LaLiga 2024/25 matchday 6 predicted lineups

After midweek action in the Champions League and LaLiga, we head into the weekend with 10 more fixtures from the Spanish top flight. Top of the bill is a clash between two of the four remaining unbeaten sides as Villarreal entertain Barcelona. Here are our LaLiga predicted lineups for matchday 6, featuring all the clubs in action this weekend.

LaLiga predicted lineups – Matchday 6

Friday 20th September 2024

21:00 – Alaves vs Sevilla

Luis Garcia should have a full Alaves squad to pick from and he is a coach that does like to mix things up, so we could see a few changes from the defeat last weekend. New signings Joan Jordan and Toni Martinez are both in strong contention to make their full debuts, with the latter having scored twice off the bench already.

Alaves predicted lineup: Sivera – Manu Sanchez, Sedlar, Abqar, Tenaglia – Blanco, Jordan – Conechny, Guridi, Vicente – Martinez (4-2-3-1)

There was a first victory as Sevilla boss for Garcia Pimienta last time out against Getafe, but it wasn’t a dazzling display by any means. Therefore, it seems highly likely that Saul and Loic Bade will return to the eleven having been unavailable for that match. The evergreen Jesus Navas could keep his place having scored the winner against Getafe if Pimienta sticks with a 3-4-3 system, although a return to a back four is also possible. Juanlu Sanchez is suspended after seeing red last time out, while Dodi Lukebakio stands a good chance of being recalled in place of Peque.

Sevilla predicted lineup: Nyland – Nianzou, Bade, Carmona – Pedrosa, Saul, Sow, Navas – Ejuke, Romero, Lukebakio (3-4-3)

Saturday 21st September 2024

14:00 – Real Valladolid vs Real Sociedad

It’s 10 goals conceded in two games for Real Valladolid, but they’ve kept two clean sheets out of two at home and will fancy this against a misfiring Real Sociedad. Mario Martin will drop out due to suspension, with Victor Meseguer perhaps his most likely replacement in midfield. There’s very little clarity into who their best attacking players are right now with Paulo Pezzolano likely to continue to make changes over the coming games, unless anyone truly stands up with performance levels that make them tough to drop.

Real Valladolid predicted lineup: Hein – Rosa, Ozkacar, Comert, Luis Perez – Meseguer, Juric, Amallah – Moro, Sylla, Amath (4-3-3)

With only three goals and four points from six games, this is not the Real Sociedad we are used to seeing. While there have been some bright moments from new signings such as Luka Sucic and Sergio Gomez, this is very much a team in transition and it isn’t quite working for Imanol right now. With Europa League action over the next two weeks, some rotation is to be expected again here after the midweek defeat in Mallorca, with Take Kubo, Sheraldo Becker and Jon Pacheco among those most likely to benefit from that.

Real Sociedad predicted lineup: Remiro – Aihen, Pacheco, Zubeldia, Arambaru – Sucic, Zubimendi, Sergio Gomez – Becker, Oyarzabal, Kubo (4-3-3)

16:15 – Osasuna vs Las Palmas

All of Osasuna’s seven points so far this term have come at home, so they’ll be glad to get back to El Sadar this weekend after another poor away display at Rayo. Vicente Moreno appears to have a pretty clear idea already of his best nine or ten players, and it’s likely to be a similar starting lineup once more. Last season’s top scorer Ante Budimir should be fit enough to replace Raul Garcia up top though, while Moi Gomez is also pushing to replace Ruben Garcia on the right flank.

Osasuna predicted lineup: Herrera – Bretones, Boyomo, Catena, Areso – Torro, Moncayola – Bryan Zaragoza, Oroz, Moi Gomez – Budimir (4-2-3-1)

Alex Suarez is the only selection concern for Las Palmas, so Luis Carrion isn’t short on options for this match, but he’s not expected to make any wild changes, despite what is now a 19 game winless streak in LaLiga for the side from the Canary Islands. Carrion has only been in charge for five of those matches and there have been some positive displays since he took over, despite the failure to win.

Las Palmas predicted lineup: Cillessen – Alex Muñoz, Marmol, McKenna, Marvin – Kirian, Campaña, Javier Muñoz – Moleiro, McBurnie, Sandro (4-3-3)

18:30 – Valencia vs Girona

Valencia remain rock bottom of LaLiga after another poor display in Madrid against Atleti last weekend. Enzo Barrenechea is pushing for his first start here after joining on loan from Aston Villa. Ruben Baraja doesn’t have a great deal of other options to freshen things up though, with the likes of Jose Gaya and Hugo Duro sidelined through injury.

Valencia predicted lineup: Mamardashvili – Jesus Vazquez, Tarrega, Mosquera, Correia – Pepelu, Guerra, Barrenechea – Rioja, Dani Gomez, Diego Lopez (4-3-3)

Girona named an unexpected lineup in Paris as the club made their European debut in midweek with the likes of Abel Ruiz and Daley Blind on the bench. Both should return here, with Michel clearly intent on using his squad during this busy period. That raises questions as to whether the likes of Bryan Gil and Viktor Tysgankov will be rested this weekend having started in the Champions League. It was a late howler from Paulo Gazzaniga which cost Girona a point in France, but for now at least, he retains the faith of his boss over recent signing Pau Lopez.

Girona predicted lineup: Gazzaniga – Miguel Gutierrez, Blind, Krejci, Frances – Asprilla, Ivan Martin, Solis, Portu – Ruiz, Danjuma (4-4-2)

21:00 – Real Madrid vs Espanyol

Home games against Espanyol and Alaves over the next few days provide opportunities for Carlo Ancelotti to rotate, although with four players injured, options for that are somewhat limited. Endrick, Luka Modric and Arda Guler are all in with a chance of starting this match, but it’s tough to know which players Ancelotti will opt to rest here and which will drop out on Tuesday. He’s perhaps more likely to go strong here, with a slightly weaker eleven for the Alaves game which comes directly before the Madrid derby at the Estadio Metropolitano next weekend.

Real Madrid predicted lineup: Courtois – Garcia, Militao, Rudiger, Vazquez – Bellingham, Tchouameni, Valverde – Vinicius, Mbappe, Rodrygo (4-3-3)

A Javi Puado hat-trick sealed a 3-2 win for Espanyol last weekend at home to Alaves, but they’re unlikely to do much attacking in this game. Having ground out a 0-0 draw away to Atletico in August, Espanyol will be hoping to repeat the trick against a Real Madrid side that has struggled at times to break down teams that sit deep. They’re likely to go 3-5-2 with Alex Kral operating as the most defensive of a midfield trio.

Espanyol predicted lineup: Joan Garcia – Gomez, Kumbulla, El Hilali – Romero, Kral, Gragera, Aguado, Tejero – Puado, Veliz (3-5-2)

Sunday 22nd September 2024

14:00 – Getafe vs Leganes

The South Madrid derby takes place on Sunday and it promises to be a typically cagey affair. Getafe are winless with two just goals to their name, but last season’s top scorer Borja Mayoral is finally fit again, and should feature in attack here, although it’s unclear whether he’ll be deemed ready to start. Mauro Arambarri is also available so Pepe Bordalas is getting closer to being able to name what he views as his best eleven, although Nabil Aberdin is an injury doubt for this one. The importance of the derby suggests Getafe will go as strong as possible, with any rotation likely to be saved for midweek.

Getafe predicted lineup: Soria – Rico, Alderete, Djene, Iglesias – Uche, Arambarri, Milla – Sola, Yildirim, Perez (4-3-3)

The reality of life at this level is starting to sink in for newly promoted Leganes who have suffered three straight defeats. Borja Jimenez switched to a 5-3-2 against Athletic on Thursday, but it’s pretty clear that he hasn’t really come close to settling on a best eleven yet. He could revert to his usual back four here after a 2-0 loss, but either way, places in midfield and attack are very much up for grabs right now, with no clear selection patterns emerging.

Leganes predicted lineup: Soriano – Javi Hernandez, Saenz, Sergio, Rosier – Brasanac, Tapia, Oscar Rodriguez – Raba, Haller, Juan Cruz (4-3-3)

16:15 – Athletic Club vs Celta Vigo

Ernesto Valverde is another LaLiga boss juggling a busy schedule with Athletic in action on Thursday at Butarque and with two midweek Europa League games to come in the space of as many weeks. Gorka Guruzeta, Oihan Sancet and Iñaki Williams were all benched on Thursday, suggesting the trio will come back in for this one. Nico Williams is a new injury doubt and might have been in line for a rest in any case.

Athletic Club predicted lineup: Agirrezabala – Lekue, Paredes, Vivian, De Marcos – Prados, Ruiz de Galarreta – Berenguer, Sancet, Iñaki Williams – Guruzeta (4-2-3-1)

Celta could provide a real test for the Basques with Claudio Giraldez getting a tune out of a number of academy graduates, as well as more experienced players like Borja Iglesias who has now scored three in three. Giraldez also made a big call last weekend with Vicente Guaita returning in goal which suggests he remains the number one, with Ivan Villar expected to be on the bench again here. Marcos Alonso could replace the injured Jailson in defence. Pablo Duran was a surprise starter last time out, but faces competition from Williot Swedberg and Jonathan Bamba for his place.

Celta Vigo predicted lineup: Guaita – Alonso, Starfelt, Javi Rodriguez – Alvarez, Sotelo, Beltran, Mingueza – Bamba, Aspas – Iglesias (3-4-2-1)

18:30 – Villarreal vs Barcelona

With no European distractions and no defeats so far, Villarreal are looking good to gatecrash the top four this season, but this is their biggest test to date. With Gerard Moreno still injured, we aren’t likely to see many changes from the side that won at Mallorca last weekend, although Yeremi Pino could potentially replace Ilias Akhomach on the right flank.

Villarreal predicted lineup: Conde – Cardona, Costa, Albiol, Femenia – Baena, Comesaña, Parejo, Yeremi – Ayoze, Barry (4-4-2)

The Hansi Flick era at Barcelona hit its first stumbling block on Thursday with a 2-1 Champions League defeat at Monaco, not helped by Eric Garcia’s 10th minute red card. The German has been incredibly consistent in terms of team selection so far, but that has largely been enforced by a lengthy absentee list. That’s the case again for this weekend’s game at Villarreal with eight players expected to be unavailable, meaning Flick may simply stick with the same eleven from Thursday, with a number of inexperienced youth products the only real alternatives available to him.

Barcelona predicted lineup: Ter Stegen – Balde, Martinez, Cubarsi, Kounde – Eric Garcia, Casado – Raphinha, Pedri, Lamine Yamal – Lewandowski (4-2-3-1)

21:00 – Rayo Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid

A really strong Second Half performance from Rayo saw off Osasuna on Monday and the goalkeeper and back four should stay the same here, with Augusto Batalla replacing Dani Cardenas between the sticks last time out. The main question is over the advanced midfield role with James Rodriguez hoping to make his first start, although that’s far from guaranteed with Isi Palazon is a strong alternative option.

Rayo Vallecano predicted lineup: Batalla – Chavarria, Mumin, Lejeune, Ratiu – Lopez, Valentin – Alvaro Garcia, James, De Frutos – Camello (4-2-3-1)

There’s likely to be more rotation from Diego Simeone here with Samuel Lino, Alexander Sorloth and Conor Gallagher likely to return after being benched against Leipzig in the Champions League on Thursday. Jose Maria Gimenez could be due a rest having started the last two, while the influential Antoine Griezmann is another potential candidate to sit this one out, although he may still get the nod over Julian Alvarez in attack.

Atletico Madrid predicted lineup: Oblak – Azpilicueta, Witsel, Le Normand – Lino, De Paul, Koke, Gallagher, Llorente – Griezmann, Sorloth (3-5-2)

Monday 23rd September 2024

21:00 – Real Betis vs Mallorca

It has been a positive week for Real Betis with new signing Giovani Lo Celso helping to inspire back-to-back home wins. They are targeting a hat-trick of victories at the Benito Villamarin here. Manuel Pellegrini may opt for rotation at full back, but he’s not likely to tinker too much with the side that won on Wednesday with this new-look forward line potentially remaining the same. They have been dealt a big blow though with William Carvalho tearing his achilles tendon, which will keep him out well into 2025.

Real Betis predicted lineup: Silva – Rodriguez, Natan, Llorente, Sabaly – Roca, Altimira – Abde, Lo Celso, Fornals – Roque (4-2-3-1)

Mallorca were also midweek winners, seeing off Real Sociedad 1-0 at home, with Leo Roman getting another start in goal and keeping another clean sheet. That keeps up the pressure on Dominik Greif, but the Slovakian is still expected to return in goal here. Vedat Muriqi, Dani Rodriguez and Takuma Asano also dropped to the bench for that match, but are expected to rotate back in for the trip to Seville.

Mallorca predicted lineup: Greif – Mojica, Raillo, Valjent, Antonio – Morlanes, Costa – Dani Rodriguez, Navarro, Asano – Muriqi (4-2-3-1)