Atletico Madrid’s showdown with European hopefuls Villarreal is perhaps the pick of the games this weekend in Spain. Elsewhere, Real Madrid visit Valladolid, while Barcelona are at home to struggling Valencia. Here are our LaLiga predicted lineups for matchday 21, featuring all the clubs in action this weekend.
It’s three straight defeats for Las Palmas and the first big test of the Diego Martinez era, as it was pretty smooth sailing for the former Granada boss in his first months in the job. Benito Ramirez was sent off at the Bernabeu last time out, but he only featured off the bench, so Martinez should largely go with the same players again, although Dario Essugo returns from a ban and is sure to come into the midfield.
Las Palmas predicted lineup: Cillessen – Marmol, McKenna, Herzog, A. Suarez – Essugo, J. Muñoz – Moleiro, Kirian, Sandro – Fabio Silva (4-2-3-1)
Osasuna are winless in LaLiga since early November, but they are still picking up plenty of draws, so their points tally is ticking over, and their strong cup run also suggests there isn’t any real pressure on Vicente Moreno just yet. Bryan Zaragoza again misses out this Friday, while Moi Gomez has also been ruled out with a fever. Moreno could stick with his usual 4-2-3-1 system, although there may be some temptation to play Raul Garcia as a second striker alongside Ante Budimir.
Osasuna predicted lineup: Herrera – Cruz, Boyomo, Catena, Areso – Torro, Moncayola – Bretones, Oroz, Ruben Garcia – Budimir (4-2-3-1)
Mallorca let in four goals in the space of eight minutes in the first half at Villarreal on Monday. It’ll be interesting to see how Jagoba Arrasate responds to that. Changes are possible, but they’ve a relatively settled side, particularly in defence, and an otherwise strong campaign suggests he may not panic after one bad result. Manu Morlanes is their only notable absentee, with an injury ruling him out again. Takuma Asano, Antonio Sanchez and possibly even Leo Roman, are among the main contenders to come in should we see a number of alterations.
Mallorca predicted lineup: Greif – Mojica, Raillo, Valjent, Maffeo – Mascarell, Samu Costa – Dani Rodriguez, Darder, Asano – Muriqi (4-2-3-1)
Manuel Pellegrini has some fairly major problems right now, with his Betis team in poor form and with the longest injury list in LaLiga. They’ll definitely be without six players here, including Romain Perraud who is suspended. Ricardo Rodriguez and Giovani Lo Celso are among the injury absentees, while they have doubts over Hector Bellerin, Chimy Avila and Pablo Fornals too, so the visitors are really short on numbers for this game. They may be forced to use Marc Bartra in defence, while 19-year-old Jesus Rodriguez should continue on the right flank after his goal last time out. Adrian was preferred to Fren Vieites for the 3-1 defeat to Alaves last weekend, and we could see the goalkeeper rotation continue over the coming weeks, unless Betis move for an outright number one to replace Rui Silva.
Real Betis predicted lineup: Adrian – Natan, Roca, Llorente, Bartra – Altimira, Cardoso – Abde Ez, Isco, Jesus – Roque (4-2-3-1)
Atletico Madrid dug deep to defeat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in midweek, despite playing most of the game with 10 men. Four days on, Diego Simeone is likely to bring some energy into the side by making a few changes. Some of those will be enforced given Javi Galan and Clement Lenglet are both suspended, meaning Reinildo and Robin Le Normand are likely starters in defence. Conor Gallagher could also come into the side, while at least one of Marcos Llorente, Nahuel Molina and Giuliano Simeone should also drop out on the right.
Atletico Madrid predicted lineup: Oblak – Reinildo, Le Normand, Gimenez, Llorente – Gallagher, Barrios, De Paul, Simeone – Griezmann, Alvarez (4-4-2)
Villarreal put in one of their most complete performances of Marcelino’s second spell, to brush Mallorca aside 4-0 on Monday. With so few clean sheets this term prior to that, an unchanged back four looks very likely here. Diego Conde is available again though, so the Villarreal boss has a decision to make in goal, with Luiz Junior hoping to keep his place. Should he stick with the Brazilian, it may be an unchanged eleven, with the fit again Ayoze Perez likely to be left on the bench once again.
Villarreal predicted lineup: Junior – Cardona, Costa, Foyth, Femenia – Baena, Gueye, Parejo, Pino – G. Moreno, Barry (4-4-2)
There are two suspensions for Sevilla this weekend, with Adria Pedrosa and Isaac Romero unavailable for the visit of Espanyol. They played really well in victory at Girona last weekend, so Garcia Pimienta will be reluctant to make other changes, but Kike Salas should return at left-back, while Ruben Vargas may be asked to lead the line in Romero’s absence. That should create a space on the left flank that Stanis Idumbo or Chidera Ejuke may fill.
Sevilla predicted lineup: Nyland – Salas, Gudelj, Bade, Carmona – Saul, Sow, Lokonga – Ejuke, Vargas, Lukebakio (4-3-3)
Espanyol were also matchday 20 winners against Real Valladolid, but they’ve picked up just one away point all season. Manolo is trying different attacking solutions on the road, but none seem to be working, and it’s tough to know which way he will go here, although new loan signing Roberto Fernandez may be handed a first start up top, after he netted the winner off the bench last time out.
Espanyol predicted lineup: J. Garcia – Olivan, Cabrera, Kumbulla, El Hilali – Lozano, Kral, Tejero – Puado, R. Fernandez, Roca (4-3-3)
It has been a tough week for LaLiga’s bottom club. After losing their relegation six-pointer at Espanyol, they also look to have lost the services of their promising young centre-back Juma Bah who bought out his own contract in order to facilitate a move to Manchester City. Real Valladolid are not happy about the situation, which remains unclear, with legal challenges potentially ahead. Despite losing one of his central defenders, Diego Cocca could still switch to a back five here for the visit of the league leaders. In another fresh blow, key winger Raul Moro has been ruled out for a couple of months with an injury, while Stanko Juric is suspended here.
Real Valladolid predicted lineup: Hein – Rosa, J. Sanchez, Ozkacar, D. Torres, L. Perez – Amallah, K. Perez, Martin – M. Andre, Anuar (5-3-2)
Vinicius Junior completes his two-match ban this weekend, so in-form Rodrygo may shift over to the left, with Brahim Diaz likely to operate on the right. The Real Madrid eleven should be closer to the one that started against Las Palmas last weekend, as opposed to the side that hammered Salzburg in the Champions League. However, Aurelien Tchouameni is available again and could be preferred to Raul Asencio in central defence.
Real Madrid predicted lineup: Courtois – F. Garcia, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Vazquez – Bellingham, Ceballos, Valverde – Rodrygo, Mbappe, Brahim (4-3-3)
Rayo have been tough to beat of late in LaLiga. Iñigo Perez has a pretty settled defence, but there is competition for places further up the pitch, so it’s possible we could see the odd change here, despite a solid display in the draw at Osasuna last time out. Alvaro Garcia is pushing for a start over Adri Embarba on the left, while Pathe Ciss is available again and a fresh option in midfield. There are no new selection issues.
Rayo Vallecano predicted lineup: Batalla – Chavarria, Mumin, Lejeune, Ratiu – Valentin, U. Lopez – Embarba, Isi Palazon, De Frutos – Camello (4-2-3-1)
Girona’s hopes of Champions League progress formally ended with a 1-0 defeat in Milan on Wednesday. Michel went with a strong lineup in that game, and we are likely to see some fresh legs introduced for this one. Left-back Miguel Gutierrez remains an injury doubt, but should start if he’s passed fit. Arnau Martinez will also surely return after not featuring in the Champions League, while Yaser Asprilla, Arnaut Danjuma and Ivan Martin are also strong candidates to come into the starting lineup.
Girona predicted lineup: Gazzaniga – Blind, D. Lopez, Krejci, A. Martinez – Herrera, I. Martin – Gil, Asprilla, Tsygankov – Danjuma (4-2-3-1)
It hasn’t been a great week for Real Sociedad boss Imanol. He clearly prioritised Thursday’s Europa League trip to Lazio over last weekend’s league game at Valencia. A rotated eleven was beaten 1-0 at Mestalla, only for the regulars to return and also lose in Rome, with Aihen Muñoz’s early red card not helping matters. Mikel Oyarzabal, Take Kubo, Brais Mendez and Martin Zubimendi were all withdrawn before the second half commenced with Lazio already 3-0 up, so it looks likely we’ll see a much stronger league eleven this weekend. Nayef Aguerd went off with cramp in that game, and while it’s not a major problem, he’s possibly due a rest having started four matches in the last 11 days.
Real Sociedad predicted lineup: Remiro – Muñoz, Pacheco, Zubeldia, Aramburu – B. Mendez, Zubimendi, S. Gomez – Barrenetxea, Oyarzabal, Kubo (4-3-3)
Getafe have a doubt over their unlikely top scorer Mauro Arambarri for this one. That could see Djene used in a midfield role, while Christantus Uche could also drop back into the centre, having featured up front in the draw with Barcelona last weekend. That in turn should see one of Bertug Yildirim, Borja Mayoral or Alvaro Rodriguez start up top. Allan Nyom remains an injury concern.
Getafe predicted lineup: Soria – Rico, Duarte, Alderete, Iglesias – Djene, Milla, Uche – Coba, Yildirim, Aleña (4-3-3)
It hasn’t been the most convincing start to 2025 from Athletic Club. They were hammered 4-1 by Besiktas in Istanbul on Wednesday, and we’re likely to see plenty of rotation from the side that started that game. We may see the goalkeeper and the entire back four change. In midfield, much depends on whether either Oihan Sancet or Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta can shake off injuries in time to feature. Iñaki Williams was rested in Turkey and should definitely start this one, while Ernesto Valverde will weigh up whether to give Nico Williams or Gorka Guruzeta a breather on Sunday.
Athletic Club predicted lineup: Simon – Boiro, Vivian, Yeray, Gorosabel – Prados, Jauregizar – N. Williams, U. Gomez, I. Williams – Berenguer (4-2-3-1)
Leganes added Atletico Madrid to their list of scalps last weekend, with the South Madrid side starting to emerge as the best equipped of the newly promoted sides to stay up. They have been defensive, but competitive on their travels, and we’re likely to see quite a cautious approach from Borja Jimenez in this game. He has no fresh selection problems, so it should be a very similar eleven again in Bilbao on Sunday.
Leganes predicted lineup: Dmitrovic – J. Hernandez, Nastasic, Tapia, Sergio, Rosier – Cruz, Cisse, Neyou, Raba – De la Fuente (5-4-1)
While there was a change in goal in midweek, the same 10 Barcelona outfielders started in Lisbon against Benfica, as had played at Getafe in LaLiga last weekend. With a top eight finish now guaranteed in the Champions League, Hansi Flick is perhaps more likely to go strong again here, before resting a few players against Atalanta on Wednesday. If he does look for some fresh legs in this one, Frenkie de Jong and Ferran Torres are perhaps the most likely options, but major alterations are not expected.
Barcelona predicted lineup: Peña – Balde, Cubarsi, Araujo, Kounde – Pedri, Casado – Raphinha, Gavi, Yamal – Lewandowski (4-2-3-1)
Christian Mosquera is suspended, in a big blow to Valencia’s hopes of getting something from this fixture. Yarek Gąsiorowski should start in central defence as a result, while Pepelu is on standby in case Enzo Barrenechea doesn’t recover from a minor knock. Otherwise, Carlos Corberan should go with the same team that picked up a priceless three points against Real Sociedad last time out.
Valencia predicted lineup: Mamardashvili – Gaya, Tarrega, Gasiorowski, Foulquier – Guerra, Barrenechea – Rioja, Almeida, D. Lopez – Duro (4-2-3-1)
Chacho Coudet got his first win as Alaves boss at Betis last time out, and he’s up against his former club on Monday night with Celta visiting Vitoria. A hat-trick from Kike Garcia was enough to seal the points at the Benito Villamarin, and he should certainly continue here, while few other changes are expected after such a strong away showing, although Antonio Blanco is suspended. That should see Carlos Benavidez or Joan Jordan start in midfield. The latter is likely to be the preferred choice, but he’s an injury doubt so much will depend on how he progresses over the weekend. Carlos Martin is also available again, but he may be edged out by Tomas Conechny on the left flank.
Alaves predicted lineup: Owono – M. Sanchez, Diarra, Abqar, Tenaglia – Jordan, Guevara – Conechny, Guridi, Vicente – Kike Garcia (4-2-3-1)
Celta put in perhaps their worst home showing of the season last weekend against Athletic, managing just three shots in the game. Their selection issues continue here, with Oscar Mingueza starting a two-game ban, while Iago Aspas misses out again through injury. They’ve also sold Jonathan Bamba to MLS side Chicago Fire which further depletes their attacking options. Don’t be surprised if Claudio Giraldez shakes things up with a number of changes here, after he named quite an odd lineup last time out, with many regulars on the bench. He looks sure to recall Marcos Alonso who was suspended against Athletic, while Carl Starfelt, Ilaix Moriba and Hugo Alvarez should also come back in.
Celta Vigo predicted lineup: Guaita – Alonso, Starfelt, J. Rodriguez – Alvarez, Beltran, Ilaix, Carreira – Swedberg, Duran – Iglesias (3-4-2-1)
