Matchday 26 of the 2025/26 LALIGA EA SPORTS season contains several important fixtures, in the title race and all throughout the table. The headline game is ELGRAN DERBI between Real Betis and Sevilla FC, while FC Barcelona vs Villarreal CF promises to be a thriller as well.
The matchday begins at the Estadi Ciutat de València, where Levante UD take on Deportivo Alavés. With the home team seven points away from safety and with the end of the season approaching, this is a fixture that Los Granotes will really feel they need to win.
Saturday brings up four fixtures, starting with Rayo Vallecano vs Athletic Club. These are two clubs who had terrible Januarys followed by positive Februarys, so they’ll both be looking to finish the month strong.
FC Barcelona vs Villarreal CF is next up, at 16:15 CET on Saturday. This is a huge game in the title race, with Barça looking to retain first place and with El Submarino Amarillo only 10 points behind. Villarreal CF have actually won on three of their past four visits to play FC Barcelona, including a 3-2 victory last term, so will look for another here.
The action then moves to the Balearic Islands, where RCD Mallorca host Real Sociedad. Having suffered three defeats in a row, the islanders currently sit inside the relegation zone and desperately need some points. They’ll hope for an improved performance this weekend, in front of their own supporters.
Asturias is the site of the last Saturday game, with Real Oviedo taking on Atlético de Madrid. Alexander Sørloth scored both goals in a 2-0 win for Atleti earlier this season, and he comes into this game in excellent form too, with five goals from his past two appearances.
The first of Sunday’s four games is Elche CF vs RCD Espanyol, a duel between two of the teams in the worst form in the competition. They are the two sides with the fewest points and with no victories so far in the second half of the season, so both will view this game as an opportunity to turn the tide.
The second-best team in terms of points collected during the second half of the season is CA Osasuna, who will look to keep up their good run, which included last weekend’s victory over Real Madrid. This Sunday they pay a visit to Valencia CF, a team they’ve already defeated this season.
Then, at 18:30 CET on Sunday, it’s ELGRAN DERBI, as Real Betis and Sevilla FC resume their rivalry. These two clubs always give their all in this fixture, and it’ll be interesting to see them face off at a different venue than usual, in the Estadio de la Cartuja. Los Verdiblancos already won the first duel away from home this campaign, and are now looking to complete a double.
The Sunday night game takes place in Catalonia, where Girona FC square off against RC Celta. A stoppage-time Borja Iglesias penalty rescued a point for the Galicians when these clubs met in September, and both will set out hoping for a three-point haul this time.
Real Madrid are in action on Monday night to wrap up the matchday, with Getafe CF visiting the Bernabéu for a capital city derby. After losing last weekend and falling back to second place, Álvaro Arbeloa’s side will be determined to return to winning ways, and to capitalise on any potential FC Barcelona slip-up against Villarreal CF.
