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Matchday 29 of La Liga EA Sports promises plenty of excitement. After the European fixtures and before an international break, we’re treated to some truly mouth-watering games. Real Madrid must beat Atlético if they want to keep pace in the race for the league title, although Barça could pull further ahead if they overcome Rayo, a team that often makes life difficult for them.
Athletic Club host Betis in one of the standout matches of the round, and Real Sociedad kick things off with a visit to La Cerámica to face Villarreal in another big clash. Levante and Oviedo, the bottom two sides, meet in a dramatic encounter in Valencia. Here are our predictions for the round.
Villarreal v Real Sociedad: Friday, 20:00 GMT
The round begins with two of the most entertaining teams in the competition. We expect both sides to attack, so there will be plenty of action in the penalty areas. Villarreal are the third-highest scorers in La Liga (51), while Real Sociedad are joint fifth (43). Both teams found the net in three of the last four meetings between the two, and in eight of the last 10 clashes at Villarreal’s ground. Seven of Villarreal’s last eight matches saw both teams score, as did 15 of Real Sociedad’s last 18 official games.
Marcelino’s side have scored in every home league game except against Barça and Madrid, while Real Sociedad have scored in 18 consecutive official matches, nine of those away from home. So we expect both teams to get on the scoresheet.
Tip: Both teams to score – 4/6 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if both teams score at least one goal.
Elche v Mallorca: Saturday, 13:00 GMT
This Mediterranean clash could be one of the hardest games to predict this round. Mallorca’s win last week, after a poor run, left Elche in serious trouble, dropping them into the relegation zone. Elche are still capable of picking up points at home, and Mallorca have recently changed manager, so it’s tough to judge whether Demichelis’ arrival will be enough to overcome the hosts’ urgency. We prefer not to bet on this match, though it should be an exciting one.
Tip: No bet
Espanyol v Getafe: Saturday, 15:15 GMT
Espanyol are still searching for their first win in 2026 and welcome one of the form teams of recent weeks, Bordalás’ feared Getafe. It’s hard to say when the Catalans will rediscover their strength from the first half of the season, but we’re confident they’ll find the net. In fact, they’ve scored between one and three goals in their last eight games, and in 11 of their 14 home league matches. The same has happened in eight of the last 11 official meetings between these sides. Getafe have conceded between one and three goals in seven of their last 10 away fixtures.
Tip: Espanyol to score between one and three goals – 1/3 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Espanyol score, but do not exceed three goals.
Osasuna v Girona: Saturday, 17:30 GMT
An intriguing match between two sides who play good football and offer entertainment, but are also prone to inconsistency. We’ve seen that 12 of Osasuna’s last 13 official games have featured fewer than 11 corners, including their first meeting this season, and the same has happened in 14 of Girona’s last 18 matches in all competitions. That statistic also appears in eight of the last nine meetings between these teams.
Tip: Under 10.5 corners – 4/9 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if the match has 10 or fewer corners in total.
Barcelona v Rayo Vallecano: Sunday, 13:00 GMT
Every Barcelona home game in this league campaign has ended in a win for the Catalans, and only twice (against Valencia and last Sunday versus Sevilla) have Flick’s side cut loose with four or more goals in total. So we expect a match without excessive attacking fireworks, as Rayo haven’t conceded more than three goals against Barça since 2016, and not in an away fixture between the sides since 2015. Rayo have only let in more than three goals in two games this season, and have competed well away to Atlético and Real Madrid.
Tip: Barça win, scoring between one and three goals – 10/11 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Barcelona win, scoring between one and three goals.
Celta v Alavés: Sunday, 15:15 GMT
Celta, fighting for European places, host an Alavés side playing their second match under Quique Sánchez Flores, still not clear of relegation. The Basques haven’t won since January and are one of the worst away teams in the league (W2, D2, L10). The Galicians aren’t the most reliable at home, but have won six of their last nine official games at Balaídos, and four of their last six home league matches. Celta have also won four of Alavés’ last five visits to Vigo.
Tip: Celta to win – 5/6 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if Celta win.
Athletic Club v Real Betis: Sunday, 17:30 GMT
San Mamés will host one of the most intriguing matches of the round, with Pellegrini’s Betis visiting. Valverde’s side are enduring a tough season, and Betis now see their fifth place under threat from Celta. We expect a tense game, with between two and four goals, as has happened in the last four meetings between these sides. Six of Athletic’s last eight league games have ended with that number of goals, as have 10 of Betis’ recent matches, including four of their last five away from home.
Tip: Between two and four total goals – 8/15 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if the match ends with two, three or four total goals.
Real Madrid v Atlético Madrid: Sunday, 20:00 GMT
Without doubt, the match of the round is this Madrid derby at the Santiago Bernabéu, with Atlético visiting. Expect a tough, tense game, full of duels and heated moments. Both teams have scored in 12 of the last 13 meetings, including the last five at the Bernabéu. As the second and fourth-highest scoring teams, we expect both to find the net. Madrid have only failed to score in one official match since mid-December (against Getafe), while Atlético have scored in seven of their last eight (the only exception being the Copa semi-final in Barcelona).
Tip: Both teams to score – 4/7 @ bet365
Bet Explanation: This bet wins if both teams score at least one goal.
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Odds correct at time of writing, subject to change.