The top five were all winners last weekend, so little has changed in terms of the title race heading into matchday 26 which promises to be a cracker. We’ve got Real Madrid heading to the Benito Villamarin, a 3rd vs 4th clash at the Estadio Metropolitano, while Copa del Rey semi-finalists Barcelona and Real Sociedad meet at the Estadi Olimpic. Here are our LaLiga predicted lineups for matchday 26.
Real Valladolid were hammered 7-1 in Bilbao last weekend, the latest low-point in a miserable season that looks certain to end in relegation. Caretaker boss Alvaro Rubio may make some changes as a result here, but there is a glaring lack of quality in this squad and he doesn’t exactly have many options. There’ll be at least two alterations in any case, with Stanko Juric suspended and Joseph Aidoo injured.
Real Valladolid predicted lineup: Hein – Candle, J. St., L. Perez – Annuar, M. Martin, Greece, Amalah – Moroh, Andre (4-4-2)
Things aren’t going much better for Las Palmas who have lost four on the bounce in LaLiga. Their injury problems are clearing up a little though now and joint top scorer Fabio Silva should be fit enough to feature here, potentially even as a starter. There’ll also be a change at the back with Alex Suarez suspended and Juanma Herzog the most likely player to come in. Scott McKenna should also return from a ban as the left-sided centre-back.
Las Palmas predicted lineup: CILLSSEN-Marmol, McKenna, Herzog, Rozada-Bajcetic, J. Muñoz, Essugo-Moleiro, F. Silva, S. Ramirez (4-3-3)
Michel is expected to have a full squad available here, so in theory Girona are well-equipped to stop the rot and put a much needed three points on the board. Yangel Herrera should return in midfield for this game after his suspension last weekend at the Bernabeu. We may also see a slightly more adventurous approach for this fixture, with Donny van de Beek potentially making way for an extra forward or wide player, with Bryan Gil likely to be recalled.
Girona predicted lineup: Grazzaniga – blind, krejci, D. lopez – M. Gutrcell, I. Martin – Gil, Miovtski (49-3)
For the second weekend running, Iago Aspas came off the bench to score a penalty for Celta Vigo, and it was enough for three points against Osasuna last time out. It’s unclear whether or not that will be enough for a starting role at Montilivi, with Claudio Giraldez’s attacking picks still very tough to read. Hugo Alvarez is the Galician side’s only injury concern heading into this one.
Celta Vigo predicted lineup: Guaita-Alonso, Starfelt, J. Rodriguez-Mingueza, Ilaix, Sotelo, Career-Duran, F. Lopez-Iglesias (3-4-2-1)
There are some significant selection problems for Rayo in attack heading into this game, with top scorer Jorge de Frutos suspended, while Sergio Camello and Isi Palazon are both out injured. Midfielder Unai Lopez is also a fitness doubt, with Pedro Diaz likely to be preferred in the centre of the park again over the out-of-favour Oscar Valentin.
Rayo Vallecano predicted lineup: Battle – Chavaria, Mumin, Far, Rati – Ciss, Diaz – A.
A late mistake from Orjan Nyland cost Sevilla two points against Mallorca on Monday, and it’s likely that Garcia Pimienta will field a very similar XI for the trip to Vallecas. The main uncertainty is perhaps in midfield where Lucien Agoume will be hoping to dislodge one of the trio who started last time out.
Sevilla predicted lineup: Nyland – Pedrosa, Salam, Bad, Carmona – Saul – Varga, Romero, Romero, Lukebai (4-3-3)
There was a boost for Manuel Pellegrini this week with the news that Antony will be available after his red card at Getafe was rescinded. He’s sure to start again in this new-look Betis attack that also features talisman Isco, January signing Cucho Hernandez and young winger Jesus Rodriguez. An unchanged XI is possible with no real need for rotation following on from a free midweek.
Real Betis predicted lineup: Adrian-Rodriguez, Bartra, Llorente, Sabaly-Altimira, Cardoso-Jesus, Isco, Antony-C. Hernandez (4-2-3-1)
Carlo Ancelotti left some big names out of the side that won 1-0 at Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, with Endrick making a rare start in that game and grabbing the only goal. He’s likely to opt for some rotation again here ahead of the Madrid derby in the Champions League, although the Italian’s options for that in midfield are limited by the suspension of Jude Bellingham and an injury for Dani Ceballos that will rule him out for at least a month. Fede Valverde is also a fitness concern heading into this.
Real Madrid predicted lineup: Curtor – Menty, Blood, Rudiger, L. Vazquez – Rodrygo, Modric, Education, B. Diaz – Vinicious, Mbappe (4-4-2)
While Jan Oblak was rested, otherwise Diego Simeone named all of his key players in the 4-4 draw at Barcelona in the Copa del Rey in midweek. With a trip to the Bernabeu to come on Tuesday in the Champions League, some rotation looks inevitable here for the home team. Antoine Griezmann is a strong candidate for a rest, and there could be as many as five or six changes in total from the side that started in the cup, with central midfield perhaps the most likely area to stay the same given Koke’s injury absence.
Atletico Madrid predicted lineup: Oblak – Galan, Norman, Gimen, Molina – Lino, Barrios, Paul, Simeone – Alvarez, Sorloth (4-4-2)
There are no such worries for Ernesto Valverde whose side was not involved in the Copa del Rey and has an extra two days off before taking on Roma in the Europa League on Thursday. He may still make light changes to the side that thrashed Real Valladolid last time out though. The Athletic boss has also been dealt a fresh blow, with top scorer Oihan Sancet suffering another injury that will rule him out here. Alex Berenguer is likely to come in as a result.
Athletic Club predicted lineup: Simon-Boiro, Vivian, Yeray, by Marcos-Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar-N. Williams, Berenguer, I. Williams-Sannadi (4-2-3-1)
The home team are missing Renato Tapia and Munir to suspension for this South Madrid derby. They were well beaten at Real Sociedad last time out, so Borja Jimenez has some thinking to do here. He may switch to a back four, while it’s a toss-up between Miguel de la Fuente and Diego Garcia up front. Oscar Rodriguez is also pushing for a recall.
Leganes predicted lineup: Dmitrovic-J. Hernandez, Nastasic, Sergio, Rosier-Neyou, Cisse, Brasanac-O. Rodriguez, De La Fuente, Raba (4-3-3)
Getafe’s revival came to a halt with a defeat against Betis last time out, but they’ve still won four on the bounce away from home. Pepe Bordalas has some defensive headaches heading into this, with Domingos Duarte suspended, while Omar Alderete is an injury doubt. If the latter doesn’t recover, we could see a new central defensive pairing of Djene and Juan Berrocal at Butarque.
Getafe predicted lineup: Soria – Rico, Djene, Berrocal, Churches – Bernat,
Robert Lewandowski should return up front for Barcelona on Sunday, after the Polish international was rested in the Copa del Rey against Atleti on Tuesday night. Marc Casado and Gavi are likely to rotate into the midfield, while Hansi Flick may also consider rotation in defence ahead of their Champions League date in Lisbon. He has so far been reluctant to rest Pedri, Lamine Yamal or Raphinha, but we may at least see their workload managed here. It’s possible at least one of the three could drop to bench, potentially Lamine given he played the full 90 minutes in the cup.
Barcelona predicted lineup: Szczesny-Martin, E. Garcia, Araujo, Kounde-Pedri, Casado-Raphinha, Gavi, F. Lopez-Lewandowski (4-2-3-1)
Real Sociedad are in a similar boat, with this match falling between a Copa del Rey semi-final and a big European game. Imanol named a strong XI in the cup, but there’s a very good chance that he views this game as almost a free hit and makes a large number of changes ahead of the visit of Manchester United in the Europa League. Suspensions for Take Kubo, Sheraldo Becker and Nayef Aguerd mean there will be enforced changes in some positions in any case. Orri Oskarsson, Pablo Marin and Sergio Gomez are among those who may rotate in.
Real Sociedad predicted lineup: Remiro – J. Lopez, Zubeldia, Elustondo, Aramburu, Zubimendi, Marin – S. Gomez, Oskarsson, Barrenetxea (4-3-3)
There’s no Johan Mojica for Mallorca this Sunday, with the left-back suspended. They went with three centre-backs at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan last time out, but a shift to their more conventional 4-2-3-1 is likely here. Robert Navarro may come in on the left wing as a result, while Toni Lato should replace Mojica at left-back.
Mallorca predicted lineup: Greif-Side, Railillo, Valjent, Maffeo-Darder, Mascarell-Navarro, D. Rodriguez, Asano-Muriqi (4-2-3-1)
The pressure is building on Chacho Coudet to get a win, with the Alaves boss no doubt frustrated at seeing his side compete well, but continue to fall short. They have no fresh selection problems here, but Coudet must decide whether to stick with Kike Garcia and Toni Martinez as a duo up top, or return to a 4-2-3-1 structure.
Alaves predicted lineup: Sivera-Diarra, Mouriño, Abqar, Tenaglia-Blanco, Jordan-Aleña, Guridi, Vicente-Kike Garcia (4-2-3-1)
Vicente Moreno is expected to have a full squad available here, with Aimar Oroz fit to return after he missed the 1-0 defeat in Vigo. Osasuna started with a back five in that game, but are likely to return to their typical 4-2-3-1 here. They’ll be looking to Oroz, as well as Bryan Zaragoza, who has the potential to be one of LaLiga’s best wingers, and top scorer Ante Budimir to provide their main attacking threat.
Osasuna predicted lineup: Herrera-Cruz, Boyomo, Catena, Areo-Torro, Moncayola-Zaragoza, M. Gomez, Ruben Garcia-Budimir (4-2-3-1)
Valencia are also doing pretty well on the selection front currently, with only long-term absentee Thierry Correia expected to be unavailable here. Carlos Corberan has opted for three central defenders in his team’s last two matches and it’s unclear whether he’ll stick with that strategy here, or revert to a back four. Umar Sadiq was preferred to Hugo Duro up top for the 3-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid last time out, but with the Valencia boss continuing to tweak his system, it’s possible both could be included here.
Valencia predicted lineup: Mamardashvili-Gaya, Tarrega, Mosquera, Foulquier, Rioja-Almeida, Guerra, Barrenechea-Sadiq, Hard (5-3-2)
There was an excellent three points for Villarreal at Rayo last time out, which leaves them looking very good for a top-five finish which may be enough for Champions League qualification. Marcelino shouldn’t change too much here, although in a much more favourable fixture, it’s possible we could see Dani Parejo return in midfield, while Nicolas Pepe is pushing for Thierno Barry’s place up top.
Villarreal predicted lineup: Conde-Cardona, Costa, Kambwala, Foyth-Baena, Gueye, Parejo, PINO-Ayoze, PEPE (4-4-2)
Espanyol are on a really good run right now which has given them an excellent chance of going on to beat the drop. They won 1-0 at fellow strugglers Alaves last time out and Manolo will surely be looking to minimise the changes at the Ceramica. The main uncertainty is at left-back where Espanyol would need to pay Villarreal some money in order to field Carlos Romero who is on loan from the Valencian club. Given their tight financial situation, it’s perhaps more likely that Brian Olivan comes in.
Espanyol predicted lineup: J. Garcia-Olivan, Cabrera, Kumbulla, El Hilali-Gonzalez de Zarate, Lozano, Kral-Puado, R. Fernandez, Jofre (4-3-3)
