This weekend sees (what should be) comfortably winnable home games for both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid as they take on UD Las Palmas and Getafe CF, respectively. Read on for all our La Liga Matchday 15 predictions.
La Liga Matchday 15 Predictions: Top Three Battle to Rage On
Top Teams Fight for Glory
Real Madrid suffered their third defeat in the Champions League this season in midweek, so they will be looking to bounce back with a straightforward-looking match against Getafe CF on Sunday. The southern Madrid side will visit the Estadio Bernabéu buoyed by their first win in six La Liga matches last weekend. However, they will be up against much sterner opposition in the likes of a hungry Kylian Mbappe, eager to put Wednesday’s penalty miss behind him.
LWOF Prediction: Real Madrid 4-0 Getafe CF
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In what may be the shock of the season so far, FC Barcelona managed to let a two-goal lead slip with only six minutes of normal time remaining last week away to RC Celta Vigo. It’s a result that leaves their rivals snapping at their heels. A home fixture against UD Las Palmas looks like just the remedy they need on paper, but Barce shouldn’t underestimate the Canary Islanders, who are on a mission under new boss Diego Martínez.
LWOF Prediction: FC Barcelona 2-1 UD Las Palmas
Atlético Madrid have now won six matches in a row in all competitions, thanks largely to the work of the manager’s son, Giuliano Simeone. He has been a revelation down the right-hand side, providing exactly the fighting qualities his father, Diego, will be asking of the whole team. Los Rojiblancos head north to face bottom of the table Real Valladolid, who have only won once at home all season.
LWOF Prediction: Real Valladolid 0-1 Atlético Madrid
Possibly because they have played a game fewer than Atleti, most have forgotten about Villarreal CF, who are still within reach of making inroads in the top four positions in La Liga. Marcelino’s men salvaged a draw away at CA Osasuna last weekend but have still only lost to Barcelona and Real Madrid this season. They will entertain a topsy-turvy Girona FC side on Sunday lunchtime.
LWOF Prediction: Villarreal CF 1-0 Girona FC
Not Far Behind
Athletic Club once again won the Basque Derby last weekend, beating local rivals Real Sociedad 1-0, which propelled them into fifth place. They’ll head to the neighbourhood of Vallecas, located in the southeast of the Spanish capital, to face Rayo Vallecano, who lost 1-0 away to Sevilla FC last season. The team from Bilbao will have to keep winning if they want to challenge for a top four spot this season, but Rayo are in need of points themselves should they want to stop sliding down the division.
LWOF Prediction: Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Athletic Club
Monday night football will be enjoyed from the vibrant Andalusian capital of Seville with Sevilla FC and CA Osasuna almost certainly in line to deliver a great atmosphere and a ropey game of football. The home side have dragged themselves up to 12th place with tight wins against sides below them but are yet to show any sign of troubling those above them, such as Osasuna.
LWOF Prediction: Sevilla FC 0-1 CA Osasuna
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Ten-man RCD Mallorca fought off a comeback in the Canary Islands last weekend to win 3-2 via a 91st-minute winner from the unlikely source of left-back Johan Mojica. They will be looking for less drama this week as they welcome Valencia CF to the Balearics, who themselves were involved in a high-scoring fixture last time out. In an emotional game at Mestalla, Valencia won 4-2 against Real Betis. As for this game, we could see both teams cancel each other out, despite the ten places separaring the two sides in the table.
LWOF Prediction: RCD Mallorca 2-2 Valencia CF
It’s ninth against tenth in the late Sunday night match as Real Betis make the long trip north to take on Real Sociedad in San Sebastián. Aside from the derby defeat in Bilbao, La Real are starting to turn their fortunes around and will leapfrog their visitors should they come out on top here. As for Betis, they are winless in four in La Liga. Both teams have European commitments to recover from as well.
LWOF Prediction: Real Sociedad 0-0 Real Betis
Relegation Battlers
Having started the season in a pleasing manner, Deportivo Alavés now find themselves being dragged into a battle to stay above the relegation zone, following their bad form. CD Leganés are situated just two places above them in the table and will visit the Basque country looking to inflict further damage upon Los Blanquiazules. Surprise summer signing Sebastian Haller is yet to make his mark on La Liga for CD Leganés.
LWOF Prediction: Deportivo Alavés 1-1 CD Leganés
RCD Espanyol take on RC Celta Vigo in a match between two teams that encountered opposing fortunes in their previous game. As mentioned, Celta produced a stunning comeback to steal a point from league leaders Barcelona, but Espanyol were unable to have the same luck against their fellow Catalan opponents, going down 4-1 against Girona. Los Pericos are due a win; however, they are currently La Liga’s least in-form side.
LWOF Prediction: RCD Espanyol 2-1 RC Celta Vigo
