Matchday 22 of the 2025/26 LALIGA EA Sports season is just around the corner, and there are several fascinating fixtures on the schedule.
There is a Basque Derby between Athletic Club and Real Sociedad on Sunday night, and several other games worth paying attention to.
The first match of the weekend takes place in Barcelona, where RCD Espanyol host Deportivo Alavés. It was a brilliant first half of the season for Los Pericos, but they’ve failed to win any of their last four league games and need another win soon.
Real Oviedo are another team who need a victory, although for very different reasons. The Asturian outfit sit bottom of the table, with no wins since September. This Saturday they host a resurgent Girona FC outfit, who have taken 10 points from the last 12 available.
CA Osasuna vs Villarreal CF is up next, with the visitors looking to get back to winning ways following back-to-back defeats. They still sit in the Champions League positions for now and, after concluding this season’s campaign in the top UEFA competition in midweek, they’ll be determined to return next year.
Atlético de Madrid are in action next, paying a visit to Levante UD. After moving up to third place in the table, Diego Simeone’s side will now look to propel themselves back into the title race. Despite not having a great away record, with 13 points from 10 games, they’ll expect to take all three points against the second-bottom side in the standings.
The Saturday night game features league leaders FC Barcelona, who play away at Elche CF. With Real Madrid on their heels, just one point behind, there is little margin for error for Hansi Flick’s men, as they take on a tactically interesting team coached by former Barça assistant Eder Sarabia.
Real Madrid will have a chance to respond to whatever FC Barcelona do, when they play in the first game of Sunday. Rayo Vallecano will make the short trip to the Bernabéu, and will travel with some confidence considering four of the past five meetings between these teams have finished as draws, with just one Real Madrid victory in that span.
There is a big game straight after, as Real Betis and Valencia CF meet at the Estadio de la Cartuja. This game will bring back memories of the 2022 Copa del Rey final between these two clubs at the same stadium, when Los Verdiblancos won on penalties.
Getafe CF and RC Celta face off next, at the Coliseum, and it’s a huge game for Los Azulones as they now sit just one point above the relegation zone. When these teams met in Vigo at the beginning of the season, Getafe CF won 2-0, so they’ll be looking for a similar result this Sunday.
Then, at 21:00 CET on Sunday, it’s the second BASQUE DERBY of the season between Athletic Club and Real Sociedad. These are two teams in very different runs of form, with La Real undefeated in the first five matches with new coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, whereas Los Leones haven’t won any of their past five in LALIGA EA SPORTS. But, when the ball gets rolling in a derby, anything can happen.
The final game of the matchday takes place on the island of Mallorca, where RCD Mallorca host Sevilla FC. The islanders have slipped back into the relegation zone, having lost three of their past four, so will take to the pitch keen to grab a positive result.
