LaLiga matchday 16 preview: predicted lineups

Another weekend, brings another big game in Barcelona and hopefully a better crowd for the Catalan derby with Girona. Elsewhere, Real Madrid travel to Real Betis for a tough game at the Benito Villamarin. There are also pressure matches for a number of struggling coaches. Here’s our full 2023/24 LaLiga matchday 16 preview with predicted lineups for all 20 clubs and win probabilities for every game.

LaLiga matchday 16 preview – Predicted lineups

Friday 8th December 2023

21:00 – Getafe vs Valencia

Getafe have LaLiga’s worst disciplinary record, which will be no surprise to regular viewers of LaLiga, and they’ve been hit by three defensive suspensions here which will lead to big changes across the back four with Damian Suarez, Diego Rico and Omar Alderete all unavailable. Valencia are in better shape on that front although Jose Luis Gaya has again been ruled out due to injury.

Predicted Getafe Lineup: Soria – Angileri, Gaston, Duarte, Iglesias – Milla, Djene, Maksimovic – Greenwood, Latasa, Mayoral (4-3-3)

Coach: Jose Bordalas

Predicted Valencia Lineup: Mamardashvili – Yarek, Gabriel, Mosquera, Correia – Pepelu, Diakhaby, Guerra – Diego Lopez, Duro, Fran Perez (4-3-3)

Coach: Ruben Baraja

Saturday 9th December 2023

14:00 – Alaves vs Las Palmas

Two newly promoted teams meet here with both Alaves and Las Palmas going well on their respective returns to the top flight. There’s little reason for either to make major changes, although the hosts are missing Ander Guevara to suspension while Sandro is a doubt for the visitors meaning Munir could potentially be used centrally.

Predicted Alaves Lineup: Sivera – Javi Lopez, Abqar, Marin, Gorosabel – Blanco, Guridi – Rioja, Hagi, Rebbach – Omorodion (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Luis Garcia

Predicted Las Palmas Lineup: Valles – Cardona, Marmol, Saul Coco, Araujo – Kirian Rodriguez, Loiodice, Munoz – Moleiro, Munir, Marvin (4-3-3)

Coach: Garcia Pimienta

16:15 – Real Betis vs Real Madrid

Real Betis are unbeaten at home and will fancy their chances against Real Madrid with Isco coming up against his old club. The hosts have problems at right back with Hector Bellerin suspended and Youssouf Sabaly injured. Los Blancos meanwhile are still missing a number of key players and the big call for Carlo Ancelotti may be whether to go with Joselu or Brahim Diaz in attack alongside in-form Rodrygo.

Predicted Real Betis Lineup: Rui Silva – Abner, Riad, Pezzella, Ruibal – Roca, Guardado – Ayoze Perez, Isco, Assane – Willian Jose (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Manuel Pellegrini

Predicted Real Madrid Lineup: Kepa – Mendy, Alaba, Rudiger, Lucas Vazquez – Bellingham, Kroos, Modric, Valverde – Brahim, Rodrygo (4-4-2)

Coach: Carlo Ancelotti

18:30 – Villarreal vs Real Sociedad

Villarreal have settled on a 4-4-2 under Marcelino with Jose Luis Morales scoring all 4 of their league goals since the change. The hosts have a doubt over Dani Parejo’s fitness here though which could see Francis Coquelin potentially start. Real Sociedad meanwhile have two notable absentees with key centre-back Robin Le Normand suspended while Ander Barrenetxea is injured.

Predicted Villarreal Lineup: Jorgensen – Pedraza, Cuenca, Albiol, Foyth – Baena, Capoue, Coquelin, Altimira – Gerard Moreno, Morales (4-4-2)

Coach: Marcelino

Predicted Real Sociedad Lineup: Remiro – Tierney, Pacheco, Zubeldia, Traore – Merino, Zubimendi, Brais Mendez – Oyarzabal, Sadiq, Kubo (4-3-3)

Coach: Imanol Alguacil

21:00 – Mallorca vs Sevilla

Vedat Muriqi is the only likely absentee for Mallorca but it’s a huge absence given the Balearic team’s current problems in front of goal. The goals aren’t exactly flowing for Sevilla either. The visitors are again without Jesus Navas due to suspension this weekend although Sergio Ramos, fresh from a midweek goal in the Copa del Rey, should return at centre-back.

Predicted Mallorca Lineup: Rajkovic – Valjent, Raillo, Giovanni – Costa, Darder, Samu, Mascarell, Maffeo – Dani Rodriguez – Larin (3-5-1-1)

Coach: Javier Aguirre

Predicted Sevilla Lineup: Dmitrovic – Pedrosa, Gudelj, Ramos, Juanlu – Soumare, Sow – Lukebakio, Rakitic, Ocampos – En Nesyri (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Diego Alonso

Sunday 10th December 2023

14:00 – Atletico Madrid vs Almeria

After a free midweek, Atletico Madrid should go strong here against rock bottom Almeria who were sent packing from the Copa del Rey by a fourth tier side in a fresh low for Gaizka Garitano. The winless visitors have doubts over the fitness of Adrian Embarba and Gonzalo Melero to add to their woes heading into this game.

Predicted Atletico Madrid Lineup: Oblak – Hermoso, Witsel, Savic – Lino, Koke, De Paul, Molina – Griezmann – Morata, Correa (3-4-1-2)

Coach: Diego Simeone

Predicted Almeria Lineup: Maximiano – Akieme, Edgar, Montes, Mendes – Lopy, Baba – Ramazani, Robertone, Arribas – Baptistao (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Gaizka Garitano

16:15 – Granada vs Athletic Club

Granada adopted a much more defensive approach in their first game under Alexander Medina and that may be the way of things in the short term after the departure of Paco Lopez who was much more adventurous but struggled to get results. Their star player Bryan Zaragoza has agreed to join Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024 but will continue to play for Granada until then. As for Athletic, we shouldn’t expect many changes after an outstanding performance last time out.

Predicted Granada Lineup: Ferreira – Neva, Miquel, Torrente, Ricard – Gumbau, Ruiz – Uzuni, Villar, Bryan Zaragoza – Boye (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Alexander Medina

Predicted Athletic Club Lineup: Simon – Yuri, Paredes, Vivian, De Marcos – Herrera, Ruiz de Galarreta – Nico Williams, Sancet, Iñaki Williams – Guruzeta (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Ernesto Valverde

18:30 – Cadiz vs Osasuna

Two out of form teams meet here. Cadiz somehow held on for a draw with 10 men in Vigo on Monday night but will be missing Victor Chust to suspension in this game. David Gil, who was excellent in that game, may continue in goal with Jeremias Ledesma still an injury doubt. Osasuna are also missing a centre-back to suspension with Alejandro Catena banned a week after Jagoba Arrasate made the surprise call to switch to a back three. They may revert to a back four here.

Predicted Cadiz Lineup: Gil – Javi Hernandez, Momo, Fali, Carcelen – Sobrino, Alcaraz, Alex Fernandez, Alejo – Ramos, Roger Marti (4-4-2)

Coach: Sergio

Predicted Osasuna Lineup: Herrera – Cruz, David Garcia, Unai Garcia, Areso – Torro, Aimar Oroz, Moi Gomez – Ruben Garcia, Budimir, Avila (4-3-3)

Coach: Jagoba Arrasate

21:00 – Barcelona vs Girona

This is the big one as 3rd plays 2nd with Barcelona fresh from one of their best performances of the season against Atletico Madrid. Match winner Joao Felix should keep his place while on last weekend’s evidence, a midfield trio of Frenkie de Jong, Ilkay Gundogan and Pedri may be the way they go for the foreseeable future. Girona have suffered a setback with Yangel Herrera out until the new year which should see David Lopez continue as the holding midfielder.

Predicted Barcelona Lineup: Ter Stegen – Cancelo, Christensen, Araujo, Kounde – Gundogan, De Jong, Pedri – Felix, Lewandowski, Raphinha (4-3-3)

Coach: Xavi

Predicted Girona Lineup: Gazzaniga – Miguel, Blind, Eric Garcia, Couto – Aleix Garcia, David Lopez, Ivan Martin – Savio, Dovbyk, Tsygankov (4-3-3)

Coach: Michel

Monday 11th December 2023

21:00 – Rayo Vallecano vs Celta Vigo

Pacho Espino is suspended and may be the only absentee for Rayo Vallecano who need a response after being hammered 4-0 by Athletic last weekend. Celta meanwhile dominated another game but again failed to win as Rafa Benitez continues to endure a miserable time of it back in Spain. He’ll take encouragement from aspects of their play though and is unlikely to radically change anything here.

Predicted Rayo Vallecano Lineup: Dimitrievski – Chavarria, Mumin, Lejeune, Balliu – Unai Lopez, Valentin – Alvaro Garcia, Trejo, Isi Palazon – Camello (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Francisco

Predicted Celta Vigo Lineup: Guaita – Manu Sanchez, Nuñez, Starfelt, Kevin – Bamba, De La Torre, Tapia, Mingueza – Aspas, Larsen (4-4-2)

Coach: Rafa Benitez