the top teams. The former are among the most efficient home sides so far, while the latter are among the best away from home.
As Elche have just been promoted, it’s hard to spot patterns in their previous meetings, and there’s also a big difference in the number of goals seen in their respective league games.
For all these reasons, we recommend simply enjoying what promises to be a quality match, without placing any bets.
Tip: No bet
We do not recommend betting on this match
Espanyol vs Barcelona: Saturday, 9:00pm GMT
Without doubt, the most evenly matched Barcelona derby in years. Expect a tense, high-octane encounter, especially with Joan García in goal for the Blaugrana.
Espanyol come into this in great form, despite their Copa del Rey exit, having won their last five league games and kept three clean sheets in that run. Barcelona, meanwhile, have won their last seven in all competitions and their last eight in the league.
There’s a common thread in Barça’s last four league wins: Raphinha, who has scored or assisted in all four, the only four league games he’s started since returning from injury.
The Brazilian has also contributed a goal or assist in two of the last three meetings between these sides, so we expect him to be decisive again.
Tip: Raphinha to score or assist – 4/9 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Raphinha scores and/or provides an assist in the match
Sevilla vs Levante: Sunday, 1:00pm GMT
Sevilla return home after a good but ultimately frustrating performance at the Santiago Bernabéu. Stuck in mid-table, the Andalusians see a visit from bottom-of-the-league Levante as a great chance to climb the table and keep alive hopes of a Conference League spot next season.
The Granotas arrive having scored just three goals in their last six games and without their top scorer, Cameroonian Etta Eyong, who is away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Recently, Sevilla hosted second-bottom Oviedo, who are in a similar situation to Levante, and won 4-0, their third win in five home matches.
Levante have lost their last three away league games and five of their last six league matches (D1). We’re backing a home win, despite Sevilla missing Adams and Ejuke, who are also at the Africa Cup.
Tip: Sevilla to win – 3/4 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Sevilla win
Real Madrid v Betis: Sunday, 3:15pm GMT
Betis are the second Andalusian side in a row to visit the Santiago Bernabéu, and will be hoping for a better outcome than their predecessor.
Madrid will probably need to put in a better performance if they want to be sure of all three points, as Betis are, on paper, a tougher opponent.
As usual, the immense figure of Kylian Mbappé looms large. The Frenchman has scored four goals in his last three competitive matches and has found the net in four of his last five league games.
He’s also scored in six of Madrid’s eight home league matches, and bagged a second-half brace in this fixture last season (2-0).
Tip: Mbappé to score – 1/2 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Mbappé scores at any time
Real Sociedad vs Atlético de Madrid: Monday, 8:00pm GMT
Real Sociedad have a new manager, Pellegrino Matarazzo, who’s had a few days to work with his new squad ahead of a tough debut.
With La Real still not clear of the relegation zone, players like Mikel Oyarzábal will be expected to step up.
The Spain international has had at least one shot on target in each of his last five competitive games, and in 10 of his last 12 league matches.
So we’re backing him to hit the target at least once against an Atlético side who thrashed Girona away last time out, but have struggled for consistency on the road this season.
Tip: Oyarzábal over 0.5 shots on target – 1/2 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Mikel Oyarzábal has at least one shot on target, regardless of whether he scores or not
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Odds correct at the time of publication and subject to change.