LaLiga matchday 36 preview & predicted lineups

We have a full round of midweek fixtures in Spain with important games at the bottom where Cadiz are hoping to put pressure on the sides just above the relegation zone, while the race for Europa League football is also heating up between Real Sociedad and Real Betis. Here’s our full 2023/24 LaLiga matchday 36 preview with predicted lineups for all 20 clubs and win probabilities for every game.

LaLiga matchday 36 preview – Predicted lineups

Tuesday 14th May 2024

19:30 – Osasuna vs Mallorca

Osasuna have received a few boosts on the injury front with Ante Budimir, Moi Gomez and Unai Garcia all in the squad for this game. Jagoba Arrasate may not risk Budimir from the off though with Raul Garcia fresh from a goal in Bilbao at the weekend. The home boss may rotate in some areas, possibly even in goal, with the Pamplona side heading for a mid table finish.

Mallorca very much have something to play for as they battle for survival and they boosted their chances with a 1-0 win over Las Palmas on Saturday. They have two big suspensions here though with Vedat Muriqi and Martin Valjent unavailable. Abdon Prats may be preferred to Cyle Larin up top as Muriqi’s replacement.

Possible Lineups

Osasuna: Aitor Fernandez – Juan Cruz, Herrando, Catena, Rubén Peña – Muñoz, Moncayola, Oroz – Arnaiz, Raul Garcia, Ruben Garcia (4-3-3)

Mallorca: Rajkovic – Copete, Raillo, Giovanni – Lato, Antonio, Samu, Gonzalez – Darder, Dani Rodriguez – Abdon Prats (3-4-2-1)

21:30 – Real Madrid vs Alaves

Real Madrid made 11 changes from their Champions League lineup against Bayern but still put four past Granada at the weekend. Carlo Ancelotti is expected to recall most of his regulars for this one. Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao may start again as they look to build up fitness ahead of the Champions League Final.

Alaves have been in terrific form with 10 points from their last four games, but they have nothing to play for and Luis Garcia is expected to rotate heavily in this one. Jesus Owono will continue in goal after coming in for his first start of the season in La Liga against Girona on Friday.

Possible Lineups

Real Madrid: Courtois – Mendy, Nacho, Militao, Carvajal – Kroos, Camavinga, Valverde – Bellingham – Vinicius, Rodrygo (4-3-1-2)

Alaves: Owono – Duarte, Marin, Abqar, Gorosabel – Blanco, Benavidez, Guridi – Rioja, Omorodion, Sola (4-3-3)

22:00 – Girona vs Villarreal

This could be a cracker between two free-scoring teams. Girona are pushing hard for 2nd place and Michel is unlikely to do anything too radical with his team selection and should stick with the key men who have taken them to this point. Aleix Garcia should return after a rest on Friday night while Yan Couto may also come in for the suspended Arnau Martinez, although he has been feeling unwell so any decision will likely be a late one.

Villarreal still have an outside shot of European qualification but it’s looking unlikely in truth. They could be without seven players due to injury so Marcelino is extremely limited in terms of rotation options, although we may see Bertrand Traore come in for Ilias on the right flank.

Possible Lineups

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

Villarreal: Jorgensen – Cuenca, Albiol, Mosquera, Femenia – Baena, Coquelin, Parejo, Traore – Sorloth, Guedes (4-4-2)

Wednesday 15th May 2024

19:30 – Rayo Vallecano vs Granada

Rayo Vallecano are another team with work to do to guarantee safety so we can expect them to name their strongest eleven for the fixture that offers the best opportunity to pick up the three points that might keep them in the league. They have no significant injury concerns.

Granada are down and out, both in terms of their top flight status with relegation confirmed at the weekend and their morale after a bruising 4-0 defeat against Real Madrid’s “B team”. Jose Ramon Sandoval is likely to shuffle his pack here as a result and hand minutes to a number of fringe players.

Possible Lineups

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

Granada: Batalla – Neva, Miquel, Rubio, Ricard – Corbeanu, Sergio Ruiz, Hongla, Pellistri – Arezo, Boye (4-4-2)

19:30 – Sevilla vs Cadiz

Sevilla don’t really have anything to play for, but with five players injured and a number of fringe players whose futures surely lie elsewhere, there’s not a massive incentive for Quique Sanchez Flores to rotate. Loic Bade was missed in the 3-2 defeat at Villarreal and should return from suspension here while Youssef En-Nesyri is expected to be fit despite not being able to take part in full training in the buildup to this game.

Cadiz grabbed a lifeline by beating Getafe 1-0 at the weekend but they really need to back it up with another win given they are still five points from safety with only three to play. Mauricio Pellegrino could opt to stick with a winning team, but may consider introducing some fresh legs with Juanmi, Maxi Gomez, Iza Carcelen and Alex Fernandez among the options.

Possible Lineups

Sevilla: Nyland – Salas, Ramos, Bade – Acuña, Soumare, Agoume, Juanlu – Ocampos, Suso – En-Nesyri (3-4-2-1)

Cadiz: Ledesma – Javi Hernandez, Chust, Fali, Zaldua – Navarro, Alcaraz, Escalante, Sobrino – Ramos, Juanmi (4-4-2)

22:00 – Celta Vigo vs Athletic Club

Celta Vigo are the team immediately above the relegation zone but they’ve won their last two at home and will fancy their chances here with Athletic not at their best right now. We may see a couple of changes from the team that lost in Madrid with Javier Manquillo potentially coming in, but Claudio Giraldez isn’t likely to shake things up too much.

Athletic Club are all but out of top four contention after they dropped points against Osasuna, but they’re all but guaranteed a Europa League place. Victory here would make sure of that and they can welcome back Yeray and Aitor Paredes from suspension which may see Dani Vivian, who has been dealing with an injury issue, rotate out. The Basques are missing Yuri to suspension and Ernesto Valverde may consider starting Asier Villalibre up front after his weekend goal given Gorka Guruzeta’s continued absence. A change in goal is also a slight possibility with Julen Agirrezabala hungry for more minutes.

Possible Lineups

Celta Vigo: Guaita – Nuñez, Starfelt, Mingueza – Alvarez, Beltran, Jailson, Manquillo – Bamba, Larsen, Aspas (3-4-3)

Athletic Club: Simon – Lekue, Yeray, Paredes, De Marcos – Prados, Vesga – Nico Williams, Unai Gomez, Iñaki Williams – Villalibre (4-2-3-1)

22:00 – Getafe vs Atletico Madrid

Getafe are another team in the “nothing to play for” category, but there’s not a huge amount of depth to their squad so Pepe Bordalas is likely to stick with most of his regulars for this derby clash. They are missing Borja Mayoral, Domingos Duarte, Juan Iglesias and Mauro Arambarri to injury.

Thomas Lemar and Nahuel Molina are the only injury absentees for Atletico Madrid who are more likely to make use of their squad with a top four finish all but clinched now. Alvaro Morata, Pablo Barrios and Rodrigo De Paul all look likely to rotate in, especially after the latter came off the bench to score a late winner against Celta at the weekend.

Possible Lineups

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

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

Thursday 16th May 2024

19:30 – Las Palmas vs Real Betis

It’s eight straight defeats for Las Palmas who look a shadow of the side that briefly threatened to make a European push earlier in the campaign. Even then, there was a sense that they were massively overachieving and it’s difficult to know what Garcia Pimienta can do here. He named a slightly experimental lineup at the weekend but may turn back to the likes of Sandro and Alberto Moleiro in this one while Sergi Cardona should return at left back following suspension.

Betis meanwhile are involved in a tight race with Real Sociedad for 6th place. Manuel Pellegrini is prone to a bit of rotation though and may well look to freshen things up in a number of positions. Centre back German Pezzella remains an injury doubt but should start if passed fit after missing the 3-2 win over Almeria.

Possible Lineups

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

Real Betis: Rui Silva – Abner, Riad, Sokratis, Bellerin – Guido Rodriguez, Carvalho – Fekir, Isco, Abde Ez – Ayoze (4-2-3-1)

21:30 – Almeria vs Barcelona

Almeria are already down and we may see some changes from Pepe Mel for this game with Luka Romero and Sergio Arribas among those hoping to come in. Luis Suarez featured off the bench against Betis after a long injury lay-off and should also feature, but it’s questionable whether he’s ready to start.

Barcelona are missing the suspended Ilkay Gundogan here with Fermin Lopez or Sergi Roberto options to replace him in midfield. Xavi is also likely to make the odd change elsewhere to freshen things up with Ferran Torres, Joao Felix, Ronald Araujo and Hector Fort perhaps the main candidates to come in following the 2-0 win over Real Sociedad.

Possible Lineups

Almeria: Maximiano – Langa, Chumi, Montes, Pubill – Robertone, Edgar – Arribas, Viera, Romero – Lozano  (4-2-3-1)

Barcelona: Ter Stegen – Fort, Martinez, Araujo, Kounde – Pedri, Christensen, Fermin – Raphinha, Lewandowski, Ferran Torres (4-3-3)

22:00 – Real Sociedad vs Valencia

Real Sociedad were in Monday action against Barcelona, losing 2-0 at the Estadi Olimpic, but there’ll be greater onus on them to force the running on Thursday and we are likely to see a number of changes. Imanol may even opt to totally freshen up his attack with Take Kubo and Ander Barrenetxea likely to come in while it’s possible that Mikel Oyarzabal may be rested with Andre Silva or Umar Sadiq options for the striker role.

Valencia could recall Jose Gaya to their starting eleven on Thursday following injury. Hugo Guillamon and Andre Almeida may also come in with light rotation expected from the weekend draw with Rayo Vallecano.

Possible Lineups

Real Sociedad: Remiro – Tierney, Le Normand, Pacheco, Odriozola – Turrientes, Merino, Brais Mendez – Barrenetxea, Andre Silva, Kubo (4-3-3)

Valencia: Mamardashvili – Gaya, Ozkacar, Mosquera, Foulquier – Almeida, Guillamon, Pepelu – Diego Lopez, Duro, Peter (4-3-3)