La Liga 2024/25 matchday 1 predicted lineups

The Spanish top flight is back with the first games of the 2024/25 season. It all kicked off on Thursday in Bilbao and Seville with two games per day across a staggered opening matchday which concludes with Atleti’s trip to Villarreal on Monday. Here are our LaLiga predicted lineups for matchday 1.

LaLiga predicted lineups – Matchday 1

Friday 16th August 2024

19:00 – Celta Vigo vs Alaves

Vicente Guiata is the big absentee for Celta on matchday one and it could be a close call between Ivan Villar and Marc Vidal for the right to replace him. Claudio Giraldez’s lineup is far from set in stone. Big decisions include whether to go with Tasos Douvikas or Borja Iglesias up top, while Jonathan Bamba and Williot Swedberg also seem to be in a tight race for one place.

Celta Vigo predicted lineup: Villar – Starfelt, Jailson, Manquillo – Alvarez, Damian Rodriguez, Beltran, Mingueza – Bamba, Aspas – Douvikas (3-4-2-1)

The visitors are expecting to have a full squad available. Kike Garcia should lead the line with Samu Omorodion no longer at the club, although Asier Villalibre is an alternative option. Antonio Sivera will also surely return in goal, after Jesus Owono was afforded starts in the final four games of last season. Moussa Diarra, Stoichkov and Tomas Conechny could all potentially make their debuts.

Alaves predicted lineup: Sivera – Diarra, Abqar, Tenaglia, Vicente – Guevara, Blanco – Stoichkov, Guridi, Conechny – Kike Garcia (4-2-3-1)

21:30 – Las Palmas vs Sevilla

It’s all change at Las Palmas with former Oviedo boss Luis Carrion taking charge. He’s expected to start Jasper Cillessen in goal, with Alvaro Valles expected to depart imminently. Manu Fuster and Oli McBurnie are also in strong contention to make their full debuts after summer moves. 

Las Palmas predicted lineup: Cillessen – Alex Muñoz, Marmol, Alex Suarez, Marvin Park – Kirian, Loiodice – Fuster, Moleiro, Sandro – McBurnie (4-2-3-1)

The new Sevilla boss is the old Las Palmas boss so it’s an immediate return to Gran Canaria for Garcia Pimienta. He’s likely to try to instill his distinctive passing style of play on this Sevilla side, but is hampered by midfield absentees on the opening weekend. Saul and Suso are unavailable while Albert Sambi Lokonga is also a doubt. Isaac Romero looks set to lead the line with Peque, Lucas Ocampos and Chidera Ejuke fighting for places either side of him.

Sevilla predicted lineup: Nyland – Pedrosa, Salas, Bade, Navas – Agoume, Gudelj, Sow – Peque, Romero, Ocampos (4-3-3)

Saturday 17th August 2024

19:00 – Osasuna vs Leganes

It’s also a new era at Osasuna with Vicente Moreno replacing Jagoba Arrasate in the dugout. It’s much the same squad as last season though, with a couple of notable exceptions. Key defender David Garcia has departed meaning Jorge Herrando should partner Alejandro Catena at centre back. Meanwhile, Bayern loanee Bryan Zaragoza is the standout new arrival, but he may not necessarily go straight into the eleven, with competition for places in midfield and out wide. Last season’s top scorer Ante Budimir is nailed on to start up front.

Osasuna predicted lineup: Herrera – Bretones, Herrando, Catena, Areso – Torro, Muñoz – Ruben Garcia, Moi Gomez, Peña – Budimir (4-2-3-1)

Promoted as Segunda Division champions, Leganes have signed two new goalkeepers. Marko Dmitrovic looks the likely number one, but having only arrived a few days ago, it’s possible that Juan Soriano may get the nod on matchday one. It looks like they may play with three centre-backs in this game with Miguel de la Fuente expected to operate as the striker and Roberto Lopez and Juan Cruz possible options in support of him.

Leganes predicted lineup: Soriano – Raba, Gonzalez, Saenz – Franquesa, Cisse, Neyou, Rosier – Roberto Lopez, De la Fuente, Cruz (3-4-3)

21:30 – Valencia vs Barcelona

Giorgi Mamardashvili and Javi Guerra remain at Valencia despite intense transfer speculation with the latter’s move to Atletico Madrid falling through at the final hurdle. It’s unclear whether either will start this game, with the current suspicion being that new arrival Stole Dimitrievski may be preferred in goal. Jose Gaya is injured for Valencia who could hand a debut to Rafa Mir in attack.

Valencia predicted lineup: Dimitrievski – Jesus Vazquez, Yarek, Mosquera, Correia – Almeida, Pepelu, Guillamon, Diego Lopez – Mir, Duro (4-4-2)

There are plenty of headaches already for Hansi Flick with Barcelona missing a host of midfielders for the opening game given the injuries to Gavi and Frenkie de Jong, and doubts over Pedri’s fitness. Fermin Lopez is on holiday after playing in two international tournaments while new signing Dani Olmo may not necessarily be ready to start. The extent of Lamine Yamal’s involvement is also unclear following on from a busy summer at Euro 2024.

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

Sunday 18th August 2024

19:00 – Real Sociedad vs Rayo Vallecano

There’s good news for Real Sociedad with Martin Zubimendi turning down a switch to Liverpool, but Mikel Merino may still end up joining Arsenal which raises doubts as to his participation here. Robin Le Normand has already departed and with Igor Zubeldia a fitness doubt, it may be Jon Pacheco and Aritz Elustondo who start in central defence for La Real. Javi Lopez should make his debut at left-back.

Real Sociedad predicted lineup: Remiro – Javi Lopez, Pacheco, Elustondo, Traore – Sucic, Zubimendi, Brais Mendez – Barrenetxea, Oyarzabal, Kubo (4-3-3)

It’s one of the most settled squads in La Liga with little movement in or out in Vallecas, although Dimitrievski’s departure means Dani Cardenas should start the season in goal. Adri Embarba is a new arrival and could feature in this game, although he’s not a guaranteed starter. Sergio Camello is likely to lead the line, despite only just returning from the Olympics, with Raul de Tomas an injury doubt.

Rayo Vallecano predicted lineup: Cardenas – Espino, Mumin, Lejeune, Balliu – Valentin, Unai Lopez – Alvaro Garcia, Isi Palazon, Embarba – Camello (4-2-3-1)

21:30 – Mallorca vs Real Madrid

Jagoba Arrasate has swapped Pamplona for Palma de Mallorca and he takes charge of his new team for the first time here. With no notable injury concerns, we should get an early idea as to what his best eleven may look like. That includes the goalkeeper position which feels like a genuine 50/50 call between Leo Roman and Dominik Greif, following the departure of Predrag Rajkovic with both playing 45 minutes in the final friendly. New signing Takuma Asano should go straight into the eleven on the right flank.

Mallorca predicted lineup: Greif – Mojica, Raillo, Valjent, Maffeo – Mascarell, Darder, Samu Costa – Dani Rodriguez, Muriqi, Asano (4-3-3)

It was an impressive start to the new season for Real Madrid with a 2-0 win over Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup. Kylian Mbappe was on target and should keep his place at the weekend. Carlo Ancelotti could opt to simply name the same eleven again, but changes can’t totally be ruled out with a number of those players having only just returned to training after international tournaments.

Real Madrid predicted lineup: Courtois – Mendy, Militao, Rudiger, Carvajal – Tchouameni, Valverde – Vini Jr, Bellingham, Rodrygo – Mbappe (4-2-3-1)

Monday 19th August 2024

19:00 – Real Valladolid vs Espanyol

Real Valladolid return to the top flight after winning automatic promotion. They’ll be without the suspended Andre Ferreira on matchday one so Karl Hein looks likely to get the nod in goal. Selim Amallah and Juanmi Latasa are fresh faces following promotion and could feature on the opening weekend, although Paulo Pezzolano is likely to largely stick with the players that won his team promotion.

Real Valladolid predicted lineup: Hein – Rosa, Javi Sanchez, Boyomo, Luis Perez – Kike Perez, Comert, Meseguer – Moro, Sylla, Ivan Sanchez (4-3-3)

There’s no more Martin Braithwaite for Espanyol, who have also just come up from the second tier, which leaves a big hole in their attack. Javi Puado should operate as the striker here. They are expected to go with a back three, but Fernando Calero is an injury concern heading into the season opener at the Jose Zorilla, with Sergi Gomez on standby to replace him.

Espanyol predicted lineup: Joan Garcia – Cabrera, Sergi Gomez, El Hilali – Romero, Gragera, Aguado, Tejero – Pere Milla, Puado, Carreras (3-4-3)

21:30 – Villarreal vs Atletico Madrid

There have been some big changes at Villarreal with Diego Conde expected to start in goal in this game following the exit of Filip Jorgensen. Sergi Cardona looks certain to make his debut at left-back but Ayoze Perez may not be fit enough to feature having joined from Betis this week. Yeremi Pino is fit again after a long-term injury and could start while Arnaut Danjuma is also back at the club and should be involved. Alex Baena was part of Spain’s squad at both the Euros and Olympics, meaning he won’t feature initially.

Villarreal predicted lineup: Conde – Cardona, Albiol, Bailly, Femenia – Comesaña, Parejo, Gueye – Danjuma, Gerard Moreno, Yeremi (4-3-3)

Alexander Sorloth is expected to make his Atletico Madrid debut against the club he has just departed. Fellow new arrival Robin Le Normand should also start, but Julian Alvarez may only make the bench having just joined from Man City. Jan Oblak was Atleti’s main fitness doubt heading into this, but is expected to be okay to play. It’s looking like it may be a 3-4-1-2 system from Diego Simeone this term with Griezmann operating in a deeper role behind the strikers.

Atletico Madrid predicted lineup: Oblak – Le Normand, Gimenez, Witsel – Lino, De Paul, Koke, Llorente, – Griezmann – Sorloth, Correa (3-4-1-2)