There’s only one match on everyone’s minds this weekend as Real Madrid host FC Barcelona in this season’s first El Clásico. Read on to find out our La Liga Matchday 11 predictions for clashes at the top and bottom of the table this weekend.
La Liga Matchday 11 Predictions Including El Clásico
Blockbuster Contest Awaits
It’s almost certainly the most anticipated El Clásico in the era following Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from La Liga. The narrative surrounding FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in the build-up to this is endless. Barça have gone from strength to strength under Hansi Flick, Madrid have built a team of young Galácticos and both sides are missing important players to injury. If the two’s midweek Champions League demolitions of German opposition are also factored in, then surely this game can’t disappoint.
LWOF Prediction: Real Madrid 2-2 FC Barcelona
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Atlético Madrid need to bounce back from their continental capitulation against LOSC Lille on Wednesday night. Diego Simeone’s men have recorded only two wins from their last seven games and haven’t shown a convincing performance since beating last-place Valencia CF well over a month ago. A trip to Seville to face Real Betis may not be the perfect remedy on paper, but the team from Andalucía are equally turbulent in form of late.
LWOF Prediction: Real Betis 1-1 Atlético Madrid
Monday night football brings us fifth against sixth as Athletic Club visit the island of Mallorca. The Basque outfit are simultaneously trying to make headway on those above whilst increasing the distance to those below. Getting past Jagoba Arrasate’s RCD Mallorca won’t be easy – only Atleti and Real Madrid have conceded less.
LWOF Prediction: RCD Mallorca 1-2 Athletic Club
Villarreal CF were unable to capitalise on a home game against Getafe CF last time around, only managing a draw. They have another golden opportunity to consolidate fourth spot with a match away to 18th-place Real Valladolid on Saturday lunchtime. If results go their way, the Yellow Submarine could find themselves within six points of the top come the end of the weekend.
LWOF Prediction: Real Valladolid 0-2 Villarreal CF
A Congested Mid-table
The neighbouring provinces of Gipuzkoa and Navarra are home to Real Sociedad and CA Osasuna respectively. The two local rivals will face off on Sunday night’s late game with a switch in position between the two in the league table possible. Osasuna will have the advantage of not having played European football in the week; their opponents made the trip to face Maccabi Tel Aviv in Belgrade on Thursday night. As for this match, the away side will be confident they can use Bayern Munich loanee Bryan Zaragoza to exhaust their hosts.
LWOF Prediction: Real Sociedad 0-1 CA Osasuna
Rayo Vallecano have only won once at home this season and Deportivo Alavés have only won once away from home. The logical prediction in that case would be a draw but Rayo have had to welcome Barça and Atleti to the Estadio de Vallecas in that time period and tend to do well against similarly ranked opposition at home. For that reason, it’s Rayo who have the edge in this one.
LWOF Prediction: Rayo Vallecano 1-0 Deportivo Alavés
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Girona FC made history on Tuesday night as they recorded their first-ever win in a European competition. They will make the longest away trip in Europe’s top five leagues, travelling over 2,200 kilometres to face UD Las Palmas. The Canary Islanders finally broke their eight-month winless run last week against fellow strugglers Valencia. New manager Diego Martínez will be hoping his side can build on that this weekend.
LWOF Prediction: UD Las Palmas 2-1 Girona FC
Matches For The Hardcore La Liga Fans
In what has previously been dubbed as the “Bordalás Derby”, Getafe CF host Valencia CF. Current Getafe manager José Bordalás was in charge at Valencia a few seasons ago, leading them to a Copa del Rey final. Los Che currently find themselves bottom of La Liga and will need their young squad to find a way to break down a rugged Getafe who have only conceded eight all term.
LWOF Prediction: Getafe CF 0-0 Valencia CF
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A match that may also be a tough watch sees Sevilla FC travel up to Cornellà de Llobregat to face RCD Espanyol on Friday night. Beaten 5-1 last week by Barça, Sevilla will hope to have better luck against the other team from the Catalan city this week. However, it may not be the prettiest of sights for the neutral perspective with both sides struggling to play quality football this season.
LWOF Prediction: RCD Espanyol 0-0 Sevilla FC
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Lastly this week, CD Leganés take on RC Celta Vigo who were unlucky not to get anything from their 2-1 loss to Real Madrid last weekend. Manager Claudio Giraldez said they deserve to have seven points from their encounters with Madrid, Barça and Atleti this season, and he’d be right. The Galicians are playing entertaining football and their eternal captain Iago Aspas is enjoying yet another stellar campaign in his twilight years.
LWOF Prediction: CD Leganés 0-2 Celta Vigo
