Matchday 24 of this LALIGA EA SPORTS season could be a key one in the title race, especially with FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid all facing tricky fixtures. There is also a derby to enjoy between Levante UD and Valencia CF, which has huge stakes in the relegation battle.
The weekend begins with a Friday night clash between Elche CF and CA Osasuna, two teams in different runs of form. The home side have lost three in a row for the first time this season, whereas CA Osasuna have managed to collect 10 points from the past 12 available. It’ll be interesting to see if those trends continue.
Four games follow on Saturday, starting with an important game in the race for European qualification. Sixth-placed RCD Espanyol host seventh-placed RC Celta, a match between two clubs who have been doing very well this campaign and who have done so with former B team coaches and with academy players at the centre of everything.
Fourth-placed Villarreal CF are in action next and they face a potentially difficult trip to the Coliseum to take on Getafe CF. Los Azulones got back to winning ways last weekend and will look to build up some momentum when Marcelino’s men come to town.
What follows is a fixture between two clubs who enter this matchday level on 25 points, as Sevilla FC take on Deportivo Alavés. Both led by Argentinian managers, this should be a fun one as these two teams look to ensure they don’t drift back towards the relegation zone.
The Saturday night game this weekend takes place at the Bernabéu, where Real Madrid welcome Real Sociedad to Spain’s capital. This is a duel between two in-form teams, as neither Los Blancos nor La Real have lost in league play since changing managers. Álvaro Arbeloa has taken 12 points from a possible 12, while Pellegrino Matarazzo has picked up 14 points from a possible 18. It should be a thriller at the Bernabéu.
The first of Sunday’s games is a big one in Asturias, as Real Oviedo host Athletic Club. Both of these clubs secured a victory last weekend after long winless runs in LALIGA EA SPORTS, but only one of them can emerge from this matchday with back-to-back victories.
There is a derby in Spain’s capital on Sunday afternoon, as Rayo Vallecano take on Atlético de Madrid. Atleti have had mixed results on their past couple of visits to Vallecas, as they were held to a draw there last season but produced an incredible 7-0 win there the year before. It remains to be seen how this weekend’s game will go.
Then, at 18:30 CET on Sunday, it’s derby time in the city of Valencia, with Levante UD vs Valencia CF. This is always a big game in the city, but even more so this weekend considering the home team are second-bottom and the away team are fourth-bottom. This isn’t just a big match for local pride, it’s a huge one in the relegation battle.
The action then moves to the Balearic Islands, where RCD Mallorca host Real Betis on Sunday evening. Vedat Muriqi was just named Player of the Month, and will look to continue his scoring form in this one.
There is a third and final derby of the weekend on Monday evening, when Girona FC take on Catalan neighbours FC Barcelona. This has been a fun game in recent years, producing a lot of goals, while it’s also a huge one for the title race as Barça aim to keep picking up three points each matchday.
