LaLiga matchday 25 preview & predicted lineups

We’ve got Rayo vs Real Madrid and Athletic Club vs Girona over the next few days as Los Blancos bid to take even more control of the title race following last weekend’s 4-0 rout of their closest challengers. Here’s our full 2023/24 LaLiga matchday 25 preview with predicted lineups for all 20 clubs and win probabilities for every game.

LaLiga matchday 25 preview – Predicted lineups

Friday 16th February 2024

21:00 – Villarreal vs Getafe

Villarreal are looking a bit more solid in recent weeks and it’s perhaps not a coincidence that that has been the case with Dani Parejo out of the team. The veteran midfielder is fit again now but may not return to the eleven with Marcelino likely to keep changes to a minimum after four games without defeat.

Getafe meanwhile are expected to have a full squad to choose from with the exception of long-term absentee Mauro Arambarri.

Possible Lineups

Villarreal: Jorgensen – Moreno, Cuenca, Albiol, Femenia – Baena, Coquelin, Comesana, Akhomach – Sorloth, Gerard Moreno (4-4-2)

Getafe: Soria – Rico, Gaston, Djene, Iglesias – Martin, Milla, Maksimovic, Greenwood – Mata, Mayoral (4-4-2)

Saturday 17th February 2024

14:00 – Atletico Madrid vs Las Palmas

Atletico Madrid are like two different teams at home and away so they’ll be glad to get back to the fortress Estadio Metropolitano this weekend. Alvaro Morata is their main absentee right now with Memphis Depay likely to partner Antoine Griezmann in attack again. There could be light rotation elsewhere ahead of a Champions League date with Inter.

Las Palmas won again last weekend to continue the excellent season they are having. They’re not likely to change too much for the trip to the capital.

Possible Lineups

Atletico Madrid: Oblak – Reinildo, Witsel, Savic – Lino, Koke, De Paul, Barrios, Llorente – Griezmann, Depay (3-5-2)

Las Palmas: Valles – Cardona, Marmol, Coco, Alex Suarez – Kirian, Perrone, Munoz – Moleiro, Sandro, Munir (4-3-3)

16:15 – Osasuna vs Cadiz

Osasuna are struggling for consistency but they’re not looking in any danger of getting sucked into the relegation scrap. Jagoba Arrasate has no fresh selection issues after a surprise win at Real Sociedad last weekend and he may go with just one striker again.

Cadiz are without a goal in three matches since changing their coach and it’s looking bleak for Mauricio Pellegrino’s side. The former Leganes boss doesn’t have a huge array of options for livening up his misfiring attack though so it’s unlikely we see anything radically different here but new boy Juanmi could get a start.

Possible Lineups

Osasuna: Herrera – Cruz, David Garcia, Herrando, Areso – Mojica, Muñoz, Moncayola, Peña – Aimar Oroz – Budimir (4-4-1-1)

Cadiz: Ledesma – Pires, Chust, Fali, Iza – Escalante, Alcaraz – Sobrino, Navarro, Juanmi – Ramos (4-2-3-1)

18:30 – Celta Vigo vs Barcelona

Celta are another inconsistent side but they can’t really blame injuries for their struggles this term with Joseph Aidoo their only notable long-term absentee. Rafa Benitez left Iago Aspas out again last weekend and he may do likewise once more on Saturday.

Barcelona will have one eye on next week’s trip to Naples, but Xavi will also be conscious of the need for a morale boosting performance after a desperate display last weekend. There’s little to suggest he will rest his star players, although we could see the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Robert Lewandowski and Frenkie de Jong pulled off at some point in the Second Half.

Possible Lineups

Celta Vigo: Guaita – Nuñez, Tapia, Dominguez – Ristic, Beltran, Jailson, Manquillo – De La Torre, Larsen, Mingueza (3-4-3)

Barcelona: Ter Stegen – Cancelo, Inigo Martinez, Araujo, Kounde – Gundogan, De Jong, Pedri – Raphinha, Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal (4-3-3)

21:00 – Valencia vs Sevilla

Valencia are missing Diego Lopez and Thierry Correia again this weekend but they do look to have found a way to get Javi Guerra into the midfield alongside Hugo Guillamon and Pepelu who have both performed well in recent weeks.

Sevilla meanwhile have won back-to-back matches and finally look to have something to build from. Quique Sanchez Flores has used Isaac Romero up top alongside Youssef En-Nesyri as a front two and the duo have formed a promising partnership that should certainly continue here.

Possible Lineups

Valencia: Mamardashvili – Gaya, Diakhaby, Mosquera, Foulquier – Guerra, Pepelu, Guillamon, Fran Perez – Duro, Yaremchuk (4-4-2)

Sevilla: Nyland – Acuna, Ramos, Bade, Navas – Ocampos, Soumare, Sow, Oliver – Romero, En-Nesyri (4-4-2)

Sunday 18th February 2024

14:00 – Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid

Rayo Vallecano have a new boss with 36 year old Iñigo Perez replacing Francisco this week. He was Andoni Iraola’s assistant last season which gives you an idea of what kind of approach we may see, but radical changes to the starting eleven still seem quite unlikely. Rayo are not blessed with a great deal of quality in reserve to bring into a team that continues to miss too many chances, but Perez might be tempted to place a show of faith in Raul De Tomas who has the ability to fire them to safety, but has looked a shadow of his former self of late.

Real Madrid could opt for some light rotation after a tough night in Germany in midweek. They were under the cosh for long periods against RB Leipzig but came away with a 1-0 win thanks to an inspired Andriy Lunin who looks to have ended the debate when it comes to the number one in Thibaut Courtois’ absence. Jude Bellingham is still out injured while it’s possible, but not certain, that Luka Modric will rotate in for Toni Kroos. Antonio Rudiger is a doubt once more.

Possible Lineups

Rayo Vallecano: Dimitrievski – Espino, Lejeune, Mumin, Balliu – Ciss, Valentin – Alvaro Garcia, Trejo, Isi Palazon – De Tomas (4-2-3-1)

Real Madrid: Lunin – Fran Garcia, Tchouameni, Nacho, Carvajal – Modric, Camavinga, Valverde – Brahim – Vinicius, Rodrygo (4-3-1-2)

16:15 – Granada vs Almeria

The bottom two meet here and Granada finally put in a performance to be proud of last weekend with an encouraging 3-3 draw at Barcelona. Loanee Facundo Pellistri was one of the standout performers and he should start once more. They do have doubts over the fitness of Lucas Boye, Bruno Mendez and Carlos Neva though.

Almeria are still winless and they’re short on attacking options for this game with Luis Suarez injured and both Largie Ramazani and Leo Baptistao suspended. Centre-backs Chumi and Cesar Montes are doubts with Aleksandar Radovanovic potentially getting the nod in defence alongside Edgar. New signing Jonathan Viera is pushing for a start.

Possible Lineups

Granada: Batalla – Maouassa, Piatkowski, Bruno Mendez, Ricard – Villar, Ruiz, Hongla – Pellistri, Uzuni, Melendo (4-3-3)

Almeria: Maximiano – Centelles, Radovanovic, Edgar, Pubill – Lopy, Robertone, Baba – Viera, Lozano, Arribas (4-3-3)

18:30 – Mallorca vs Real Sociedad

Mallorca and Real Sociedad played out a 0-0 draw the week before last in the Copa del Rey and all things point to this being tight too. Pablo Maffeo is expected to be the only absentee for the hosts who are likely to go with Vedat Muriqi up top rather than Cyle Larin.

Real Sociedad are enduring a real dip in form and are struggling badly for goals, failing to score in their last five matches including a 2-0 loss to PSG on Wednesday in the Champions League. Some changes are possible as Imanol looks to freshen things up but they’re struggling on the injury front right now with the likes of Aritz Elustondo and Mikel Oyarzabal doubts once more for the trip to Palma.

Possible Lineups

Mallorca: Rajkovic – Nastasic, Raillo, Valjent – Costa, Antonio, Samu, Darder, Giovanni – Dani Rodriguez – Muriqi (3-5-1-1)

Real Sociedad: Remiro – Galan, Pacheco, Zubeldia, Traore – Turrientes, Zubimendi, Brais Mendez – Barrenetxea, Sadiq, Kubo (4-3-3)

21:00 – Real Betis vs Alaves

Betis were in European action on Thursday night and with the 2nd Leg against Dinamo Zagreb next Thursday, there’s certainly the potential for some rotation here. Chimy Avila may come in for his first start as a Betis player while fellow January arrival Pablo Fornals ought to continue with neither available in the Conference League.

Alaves have one of the more settled starting elevens in LaLiga with the main question mark over the right sided role where Alex Sola and Carlos Vicente are competing for a place. They should go with their usual 4-2-3-1 system with Samu Omorodion leading the line.

Possible Lineups

Real Betis: Rui Silva – Miranda, Sokratis, Pezzella, Bellerin – Roca, Cardoso – Avila, Fekir, Fornals – Bakambu (4-2-3-1)

Alaves: Sivera – Javi Lopez, Abqar, Marin, Gorosabel – Blanco, Guevara – Vicente, Guridi, Rioja – Omorodion (4-2-3-1)

Monday 19th February 2024

21:00 – Athletic Club vs Girona

Athletic were missing the likes of Nico Williams and Gorka Guruzeta as they slipped to a disappointing draw against bottom club Almeria last time out. They are hopeful of having everyone fit for Monday’s game though with Oihan Sancet now the main doubt and he’ll be monitored over the weekend.

Girona’s title dream came crashing down at the Santiago Bernabeu last time out as they succumbed to a 4-0 defeat that leaves them five points off the pace heading into this matchday. Boss Michel serves a touchline ban once more, while Yan Couto is also suspended after a very rough night against Vincius last weekend. They can at least welcome Daley Blind and Yangel Herrera back from suspensions on Monday which will give them more chance of competing in another really tough game.

Possible Lineups

Athletic Club: Simon – Yuri, Yeray, Vivian, De Marcos – Vesga, Galarreta – Nico Williams, Sancet, Iñaki Williams – Guruzeta (4-2-3-1)

Girona: Gazzaniga – Miguel, Eric Garcia, Blind, Arnau Martinez – Aleix Garcia, Herrera – Savio, Ivan Martin, Tsygankov – Dovbyk (4-2-3-1)