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Tag: Deportivo Alavés

  • LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 24 preview: Three tricky fixtures for the top three, plus a Valencian Community Derby

    LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 24 preview: Three tricky fixtures for the top three, plus a Valencian Community Derby

    After Matchday 23 provided thrills, not least in ELDERBI DE MADRID, excitement is already building for Matchday 24 of this fascinating LALIGA EA SPORTS season. The top three teams, Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona, are separated by just two points, and all three of these title contenders have fixtures that are far from easy this weekend.

    It’s Girona FC and Getafe CF who get the weekend’s action underway, when they meet at the Estadi Montilivi on Friday night. Getafe CF have never won there, but they have secured three consecutive road wins in recent weeks and will travel to Catalonia with confidence.

    Kicking off Saturday’s slate of four fixtures are 17th-placed CD Leganés and 19th-placed Deportivo Alavés. With these two teams separated by just two points, this is a huge game in the relegation battle as the Basque side know that they could leapfrog their opponents with a win.

    League leaders Real Madrid are in action next, as they play on the road against CA Osasuna. Given that Los Rojillos have lost just two home games all season, visiting El Sadar is no easy task, especially with this all-important league game coming in between the two legs of Real Madrid’s Champions League tie against Manchester City. With Atleti and Barça right behind the defending champions, they can’t take their eyes off the ball here.

    If Real Madrid do drop any points, Atlético de Madrid will have the chance to go top with a victory over RC Celta. That too is easier said than done. While Atleti have beaten RC Celta twice within the past year, both those victories were by 1-0 scorelines and with the goals not arriving until the final 10 minutes.

    At 21:00 CET on Saturday night, the focus moves to the Valencian Community and to the derby match between Villarreal CF and Valencia CF. Los Che haven’t won away at the Estadio de la Cerámica since 2017, but they need to pick up points wherever they can if they’re to climb out of the relegation zone, where they currently reside.

    The first of Sunday’s games is RCD Espanyol vs Athletic Club, which is always a special fixture for Ernesto Valverde as he returns to one of his former homes. The legendary coach made such as impact during his years at the RCDE Stadium that one of the gates is named after him, but this weekend his focus will be all on leading Athletic Club to a possible victory.

    Bottom-placed Real Valladolid are in action next, and they desperately need points if they’re to stay in with a chance of avoiding relegation. This weekend Los Blanquivioletas take on Sevilla FC, who they haven’t defeated since 2012.

    A battle of the islands follows as RCD Mallorca take on UD Las Palmas. When these sides met earlier in the season, in November in the Canary Islands, it was a wild game with a wild finish, as Johan Mojica earned RCD Mallorca a 3-2 win in stoppage time by converting an indirect freekick deep inside Los Amarillos’ box. If this weekend’s game is half as entertaining as the last one, it’ll still be a spectacle.

    On Sunday night, Real Betis and Real Sociedad take centre stage, and this is an important match for two clubs who have become accustomed to qualifying for Europe in recent seasons. In fact, they each enter this matchday after playing European fixtures on Thursday night. However, both these teams currently sit outside of the LALIGA EA SPORTS European positions, so this is a key duel if they want to secure continental football for next season.

    The Monday night game in Matchday 24 is hosted by FC Barcelona at the Estadi Olímpic, where the Catalan outfit will take on Rayo Vallecano. This promises to be a great matchup, as Barça have started 2025 in good form but Rayo Vallecano are doing even better and are the LALIGA EA SPORTS team to have collected the most points so far this calendar year. Furthermore, Rayo Vallecano have only lost two of their past seven meetings with Barça, so they’ll have no fear as they step out onto the pitch at Montjuïc to conclude this matchday.   

  • LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 21 preview: Atleti and Barça look to return to winning ways at home

    LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 21 preview: Atleti and Barça look to return to winning ways at home

    The 2024/25 LALIGA EA SPORTS title race is proving to be a rollercoaster, and each of Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona have spent time at the top of the table. It’s currently the reigning champions who sit first, after Atleti and Barça dropped points on the road last weekend. In front of their home fans, they’ll both look to get back to winning ways in Matchday 21.

    It’s a matchday that begins in the Canary Islands, where UD Las Palmas take on CA Osasuna on Friday night. Both of these teams have seen their league form drop off in recent weeks, so they’ll each view this game as a good opportunity to get back on track.

    The second fixture of the matchday is also being held off the mainland, this time in the Balearic Islands, where RCD Mallorca and Real Betis will face off in the first game of Saturday. Real Betis are in really poor form, with just one league win from their past nine fixtures, and Manuel Pellegrini knows that they need to win matches like this one if they are to qualify for European football for a fifth season in a row.

    The next game of the day takes place in Spain’s capital, where Atlético de Madrid will look to kick off a new winning run after falling to defeat away at CD Leganés last weekend, a result which snapped a 15-match win streak. It won’t be easy against Villarreal CF, a team Atleti have dropped many points against over the years, but Diego Simeone will hope that home advantage can make the difference.

    Sevilla FC vs RCD Espanyol follows and Dodi Lukebakio, the fifth-top scorer in the division, will aim to keep up his impressive scoring form, especially given that the Belgian netted twice in a 2-0 win when these teams faced off in Catalonia earlier this season.  

    On Saturday night, at 21.00 CET, there is a duel between the team currently bottom of the table, Real Valladolid, and the club entering the matchday in first place, Real Madrid. This may look like a mismatch on paper, but the points will be decided on the Estadio José Zorrilla pitch, a pitch where Real Valladolid have won their past two home games.

    There are four more fixtures on Sunday, starting with Rayo Vallecano vs Girona FC. It’s always a special occasion for Girona FC coach Míchel when he returns to Vallecas to take on his former club, and he’ll hope it’s as happy a trip as it was last season when the Catalan outfit won 2-1.

    Real Sociedad and Getafe CF face off on Sunday afternoon and there should be some excellent defending on display, given that these two teams currently boast the second-best and third-best defensive records in the division, respectively.  

    The action stays in the Basque Country, as Athletic Club host CD Leganés in Bilbao. The team from Madrid just defeated Atlético de Madrid, only a few weeks after also conquering FC Barcelona, so now Los Pepineros will seek another scalp when they visit San Mamés.

    FC Barcelona vs Valencia CF is next, taking place at the Estadi Olímpic on Sunday night. This is a preview of their upcoming Copa del Rey quarter-final, but for now the focus is on the three league points at stake, as Barça look to catch up in the title race and as Los Che aim to escape the relegation zone.

    The final game of the matchday comes on Monday night, as Deportivo Alavés take on RC Celta at Mendizorrotza. The Basque outfit will enter this fixture full of confidence after their impressive road win at Real Betis last weekend, in which Kike García scored a hat-trick to become the top-scoring Spaniard of the competition. In front of their home fans, Deportivo Alavés will set out to make it back-to-back wins.  

  • LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 20 preview: The second half of the season begins with the top three all playing in Madrid

    LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 20 preview: The second half of the season begins with the top three all playing in Madrid

    The 2024/25 LALIGA EA SPORTS season is at the halfway stage, and it’s Atlético de Madrid who currently lead the way, holding a narrow one-point advantage over city rivals Real Madrid. This weekend, Diego Simeone’s charges will be on the road but still playing in the Spanish capital, as they’ll pay a visit to CD Leganés. That’s just one of the many games to look out for this weekend.

    The first fixture of Matchday 20 is the Friday night duel between two sides currently in the relegation zone, as 18th-placed RCD Espanyol host 19th-placed Real Valladolid. These two clubs came up from LALIGA HYPERMOTION last summer and plan to stay in the top tier, so this is a huge match as they fight to achieve that objective.

    Girona FC vs Sevilla FC is the first of four fixtures on Saturday, and the Catalan side arrive in good form. They’ve won five of their past eight league fixtures, including their past two, so they’ll hope to keep that momentum up against a team they’ve already defeated this season.

    At 16:15 CET on Saturday, league leaders Atlético de Madrid will hope to keep up their own good run of form when they make the short trip to take on CD Leganés. Los Colchoneros have won their past eight in LALIGA EA SPORTS, so travel to the Estadio Butarque with all the confidence in the world.

    Real Betis and Deportivo Alavés face off on Saturday evening and, given that both these sides lost last weekend in their first league fixture of 2025, they’ll be looking to bounce back. Their past three league meetings have all finished as draws, so this promises to be another tight and competitive encounter.

    At 21:00 CET, FC Barcelona return to league action and they do so at Getafe CF, just a few kilometres away from where title rivals Atlético de Madrid take on CD Leganés. Barça have collected a meagre five points from their past seven league matches, but they did just win the Spanish Super Cup in convincing fashion and will hope to take confidence from that victory. Los Blaugrana will certainly need confidence if they’re to break down Getafe CF, a team they haven’t beaten on the road since 2019.

    There are four more fixtures on Sunday, starting with RC Celta vs Athletic Club. This has been a fun match-up in recent times, with their past four meetings producing zero clean sheets and a total of 17 goals, an average of 4.25 per game.

    Real Madrid return to action at 16:15 CET on Sunday, with a home game against UD Las Palmas. Although the pain of their Spanish Super Cup defeat against FC Barcelona is still fresh on the players’ minds, Los Blancos do enter this matchday just one point behind first place and will know that three LALIGA EA SPORTS points can go a long way to getting the season back on track.

    The next game is CA Osasuna vs Rayo Vallecano, and it’ll be a special occasion for Los Franjirrojos coach Iñigo Pérez. He hails from Pamplona and spent several years of his career with CA Osasuna, and this will be his first match as a visiting head coach at El Sadar. He’ll hope to make it a successful visit for Rayo Vallecano, who haven’t lost any of their past five league games.

    The Sunday night game sees Valencia CF take on Real Sociedad at Mestalla. Los Che have shown signs of improvement under new coach Carlos Corberán, but they enter this matchday in last place and desperately need to convert any improvement into points.

    Then, the final game of the round comes on Monday night, when Villarreal CF and RCD Mallorca meet at the Estadio de la Cerámica. A 94th-minute Ayoze Pérez goal earned El Submarino Amarillo a 2-1 win when these sides met earlier in the season, and another fascinating duel between these two European contenders awaits.   

  • LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 14 preview: Club football returns with derbies in Catalonia, Madrid and the Basque Country

    LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 14 preview: Club football returns with derbies in Catalonia, Madrid and the Basque Country

    Club football is back, following the November international break. And, there are several big games on the schedule of LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 14, such as FC Barcelona’s trip north to take on RC Celta, the regional rivalry match between Girona FC and RCD Espanyol, the capital city clash between CD Leganés and Real Madrid or the first BASQUE DERBY of the season between Athletic Club and Real Sociedad.

    The very first game of the round comes on Friday night, a meeting between Getafe CF and Real Valladolid. Given that both these teams currently sit inside the bottom four, the three points on offer are especially valuable, even at this early stage of the season.

    The first of Saturday’s fixtures should be a special one, as Valencia CF return to Mestalla to play their first match since the devastating DANA storm that hit the city. There were emotional scenes when neighbours Levante UD returned home in LALIGA HYPERMOTION last weekend, and it will be similarly moving when Los Che take to the pitch again, in their case to take on Real Betis.

    Atlético de Madrid are at home for a duel against Deportivo Alavés on Saturday afternoon. All eyes will be on Giuliano Simeone, who was on loan with the Basque outfit last season and who has been playing very well for Los Colchoneros in recent weeks.

    At 18:30 CET, there are two matches taking place simultaneously, including a Catalan derby between Girona FC and RCD Espanyol. Although the latter have historically been the second-most successful club in Catalonia behind FC Barcelona, it’s Girona FC who have fared better of late and who are currently competing in UEFA competition. As such, this should be an interesting battle for regional bragging rights. At the same time, there is a battle of the islands, as UD Las Palmas welcome RCD Mallorca to the Estadio de Gran Canaria. Given the passion of those two fanbases, this should be a lively duel in itself.

    On Saturday night, RC Celta and FC Barcelona take centre stage for a game between two of the four top-scoring teams in LALIGA EA SPORTS. Barça just lost away at Real Sociedad before the international break, so will be desperate to return to winning ways in Vigo. However, they’ve often struggled away at RC Celta over the years, and have won just three of their past 10 league visits.  

    Four more fixtures follow on Sunday, starting with CA Osasuna vs Villarreal CF. This is a meeting of the clubs entering the matchday in fifth and in fourth position, respectively, so high-quality football should be expected.

    Sevilla FC vs Rayo Vallecano follows, with the Andalusian side keen to bounce back following two consecutive defeats. That’s easier said than done, though, especially as Los Rojiblancos have only won one of their past five meetings with Rayo Vallecano.

    Sunday concludes with two more derbies, the first of which is a Madrid derby between CD Leganés and Real Madrid. Although these clubs haven’t met since 2019/20, the last time Lega were in the top division, the southern Madrid side did put together an impressive record against Los Blancos. In fact, Real Madrid failed to win on their past three visits to the Estadio Butarque, playing out two draws and suffering one loss in the Copa del Rey. This weekend’s match is already sold out, so it’ll be interesting to see how Carlo Ancelotti’s men fare this time.

    Then, at 21:00 CET on Sunday, it’s time for the first BASQUE DERBY between Athletic Club and Real Sociedad of the 2024/25 campaign. Last season, each of these teams won the home edition of this derby, so the fact that this one is in Bilbao could give Athletic Club the edge. Either way, these teams enter the match with just two points separating them in the table, so it promises to be a competitive and thrilling game to end Matchday 14.   

  • LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 12 preview: FC Barcelona look to keep up their great form against city rivals RCD Espanyol

    LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 12 preview: FC Barcelona look to keep up their great form against city rivals RCD Espanyol

    Matchday 11 of the LALIGA EA SPORTS season was a memorable one, as FC Barcelona thrashed Real Madrid 4-0 in the first ELCLASICO of the season. Although they’ve moved six points clear at the top, Hansi Flick’s side cannot afford to lower the intensity as they now have another rivalry match coming up in Matchday 12, this time against city rivals RCD Espanyol. That is just one of the several big matches taking place this weekend.

    The first game of Matchday 12 comes on Friday, a duel between Deportivo Alavés and RCD Mallorca. The Basque side have lost five games in a row and are slipping down the table rapidly, so coach Luis García Plaza knows he needs a positive result against one of his former clubs.

    Real Valladolid are another team in desperate need of points, as they sit 19th with four losses from their past five matches. When they travel to CA Osasuna on Saturday, coach Paulo Pezzolano will also be under pressure to achieve a victory and turn the situation around.

    At 16:15 CET, Girona FC and CD Leganés face off at the Estadi Montilivi. It’s a rare meeting between these clubs, who haven’t usually been in the same division at the same time. They’ve only met in 12 official matches ever and it has been a one-sided affair, as Girona FC have won six while Lega have beaten the Catalan side just once, in addition to five draws.

    The two fixtures that were due to take place on Saturday night – Villarreal CF vs Rayo Vallecano and Valencia CF vs Real Madrid – have been postponed due to the flooding experienced in the Valencian Community this past week. They will both be played at a later date.

    Then, Atlético de Madrid host the first of Sunday’s fixtures, taking on UD Las Palmas. After suffering their first loss of the LALIGA EA SPORTS season last weekend, Diego Simeone’s charges will be desperate to return to winning ways. But, it won’t be easy against a rejuvenated UD Las Palmas, who have won both their league matches so far under new coach Diego Martínez.

    Next up, at 16:15 CET on Sunday, it’s time for ELDERBI DE BARCELONA between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol. This fixture didn’t take place last season, when Los Pericos were in the second tier, so football fans in the Catalan capital have been waiting some time to see these old rivals meet again. This one is set to be an especially interesting derby, given that it’ll take place at the Estadi Olímpic in Montjuïc, which used to be the home of RCD Espanyol but which is the temporary venue for Barça’s home games.

    Sevilla FC vs Real Sociedad is next up and both these clubs will be seeking the three points to improve their chances of achieving European qualification. They enter Matchday 12 in 10th and 12th position in the table respectively, having had disappointing starts to the campaign, but there is still plenty of time for them to climb up the rankings and compete for a European spot.

    The very next game is another duel between Basques and Sevillians, with Athletic Club vs Real Betis concluding Sunday’s action. Los Leones and Los Verdiblancos couldn’t be more evenly matched as they enter this matchday, as they currently sit fifth and sixth in the standings, on 18 points each. As such, this should be a competitive and fascinating encounter.

    The final game of the round will come on Monday night, a showdown between RC Celta and Getafe CF. The Madrid side have improved as the season has gone on, and are currently four matches undefeated, so José Bordalás’ squad will travel north with confidence for this final fixture of Matchday 12.

  • LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 10 preview: Club football returns and Barça and Real Madrid face tricky pre-ELCLASICO tests

    LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 10 preview: Club football returns and Barça and Real Madrid face tricky pre-ELCLASICO tests

    The October international break is over, so it’s time to focus back on the thrilling LALIGA EA SPORTS title race. Matchday 10 is up next and, with ELCLASICO just around the corner in Matchday 11, this could be a crucial weekend as both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid aim to build up some momentum. They currently sit first and second, but both Los Azulgranas and Los Blancos have tricky fixtures this weekend.

    The very first fixture of the weekend, though, is one which could be key for the relegation battle, given that staying in the top tier is the main objective for both Deportivo Alavés and Real Valladolid. Although the Basque side started the season well, three losses in a row mean they’ll hope to get back to winning ways in this Friday night home game against a newly promoted Pucela side.

    Athletic Club and RCD Espanyol, two of the most historic clubs in Spanish football history, will face off in the first of Saturday’s matches. The Williams brothers scored one each for a 2-1 Athletic Club victory the last time these clubs met, and September Coach of the Month Ernesto Valverde will hope for something similar this weekend.

    The following two fixtures are direct duels in the European qualification battle, as CA Osasuna host Real Betis and as Girona FC welcome Real Sociedad to town. CA Osasuna may be the only club out of this quartet who didn’t qualify for Europe last season, yet they’re currently highest in the table as they stand tall in fifth place. Under Vicente Moreno’s leadership, they’re aiming to remain in the continental positions, while each of Real Betis, Girona FC and Real Sociedad expect to book another ticket to Europe by the end of the campaign.

    RC Celta are another club dreaming of European qualification this year, and they take on the reigning champions Real Madrid on Saturday night. The Galicians haven’t defeated Los Blancos in LALIGA EA SPORTS in over a decade, and they’ll be without their suspended captain Iago Aspas for this weekend’s match, but coach Claudio Giráldez has constructed a well-organised team and they could make life difficult for Real Madrid the week before ELCLASICO.

    The first of Sunday’s four fixtures takes place in the Balearic Islands, where RCD Mallorca and Rayo Vallecano will come head to head. The visitors haven’t lost since August, and will aim to maintain this solid run of form at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix.

    A Madrid derby is up next, as Atlético de Madrid host CD Leganés. During Los Pepineros’ previous stint in the top flight, they managed to take points off of their capital city neighbours at least once in each of their four seasons in LALIGA EA SPORTS, so Diego Simeone will know that they are not to be taken lightly.

    Villarreal CF vs Getafe CF is the following fixture, a match in which Allan Nyom could make his re-debut for Los Azulones. The veteran right-back returned to Getafe CF during the international break and there is excitement among the fans at what he can contribute.

    The Sunday night game takes place in Montjuïc, where FC Barcelona will take on Sevilla FC. Although the Andalusian side remain in the bottom half of the table for now, they have started to build up some momentum by collecting seven points from their past three games, including their win in ELGRAN DERBI. League leaders FC Barcelona, who are suffering a number of injuries, will have to be careful if they want to head into ELCLASICO week with momentum and a healthy lead in the standings.

    The final game of the matchday takes place on Monday night, when UD Las Palmas travel to face Valencia CF away from home. This will be the debut for the islanders and bottom-placed side’s new coach, Diego Martínez, who has lost on both of his previous visits to Mestalla as a coach. He’ll hope for a different outcome as he begins life in the UD Las Palmas dugout.   

  • LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 8 preview: It’s Madrid Derby weekend, as Atleti and Real Madrid face off

    LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 8 preview: It’s Madrid Derby weekend, as Atleti and Real Madrid face off

    The action doesn’t stop in LALIGA EA SPORTS. Immediately following the conclusion of the midweek Matchday 7, there is another round to tuck into this weekend as Matchday 8 kicks off on Friday. It should be a dramatic weekend with not one but two Madrid derbies, one between Rayo Vallecano and CD Leganés and another between historic foes Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano.

    It’s Real Valladolid and RCD Mallorca who’ll get the matchday up and running, when they meet at the Estadio José Zorilla on Friday night. With three victories from their past four matches, RCD Mallorca are flying up the table, although an injury to star striker Vedat Muriqi means coach Jagoba Arrasate will have to get creative in attack.

    Getafe CF and Deportivo Alavés meet in the first of four Saturday fixtures, a special game for coaches José Bordalás and Luis García Plaza as they each take on one of their former clubs. The action then remains in Madrid as there is a capital city derby between Rayo Vallecano and CD Leganés in Vallecas, their first top-flight meeting in over five and a half years.

    Real Sociedad vs Valencia CF is next up and this is a huge game for both teams, considering their poor starts to the season. Although both clubs entered 2024/25 with hopes of qualifying for Europe, they’re each currently on just five points and hovering around the relegation zone. Both clubs need points and fast, meaning this should be a thrilling game in which both sets of players leave it all on the pitch.

    League leaders FC Barcelona pay a visit to CA Osasuna for the Saturday night game, and Hansi Flick will have to improvise given the injury crisis he has in his squad. It took a late Robert Lewandowski penalty for Los Blaugranas to edge this fixture 2-1 last season and the Polish striker should be the focal point of attack once more, especially as he is the current top scorer of the competition with seven goals.

    Sunday throws up four more exciting fixtures, the first of which is RC Celta vs Girona FC. These have been two of the most entertaining teams so far this season, as they score a lot of goals and concede a lot of goals. In the case of RC Celta, their matches this term are producing 4.50 goals on average, while Girona FC’s are conjuring up 2.57 goals. When they go head to head, it could be goals galore.

    On Sunday afternoon, Athletic Club will look to keep up their recent run of good form when Sevilla FC visit Bilbao. The Basque outfit have won three matches in a row to soar into the European positions and will hope to make it four consecutive victories in front of their own fans.

    Real Betis vs RCD Espanyol is next up and this should be an interesting one, when Los Verdiblancos look to get back to winning ways at the Estadio Benito Villamarín. At the beginning of the season, the Andalusian side’s stadium had been a fortress and they had won three home games in a row before a shock loss against RCD Mallorca last time out. Against the newly promoted team from Catalonia, they’ll look to get back on track.

    Then, at 21:00 CEST on Sunday night, it’s the Madrid Derby between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano. Interestingly, Real Madrid only lost two matches across all of last season and they were their two trips to this stadium, as they fell 3-1 in LALIGA EA SPORTS and also lost 4-2 after extra time in a Copa del Rey clash. Diego Simeone will hope his team’s impressive home form can inspire Los Colchoneros to another derby victory, while Los Blancos will seek revenge for last season’s pair of defeats.

    There is one final fixture of this round on Monday, a battle of two teams in yellow as Villarreal CF welcome UD Las Palmas to the Estadio de la Cerámica. The Canary Islanders won both times these clubs faced off last season, and the three points would be very useful for them if they can achieve another victory in Matchday 8 of this season.   

  • Osimhen, Man United In Europa League Action On DStv, GOtv

    Osimhen, Man United In Europa League Action On DStv, GOtv

    Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhem will begin the chase for European Club competition glory with Galatasaray on Wednesday when they host PAOk Thessaloniki of Greece in the Europa League.

    Galatasaray remains the only Turkish side to win a European trophy courtesy of their penalty shootout win over Arsenal in the year 2000 UEFA Cup final. The Turkish giants have had an excellent start to the 2024/25 season, taking 18 maximum points from their opening six matches in the league.

    Osimhen turned up with an assist during their impressive 3-1 derby win over Fenerbahçe away from home on Saturday. Tune in to DStv ch 203 and GOtv ch 66 to watch live at 8 pm on Wednesday.

    Also, on Wednesday, Manchester United will take on FC Twente at Old Trafford in a Europa League tie, live on DStv ch 205 and GOtv ch 61, at 8 pm. Erik Ten Hag’s men will aim to avoid another miserable Europen campaign, following last season’s run which saw them finish bottom of the group and crash out of Europe in December.

    Having seen their league form dwindle in recent years, the Red Devils have been a good cup team in the last two seasons, winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. United are currently 11th in the Premier League table and the Europa League could present them a good shot at another silverware this season.

    In the Spanish Laliga, defending Champions, Real Madrid will host Deportivo Alaves live on DStv ch 204 and GOtv 62 at 8 pm. Los Blancos are already four points behind the league leaders with just six matches played and cannot afford to drop points going into the weekend derby against Atletico Madrid. On Wednesday, Barcelona will host Getafe live on the same channel, at 8 pm. The Catalans have been perfect in the league this season, with six wins out of six. With the Madrid derby set to hold on Sunday, Barcelona knows a win will pile more pressure on Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

    To enjoy all the matches and more, customers can take advantage of the GOtv Golden Window and upgrade to Supa Plus package for N13,900 instead of N15,700. You can also download the MyGOtv app for a better self-service experience.

  • LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 6 Preview

    LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 6 Preview

    …two Madrid derbies and Barça’s toughest test so far

    Matchday 6 of the new LALIGA EA SPORTS season promises to be one of the most fascinating yet, with league leaders FC Barcelona paying a visit to high-flying Villarreal CF on Sunday. There are several other standout games too, including a pair of Madrid derbies and a crucial home game for Valencia CF.

    The very first fixture of the matchday is in the Basque Country, where Deportivo Alavés will take on Sevilla FC on Friday night. If this game is anything like it was last year, when the Basque side won 4-3 at Mendizorroza, then we’re in for a treat.

    Four matches follow on Saturday, starting with Real Valladolid vs Real Sociedad. Although they’ve lost all three away games since their promotion, Los Blanquivioletas have collected four points from two matches at home so far so will feel confident going into this duel at the Estadio José Zorilla.

    CA Osasuna vs UD Las Palmas is next up and the pressure is on the islanders as they continue to seek their first victory of the season. Valencia CF are feeling similar pressure as they’ll enter this matchday on just one point and bottom of the table, making their home game against Girona FC a hugely important one, even at this early stage of the season.

    The Saturday night game this matchday takes place at the Bernabéu, where Real Madrid will take on RCD Espanyol keen to maintain their excellent home record against Los Blanquiazules. The Catalan team haven’t won away against Real Madrid since 1996 and have lost each of their past 10 away games against the capital city side. 

    The first match of Sunday is a southern Madrid derby between Getafe CF and CD Leganés, a hugely important fixture for both clubs and one that hasn’t taken place since 2020. In total, these neighbours have met six times in Spanish football’s top tier, with Getafe CF winning three times, CD Leganés once and with two draws. It’ll be a big day at the Coliseum as these two old foes resume their rivalry.

    The action then moves to Bilbao, where Athletic Club will host RC Celta. This is another fixture that finished 4-3 to the home side when it took place last season, as a 98th-minute Álex Berenguer penalty decided that duel. With Athletic Club keen to climb up the table, they’ll hope to take the three points once again.

    Then, all eyes will be on Villarreal CF vs FC Barcelona at 18:30 CEST on Sunday, as Hansi Flick’s league leaders face their toughest test yet when they go on the road to take on the team currently sitting fourth in the standings. Not only is this a clash between two in-form teams, but these are also two sides who play attacking football and whose direct duels usually produce goals. That was certainly the case last season when Barça won 4-3 at the Estadio de la Cerámica and when Villarreal CF won 5-3 in Montjuïc.

    After that blockbuster showdown, there is another Madrid derby, this time between Rayo Vallecano and Atlético de Madrid. After the euphoria of their come-from-behind win over CA Osasuna on Monday night, when James Rodríguez made his Rayo Vallecano debut, Los Franjirrojos will be excited for kick-off in this one and determined to avenge the 7-0 home loss they suffered in this fixture last season.

    The final game of this matchday is the Real Betis vs RCD Mallorca game on Monday night. There is no club that RCD Mallorca have faced more often in official matches than Los Verdiblancos, however the islanders have lost their past five meetings and will hope to change that in this final fixture of Matchday 6.

  • Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid: LA Real seek their First Home Victory and Los Blancos their First Away Win

    Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid: LA Real seek their First Home Victory and Los Blancos their First Away Win

    …the Txuri-Urdin will host the defending champions on Saturday at the Reale Arena, where Imanol Alguacil’s side have already lost twice this season.

    It’s one of the most anticipated duels of LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 5, as Real Sociedad are set to host reigning champions Real Madrid at the Reale Arena. Saturday’s duel will be a first-class opportunity for the two sides to gain ground, and a potential victory in San Sebastián could be the springboard in Real Madrid’s bid to rediscover their form after a slow start to the 2024/25 campaign.

    Los Blancos do remain unbeaten so far, but they have already dropped four points after drawing 1-1 away at RCD Mallorca and UD Las Palmas on Matchdays 1 and 3, respectively. Yet, two victories against Real Valladolid and Real Betis at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu have allowed them to pick up a total of eight points and they currently sit second-top in the league table behind leaders FC Barcelona.

    As for the Txuri-Urdin, Imanol Alguacil’s side have only managed to collect four points from the first four league games of the season. Real Sociedad suffered two 2-1 home defeats to Rayo Vallecano and Deportivo Alavés, with their only victory coming away at RCD Espanyol (1-0) on August 24th. The Basque side haven’t won either of their last two games, having recorded a goalless draw at Getafe CF on Matchday 4. 

    This means that Real Sociedad have yet to win at home this season, while Real Madrid are still seeking their first away win of the league campaign. Both sides will hope to change that this weekend. 

    Bellingham could make his comeback

    Neither David Alaba nor Eduardo Camavinga will have recovered from injury in time, but Real Madrid may receive a huge boost given that Jude Bellingham has stepped up his recovery and could return to action against Real Sociedad. The England international, who inspired Real Madrid to league success last term, has not featured since the season opener, after which he picked up a muscle injury.

    Meanwhile, Brais Méndez and Hamari Traoré have joined Mikel Oyarzabal on the sidelines after picking up injuries at the Coliseum before the international break. Álvaro Odriozola may also miss out on the opportunity to face his former club after suffering an injury setback, but Aritz Elustondo has returned to team training and he is expected to be available for selection.

    A return to the Reale Arena for Mbappé

    After opening his LALIGA EA SPORTS account with a brace against Real Betis, just before the break, Kylian Mbappé is ready to perform at the Reale Arena and not for the first time in 2024. Los Blancos’ summer signing netted three of Paris Saint-Germain’s four goals as the French side won their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie 4-1 against Real Sociedad at the beginning of 2024. In the match in San Sebastián, he was electric as he produced a brace and the Real Madrid fans will hope he can put together a similar performance on Saturday.

    Yet, this may not be only re-encounter in San Sebastián, as Takefusa Kubo is expected to be included in the starting XI against his former team, Real Madrid. The 23-year-old forward kicked off the season in style with a winner off the bench against RCD Espanyol before recording a goal and two assists in Japan’s FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier 7-0 thrashing of China on Thursday.

    In the 10 games which he has disputed against Los Blancos, Kubo has managed to send the ball into the back of the net once – in a 2-0 home victory on Matchday 33 in the 2022/23 campaign. Yet, that goal was of great importance for the Basque side, as it broke the deadlock in what was Real Sociedad’s sole victory in the last nine league games against Real Madrid, who have won five of these encounters.

    On Saturday, Real Sociedad will look to get back to winning ways against the club from the capital. Meanwhile, Los Blancos, who won 13 of their 19 league games away from home last season, will push for their first road victory of 2024/25.   

  • LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 38 preview: Several players and clubs still have objectives to meet in the season’s final round

    LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 38 preview: Several players and clubs still have objectives to meet in the season’s final round

    The final round of the 2023/24 LALIGA EA SPORTS season is here and there are still several interesting storylines to follow, even if most of the main battles have already been decided. For just the third time in the history of the competition, the championship, the European race and the relegation battle have been settled before the final round, but there are individual prizes still up for grabs and other objectives too.

    The top scorer award, called the Pichichi Trophy, will most certainly be on Artem Dovbyk’s mind when he and his Girona FC teammates take to the field in the first game of Matchday 38, when Granada CF visit Catalonia on Friday. The Ukrainian striker is now two goals behind Villarreal CF’s Alexander Sørloth, following the Norwegian’s four-goal display against Real Madrid last weekend, but Dovbyk has scored a hat-trick at the Estadi Montilivi already this season and will give his all to conjure up another.

    However many goals Dovbyk manages on Friday, Sørloth will have the chance to respond in the first of Saturday’s games, when Villarreal CF make the trip to Pamplona to play CA Osasuna. The Norwegian will hope to silence a lively home crowd, when the CA Osasuna fans bid farewell to Jagoba Arrasate, following six seasons as coach.

    Two more individual awards will be in play when sixth-placed Real Sociedad take on fourth-placed Atlético de Madrid at the Reale Arena on Saturday afternoon. Home goalkeeper, Álex Remiro still has a chance of winning the Zamora Trophy for the best-performing goalkeeper, while Los Colchoneros striker, Álvaro Morata needs one more goal to stand alone at the top of the rankings for the Zarra Trophy, the prize for the top-scoring Spaniard. It’ll be fascinating to see them go up against each other in this duel.

    There are two simultaneous games at 18:30 CEST on Saturday, one of which is also key to the Zamora Trophy standings. Unai Simón of Athletic Club will hope to pick up a clean sheet away at Rayo Vallecano, as he dreams of winning this award for the first time. Meanwhile, in the other game at that kick-off time, UD Almería and Cádiz CF will look to savour their last experience of LALIGA EA SPORTS for a while, as the two Andalusian clubs face off ahead of their already-confirmed relegations to LALIGA HYPERMOTION.

    Real Madrid may have wrapped up the title weeks ago, but they too have an objective in mind when they host Real Betis on Saturday night. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have the chance to go unbeaten at their home stadium across the entire 2023/24 season, as they haven’t lost a single match at the Bernabéu in any competition this term. The last time they achieved this was 1996/97, so this would be a historic achievement if they can avoid defeat against Los Verdiblancos.

    Sunday is the final day of the entire season and Getafe CF vs RCD Mallorca is the first game up. Both sides can play with some freedom, knowing that they’ll be back in the top tier for the 2024/25 campaign.

    RC Celta can also enjoy a calmer final day at Balaídos than in some previous years, when they take on Valencia CF in one of Sunday’s two 16:15 CEST kick-offs. The other game happening at that same time is UD Las Palmas vs Deportivo Alavés, a duel between two teams who came up last season and who have both managed to avoid relegation.

    At 21:00 CEST on Sunday, Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona meet at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán in the final game of the 2023/24 LALIGA EA SPORTS season, and this is another important duel when it comes to deciding where the Zamora Trophy will go. If Athletic Club’s Unai Simón concedes at least one goal in his game, then FC Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen would be able to win and retain this prize with a clean sheet. In other words, that individual award could come down to the very last seconds of the last game of the season.  

  • LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 34 preview: Girona FC and Barça meet in a Catalan derby with a Super Cup ticket as the prize

    LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 34 preview: Girona FC and Barça meet in a Catalan derby with a Super Cup ticket as the prize

    Matchday 34 of the LALIGA EA SPORTS season will bring up a pair of intriguing regional derbies, including a duel between Girona FC and FC Barcelona at the Estadi Montilivi. There will also be an Andalusian derby between Sevilla FC and Granada CF, as well as several other important fixtures in the race to qualify for Europe and the relegation battle.

    The very first game of the weekend is the Friday night showdown between Getafe CF and Athletic Club at the Coliseum. The Basque side lost in Spain’s capital last weekend, when they visited Atlético de Madrid, and Ernesto Valverde knows that they can’t afford to drop any more points if they want to maintain their dreams of playing Champions League football next season.

    There are four fixtures for fans to tuck into on Saturday, the first of which is Real Sociedad vs UD Las Palmas. The home side are currently on course to qualify for the Europa League, but they’re being chased down by the clubs just behind them in the standings. Against a UD Las Palmas side that have lost six in a row, Mikel Oyarzabal and co. will know they need to take all three points.

    At 16:15 CEST on Saturday afternoon, Real Madrid host Cádiz CF at the Bernabéu. This will be a battle of brothers as Los Blancos’ captain Nacho goes up against his younger sibling, Álex Fernández. They’re fighting for very different objectives, as Nacho and his teammates are looking to wrap up the LALIGA EA SPORTS title, while Álex and his colleagues at Cádiz CF are trying to escape the relegation zone.

    Next up, at 18:30 CEST, there is a very important Catalan derby between Girona FC and FC Barcelona. These two sides are locked in a battle to finish second, aware that ending the season as runners-up would grant access to next year’s Spanish Super Cup. For Girona FC, it would be their first ever qualification for this tournament, while Xavi’s side want to make sure they keep up their 100 record of qualifying for the Spanish Super Cup in every edition since it became a four-team tournament.

    RCD Mallorca vs Atlético de Madrid is the Saturday night game, and this is another fixture between two teams battling hard at opposite ends of the table. The islanders enter the matchday only six points above the relegation zone and Atleti just six points clear of fifth-placed Athletic Club, so both sides will want to maintain their cushions.

    On Sunday, Real Betis pay a visit to CA Osasuna in the first game of the day, looking to keep up their pursuit of European qualification. A 94th minute Isco goal gave Los Verdiblancos all three points when these sides met earlier in the season, but the playmaker is suspended this weekend and Manuel Pellegrini will likely turn to Nabil Fekir for a creative spark.

    Sunday afternoon brings up yet another duel between a team chasing European qualification and one fighting to avoid relegation, in this case RC Celta vs Villarreal CF. El Submarino Amarillo have won six of their past eight matches, with Alexander Sørloth leading the way, and he’ll hope to win the individual battle against his compatriot Jørgen Strand Larsen.

    Mestalla hosts the day’s next game, a duel between Valencia CF and Deportivo Alavés. Los Che are another team with European aspirations, but lost away at the Basque side when they met back in September. In front of their home crowd, they’ll hope for a different result.

    There are then two 21:00 CEST matches on Sunday night to round out the matchday. One of them sees Rayo Vallecano take on already-relegated UD Almería in Vallecas, while the other is an Andalusian derby between Sevilla FC and Granada CF at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. Both these grounds are known for their lively atmospheres, so it should be a pulsating end to Sunday’s action.  

  • LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 33 preview: A weekend packed with direct duels and ELGRAN DERBI between Real Betis and Sevilla FC

    LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 33 preview: A weekend packed with direct duels and ELGRAN DERBI between Real Betis and Sevilla FC

    Following a rare midweek off, all 20 LALIGA EA SPORTS teams will approach their Matchday 33 fixtures this weekend full of energy and aware that this is the business end of the season, when every point is extra valuable. There are some fascinating six-pointers at both ends of the table this matchday, as well as ELGRAN DERBI between Real Betis and Sevilla FC, in which victory is always so important.

    League leaders Real Madrid are involved in the very first game of the weekend on Friday night, when they pay a visit to Real Sociedad. Still high on the euphoria of their dramatic victory in ELCLASICO, the capital city side will hope to seal the LALIGA EA SPORTS title as soon as possible. It won’t be easy at the Reale Arena, a stadium where Los Blancos lost last season, and Carlo Ancelotti will make it very clear to his players that they need another win to keep up momentum.

    The first game of Saturday takes place in the Canary Islands, where UD Las Palmas will meet Girona FC. These are the two clubs based furthest away from each other in the top flight, so the Catalan club will hope it’s a worthwhile trip as they aim to add more points to their Champions League qualification cause.

    On Saturday afternoon, UD Almería and Getafe CF meet at the Power Horse Stadium, where the Andalusian outfit still haven’t won yet this league season, since their only victory came on the road. If they don’t achieve that first home win of the season here, they’ll be mathematically relegated, so this is a vitally important game for the Andalusian club.

    RC Celta are currently in 17th and just outside the relegation zone, so need victories too and will aim to secure one when they visit Deportivo Alavés. Without the suspended Jørgen Strand Larsen, it could be Iago Aspas leading the line in this one, and he often comes up big at this time of year.

    On Saturday night, the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano will host of the most important fixtures remaining this season, as fourth-placed Atlético de Madrid take on fifth-placed Athletic Club. Just three points separate these two teams as they each battle to finish inside the top four and secure a Champions League ticket for next season. Although Diego Simeone’s men have home advantage for this game, Athletic Club have already defeated Atleti three times this season across all competitions, so it’s anyone’s guess as to what happens in Matchday 33.

    There is another vitally important direct duel, this time down at the bottom of the table, to kick off Sunday’s action. Cádiz CF currently occupy the final relegation spot and have their eyes on RC Celta and RCD Mallorca, who both enter this matchday with a six-point cushion. With Javier Aguirre and his RCD Mallorca side visiting the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla this weekend, Cádiz CF know they can cut the distance between them and the islanders in half, so will give every ounce of effort in this match.

    Depending on that Cádiz CF result, and the RC Celta game the day before, Granada CF may also be at risk of having relegation mathematically confirmed by the time they step out onto the pitch to take on CA Osasuna at the Nuevo Estadio de Los Cármenes. Either way, Los Rojiblancos will look to put their best foot forward in front of their home crowd.

    Villarreal CF vs Rayo Vallecano is next up and El Submarino Amarillo will be looking to keep up their good form, as only Real Madrid have picked up more points than Marcelino’s side in the past two months. This positive run has propelled Villarreal CF into the European race, but they need to keep winning to catch those above them.

    On Sunday night, at 9pm CEST, Real Betis and Sevilla FC will resume their rivalry in ELGRAN DERBI, one of the most passionate derby matches in all of world football. These teams may be some distance apart in the table, with Real Betis currently seventh and Sevilla FC 12th, but that won’t matter at all on derby day as the city stops to watch Los Verdiblancos and Los Rojiblancos do battle once more.

    If Real Betis fail to win ELGRAN DERBI, that will open the door for Valencia CF to move back into the final European position if they win away at FC Barcelona on Monday night. The Estadi Olímpic will be the venue for that Barça vs Valencia CF match, the perfect way to end an enthralling matchday.  

  • LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 32 preview: Real Madrid and FC Barcelona meet again in ELCLASICO

    LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 32 preview: Real Madrid and FC Barcelona meet again in ELCLASICO

    Matchday 32 of the LALIGA EA SPORTS season was always going to be a special one, with the second ELCLASICO of the league campaign taking place, but there are several other important fixtures too, in addition to this latest duel between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.

    For example, the very first game of the round, Athletic Club vs Granada CF on Friday night, is huge in terms of the race for Champions League qualification. The Basque side have fallen four points behind Atlético de Madrid in the battle to make the top four, but will view playing at home against the second-bottom side as a great opportunity to get back on track.

    On Saturday, attention turns to the relegation battle as the likes of Cádiz CF, RC Celta and Rayo Vallecano are all in action. First up is RC Celta vs UD Las Palmas, as the Galician side look to take advantage of the Canary Islanders’ poor form, with Los Amarillos having failed to win any of their past seven.

    Rayo Vallecano are still not safe from the threat of relegation, so they’ll hope to take all three points when they welcome CA Osasuna to Vallecas, especially given that their home form has been very good under new coach Iñigo Pérez.

    At 18:30 CEST on Saturday, there is another huge match. In the entire matchday, perhaps only ELCLASICO stands out above Valencia CF vs Real Betis in terms of potential significance. That’s because Valencia CF currently occupy the final European qualification position, but they’re only two points above Los Verdiblancos and could be overtaken if Manuel Pellegrini’s side storm Mestalla and take the win.

    The final game of Saturday then sees Girona FC clash with Cádiz CF. The Catalan side may have won 1-0 when they met earlier this season, but it should be kept in mind that Cádiz CF went down to 10 men after just 10 minutes that day. They’ll expect to battle with 11 players for longer this time around.

    Sunday is ELCLASICO day and the action begins with Real Sociedad’s visit to Getafe CF, with La Real looking to make sure they qualify for Europe next season. For Takefusa Kubo, this means a return to one of his former clubs and he’ll look to prove himself at the Coliseum.

    Next up, UD Almería host Villarreal CF and everyone tuning in should make sure to watch until the very end of each half. That’s because Villarreal CF’s 2-1 victory from their previous meeting was achieved with a goal in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time and in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.

    Deportivo Alavés vs Atlético de Madrid is next up and it’ll be interesting to see how Diego Simeone’s side respond to their midweek Champions League elimination. Keen to ensure they qualify for the same competition next year, Los Colchoneros will have to be at the top of their game, especially given that their on-loan striker Samu Omorodion is able to take on his parent club.

    Then, at 21:00 CEST, it’s time for ELCLASICO, the match that will be watched around the world. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona will put on a show at the Bernabéu, giving their maximum in search of the three valuable points on offer. The home side know that a win would extend their lead at the top to 11 points, but that defeat to Barça would reduce it to just five. With this being Xavi’s final ELCLASICO, he’ll make the trip with extra motivation, keen to make his mark at a stadium where he has achieved huge wins as a player and as a coach. It promises to be a spectacle that no football fan will want to miss.  

    There is one final Matchday 32 fixture on Monday night, when Sevilla FC and RCD Mallorca meet in the Andalusian capital. For Javier Aguirre’s side, this means a return to the city where they just lost the Copa del Rey final and they won’t want to board the flight home following another disappointing result.

  • LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 28 preview: FC Barcelona and RCD Mallorca kick off the weekend on Friday night

    LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 28 preview: FC Barcelona and RCD Mallorca kick off the weekend on Friday night

    Another weekend of important fixtures is coming up in LALIGA EA SPORTS. It commences at the Estadi Olímpic on Friday night, when FC Barcelona will look to keep the pressure on Real Madrid at the top of the table. The Catalan outfit are eight points behind the league leaders with 11 rounds remaining and they’ll take on an in-form RCD Mallorca side, who they drew against when they faced off earlier in the season. It won’t be easy for Barça given the injury crisis they’re going through, so it’ll be a fascinating duel to kick off the weekend.

    Saturday brings up four more matches, and the first is when Valencia CF hosts Getafe CF. It’ll be the third home game in a row for Los Che and they’ll look to build on their recent draws against Sevilla FC and Real Madrid, aware that they need victories if they’re to keep alive their hopes of returning to Europe.

    Atlético de Madrid expect to be in Europe every season, specifically in the Champions League, so they can’t afford any slip-ups when they pay a visit to Cádiz CF on Saturday afternoon. Atleti fell 2-0 behind before coming back to win 3-2 against the Andalusians earlier in the season, and Diego Simeone will be hoping for a simpler game this weekend against the third-bottom side.

    The action then stays in Andalusia for Granada CF vs Real Sociedad, with La Real keen to bounce back from their Champions League elimination against PSG on Tuesday night. The Basque outfit have won just one of their past six in LALIGA EA SPORTS, so need to get back to winning ways if they want to return to Europe next season.

    On Saturday night, an out-of-form Girona FC host an in-form CA Osasuna at the Estadi Montilivi. Facing Ante Budimir and co. will be a major test for the Catalan club as they seek to consolidate their position inside the top four.

    Deportivo Alavés vs Rayo Vallecano is the first of Sunday’s four fixtures, a meeting of two teams who are currently sitting several points above the relegation zone but who won’t want to become at all complacent.

    That is followed by Athletic Club’s first trip away to UD Las Palmas since 2017, when the Canary Islanders won 1-0. Keen to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League alive, Los Leones will hope to return with a better result this time.

    League leaders Real Madrid are in action next and by this point of the weekend they’ll know the results of the Girona FC and FC Barcelona games and what exactly they need to do to maintain their advantage at the top of the table. It’s former Real Madrid boss Rafa Benítez who’ll bring his RC Celta side to the Bernabéu, but the Galicians haven’t defeated Los Blancos in their past 19 league meetings. They’ll hope it’s 20th time lucky on Sunday.

    The Sunday night game this weekend is Real Betis vs Villarreal CF, two of the busier clubs in the January transfer window and two teams who have improved since bringing in the likes of Chimy Ávila, Pablo Fornals, Cédric Bakambu and Johnny Cardoso in the case of Los Verdiblancos, and Eric Bailly, Gonçalo Guedes, Yerson Mosquera and Bertrand Traoré in the case of El Submarino Amarillo.

    The matchday then concludes with an Andalusian derby on Monday night, when UD Almería welcome Sevilla FC to the south coast. Los Almeriensistas won this fixture 2-1 when they hosted the team from the Andalusian capital last season. They will hope for a repeat result on Monday as they continue to seek their first win of the LALIGA EA SPORTS season.