LaLiga matchday 33 preview & predicted lineups

There are big games everywhere you look this weekend in LaLiga. Leaders Real Madrid travel to Real Sociedad, top four hopefuls Atleti and Athletic meet in a massive game while it’s the Seville derby on Sunday. Here’s our full 2023/24 LaLiga matchday 33 preview with predicted lineups for all 20 clubs and win probabilities for every game.

LaLiga matchday 33 preview – Predicted lineups

Friday 26th April 2024

21:00 – Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid

Real Sociedad are unbeaten in five but still a little bit unconvincing heading into this Friday night showdown with Real Madrid. Take Kubo has been left out two weeks running due to his poor form in 2024 and he’ll be hoping to reclaim that place from Sheraldo Becker here. Hamari Traore is out after picking up an injury last weekend so Alvaro Odriozola or Aritz Elustondo should fill in at right back, while Brais Mendez is back sooner than expected in the matchday squad for this game.

Real Madrid are expected to rotate heavily ahead of their Champions League trip to Munich. There’ll be no Jude Bellingham due to sickness while Ferland Mendy is injured. Carlo Ancelotti is likely to hand starts to Fran Garcia and Brahim Diaz as a result with Joselu also potentially getting the nod in a lineup that’s likely to feature a mix of regulars and fringe players.

Possible Lineups

Real Sociedad: Remiro – Galan, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Elustondo – Zubimendi, Merino, Zakharyan – Barrenetxea, Oyarzabal, Kubo (4-3-3)

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

Saturday 27th April 2024

14:00 – Las Palmas vs Girona

Las Palmas are on the beach, perhaps literally as well as figuratively, with five straight defeats for the Canary Islanders pushing them into the bottom half but not into any real relegation danger. They are only expected to be without Julian Araujo here, but Garcia Pimienta may still consider changes after a really poor 4-1 defeat at Celta last time out.

Girona meanwhile are bidding to end a five game losing streak in away fixtures but their strong home form has ensured they remain firmly on course for the Champions League. They’ve had a few injury scares this week, but are hoping to have both Savio and Yangel Herrera in their eleven. Yan Couto is a doubt which could mean a return for Viktor Tsygankov who has been hampered by injury problems of his own in recent weeks.

Possible Lineups

Las Palmas: Valles – Cardona, Marmol, Coco, Alex Suarez – Kirian, Loiodice, Muñoz – Marvin, Sandro, Munir (4-3-3)

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

16:15 – Almeria vs Getafe

Almeria will be relegated if they fail to win this game, but the damage was done long ago. Pepe Mel is missing Largie Ramazani and Gonzalo Melero to suspension on Saturday and isn’t expected to change much from the team that competed quite well in the 2-1 defeat to Villarreal last weekend.

Even in a favourable fixture like this, we’re unlikely to see anything too expansive from Getafe who have reverted to type since losing top scorer Borja Mayoral to a season ending injury. Juan Iglesias has also been ruled out for the season while Carles Aleña is an injury doubt for the trip to Andalusia.

Possible Lineups

Almeria: Maximiano – Langa, Edgar, Montes, Pubill – Lopy, Robertone – Embarba, Viera, Baptistao – Lozano  (4-2-3-1)

Getafe: Soria – Rico, Alderete, Djene, Carmona – Oscar Rodriguez, Milla, Yellu, Maksimovic, Greenwood – Latasa (4-5-1)

18:30 – Alaves vs Celta Vigo

Alaves sprung a surprise by beating Atletico Madrid last weekend to push them to the brink of safety. A clearly unhappy Luis Garcia made six changes from the team that had lost to Granada the previous weekend with key men Samu Omorodion and Luis Rioja among those benched. Rioja responded by coming on to score a stunning goal to seal the win though and will be hungry for a recall here. There’ll also certainly be changes in central defence with both Rafa Marin and Abdel Abqar suspended.

Celta also produced one of their best performances of the season last time out, hammering Las Palmas 4-1 at Balaidos. They’ll also be forced into at least one change though with top scorer Jorgen Strand Larsen suspended meaning Tasos Douvikas should get a rare start up front. Williot Swedberg may again be preferred to Jonathan Bamba after the young Swede scored last weekend.

Possible Lineups

Alaves: Sivera – Javi Lopez, Duarte, Tenaglia, Gorosabel – Blanco, Benavidez, Guridi – Simeone, Kike Garcia, Rioja (4-3-3)

Celta Vigo: Guaita – Dominguez, Nuñez, Mingueza – Alvarez, Beltran, Jailson, Perez – Swedberg – Aspas, Douvikas (3-4-1-2)

21:00 – Atletico Madrid vs Athletic Club

This is a massive game in the race for 4th place. Atletico Madrid were very poor away again last weekend and are missing Stefan Savic to suspension on Saturday night. Alvaro Morata is available again and it’s a toss-up between him and Angel Correa for the starting role alongside Antoine Griezmann.

Athletic have issues at full back with Oscar De Marcos suspended and Yuri an injury doubt. Otherwise they should be at full strength with Yeray Alvarez set to compete with Aitor Paredes for the second central defensive role alongside Dani Vivian.

Possible Lineups

Atletico Madrid: Oblak – Hermoso, Gimenez, Witsel – Lino, De Paul, Koke, Barrios, Llorente – Correa, Griezmann (3-5-2)

Athletic Club: Simon – Imanol, Vivian, Yeray, Lekue – Prados, Ruiz de Galarreta – Nico Williams, Sancet, Iñaki Williams – Guruzeta (4-2-3-1)

Sunday 28th April 2024

14:00 – Cadiz vs Mallorca

This is a massive game at the moment and it feels like a “must win” for Cadiz who are running out of time to save themselves. They are still missing five players to injury, but have all their forwards available with Roger Marti, Chris Ramos, Maxi Gomez and Juanmi competing for two places. All four featured at some stage in the 4-1 defeat at Girona last time out.

Mallorca are the team that Cadiz may feel they have the best chance of catching and Javier Aguirre would surely be content with a point here to preserve their current six point advantage. The Mallorca boss has a full squad to pick from with the exception of the suspended Jose Manuel Copete.

Possible Lineups

Cadiz: Ledesma – Javi Hernandez, Chust, Ousou, Iza – Navarro, Alcaraz, Alex Fernandez, Sobrino – Roger Marti, Juanmi (4-4-2)

Mallorca: Rajkovic – Nastasic, Raillo, Valjent – Jaume Costa, Antonio Sanchez, Dani Rodriguez, Samu Costa, Maffeo – Radonjic, Muriqi (3-5-2)

16:15 – Granada vs Osasuna

Granada are pretty much at full strength but also pretty certain to be relegated, despite a decent return of four points from their last two games against Alaves and Athletic Club. Jose Ramon Sandoval isn’t likely to change much from the side that drew at San Mames although Myrto Uzuni may return up front in an attacking change.

Osasuna blew a lead late on to lose in Vallecas last time out in their first game since losing Ante Budimir to a potentially season ending injury. Jagoba Arrasate should keep faith with Raul Garcia in attack with Moi Gomez likely to continue in an advanced midfield role after his goal last weekend. Centre back David Garcia is out injured in a further blow for the Osasuna boss.

Possible Lineups

Granada: Batalla – Neva, Miquel, Rubio, Mendez – Jozwiak, Sergio Ruiz, Gumbau, Pellistri – Uzuni, Boye (4-4-2)

Osasuna: Herrera – Cruz, Herrando, Catena, Areso – Muñoz, Moncayola – Peña, Moi Gomez, Ruben Garcia – Raul Garcia (4-2-3-1)

18:30 – Villarreal vs Rayo Vallecano

Villarreal were winners at Almeria last time out with Ilias Akhomach on target on his return to the team. That should be enough to keep his place on the right flank here while the Yellow Submarine ought to be better at the back with Raul Albiol available again and expected to start.

With doubts still over Alvaro Garcia and Aridane Hernandez, Rayo Vallecano could be unchanged from last weekend’s win over Osasuna. If there is to be a change, Iñigo Perez could look to bulk up the midfield by playing Pathe Ciss over Oscar Trejo.

Possible Lineups

Villarreal: Jorgensen – Pedraza, Albiol, Mosquera, Femenia – Baena, Comesaña, Parejo, Ilias – Sorloth, Gerard Moreno (4-4-2)

Rayo Vallecano: Dimitrievski – Chavarria, Mumin, Lejeune, Balliu – Unai Lopez, Valentin – De Frutos, Ciss, Isi – Camello (4-2-3-1)

21:00 – Real Betis vs Sevilla

It’s derby weekend in Seville and Betis have won their last two including a key win at Valencia last time out to boost their European hopes. They could name the same eleven this Sunday with the main question mark over who starts up front with Cedric Bakambu, Willian Jose and Nabil Fekir all options.

Sevilla have gone one better with three straight wins so both sides take a bit of momentum into Spain’s biggest city derby. They’ll be forced into at least one change here with Nemanja Gudelj suffering a season ending injury, although that’s not such a huge issue with Kike Salas available again and set to slot into the back three.

Possible Lineups

Real Betis: Rui Silva – Miranda, Riad, Pezzella, Sabaly – Guido Rodriguez, Cardoso – Ayoze, Isco, Fornals – Bakambu (4-2-3-1)

Sevilla: Nyland – Salas, Ramos, Bade – Ocampos, Soumare, Agoume, Oliver, Navas – Romero, En-Nesyri (3-5-2)

Monday 29th April 2024

21:00 – Barcelona vs Valencia

Monday night football comes from Montjuic where Xavi is set for an extended stay as Barcelona boss after his U-turn this week. With more than a week off since El Clasico, Barca should be fresh and good to go here with Pedri set to return in midfield in place of the injured Frenkie de Jong who looks set to miss the rest of the domestic campaign, but remains in contention to feature in the Euros for The Netherlands.

Valencia will travel without the injured Jose Gaya while Roman Yaremchuk remains a doubt. There’s a strong chance that Hugo Guillamon will be recalled to add a bit more presence in central midfield.

Possible Lineups

Barcelona: Ter Stegen – Cancelo, Cubarsi, Araujo, Kounde – Pedri, Christensen, Gundogan – Raphinha, Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal (4-3-3)

Valencia: Mamardashvili – Vazquez, Ozkacar, Mosquera, Correia – Almeida, Guillamon, Pepelu – Fran Perez, Duro, Diego Lopez (4-3-3)