It’s time for another weekend of LALIGA EA SPORTS action, and all eyes will be on the top two given that FC Barcelona and Real Madrid remain separated by just one point. There are other big games elsewhere, so it promises to be another fun matchday.
The weekend begins with a big game in the European battle, as RC Celta host CA Osasuna. Both of these clubs were battling for European qualification positions last season and they are once again, with the Galicians in seventh and the club from Pamplona in ninth, exactly how they finished 2024/25.
Rayo Vallecano were one of the other clubs in last season’s race for European competition, but this term they’re struggling and currently sit third-bottom, inside the relegation zone. They’re at home against Real Oviedo, another relegation zone team, on Saturday lunchtime.
At 16:15 CET, FC Barcelona are back in action, taking on RCD Mallorca at the Spotify Camp Nou. The Catalan side kicked off this season by defeating the islanders 3-0 away, and now they’ll look to take another three points to ensure they remain in first place.
Sevilla FC vs Girona FC is next up, a duel between two teams who currently sit outside the relegation zone, but without much of a cushion. At the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, they’ll look to build up a buffer to the drop zone.
The Saturday night game pits Real Sociedad against Elche CF, a tactical tussle between two of the hottest coaches in the competition. Pellegrino Matarazzo remains undefeated since taking over in San Sebastián, while Eder Sarabia has worked wonders with Elche CF since leading them to promotion last season.
Four more matches follow on Sunday, and the action stays in the Basque Country at first as Deportivo Alavés host Getafe CF. It’s a return to a former club for Geta coach José Bordalás, and he’ll be desperate for a win given that his side haven’t won since November.
Athletic Club are another team on a long winless run, having failed to win a league fixture since the first weekend of December. However, the Basques did achieve a good victory in the Copa del Rey in midweek, so they’ll look to carry that momentum into this weekend’s clash with Levante UD.
The next of the weekend’s matches takes place at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, where Atlético de Madrid will lock horns with Real Betis. Diego Simeone has never lost a home game against Los Verdiblancos in over 13 years as coach, so will expect to keep that record intact.
The Sunday night game takes place at Mestalla, and it’s a big once as Valencia CF face off against Real Madrid. This is a classic fixture of the Spanish football calendar and often a tricky one for Los Blancos. Of the past seven games between these clubs in this stadium, Valencia CF have won three times, Real Madrid have won twice and there have been two draws.
Then the Monday night game should be a thriller, as it features two teams inside the top six. It’s Villarreal CF vs RCD Espanyol, two teams who had a good first half of the season but who haven’t won in their past three. So, it’s an important game at this stage of the season.
