With only one point between La Liga leaders Barcelona and rivals Real Madrid, round 24 could have major implications on the title race.
Barca beat Mallorca 3-0 last weekend to bring their tally to 58 points, one more than Madrid who were 2-0 winners away at Valencia.
The Liga leaders were humiliated 4-0 by Atletico Madrid on Thursday, knocking them out of the Copa del Rey. They need to bounce back if they are to maintain their lead at the top of the standings.
Madrid are well rested since their win at Valencia and they host Real Sociedad in round 24 with a chance to go top of the table before the leaders play later on Sunday.
The title could still go either way and there is plenty on the line for teams at the bottom of the log as well. Rayo Vallecano, Levante and Oviedo remain the bottom three sides.
Our team offers analysis on some of the highlight games this weekend and a predicted outcome.
Getafe vs Villarreal – Saturday, 6:15PM
Getafe’s recent run of three unbeaten games has seen them rise into 11th place with 26 points. They were 2-0 winners away at Alaves in their last match.
The hosts are however the second lowest scoring side in the division, scoring just 18 goals in their opening 23 matches.
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Fourth place Villarreal beat Espanyol convincingly 4-1 last weekend, bringing their tally to 45 points. They do have a game in hand are desperate to make it two wins on the bounce here.
Getafe have lost twice to Villarreal in their last five head-to-head encounters, with the remaining three resulting in draws. The yellow submarine are tipped to avoid defeat here.
Prediction – Villarreal to win or draw (X2) – CLICK HERE TO PLACE YOUR BET ON THIS GAME!
Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad – Saturday, 11PM
The record La Liga champions need to beat Sociedad for them to take over top spot. Victory here will be a sixth consecutive home win for Alvaro Arbeloa’s charges.
They will be confident they can get all three points here with a recent 100% record against Sociedad. Madrid have won all five of their recent head-to-head encounters.
Sociedad are in eighth place with 31 points, with a win for them here potentially lifting them into the top six. They come into the game on an impressive 11-game unbeaten run.
Kylian Mbappe is the Liga’s top scorer with an astounding 23 goals in 23 games. The Frenchman is key to the hosts attack, especially with Jude Bellingham now sidelined with injury.
Prediction – Real Madrid to win – CLICK HERE TO PLACE YOUR BET ON THIS GAME!
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Rayo Vallecano vs Atletico Madrid – Sunday, 6:15PM
Vallecano must win here if they are to climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since October. They are in 18th place with 22 points.
They host an Atletico side buzzing from a 4-0 demolition of Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, seeking back-to-back wins for the first time since mid January. Atletico are in third place with 45 points, a staggering 12 behind the top two.
Diego Simeone’s side have scored six goals against Vallecano in their last two encounters. It has been 13 years since Vallecano got a win against Atletico.
The visitors have an almost fully fit squad to choose from and have proven to be a better team over recent seasons. They are tipped to get one over Vallecano yet again.
Prediction – Atletico Madrid to win – CLICK HERE TO PLACE YOUR BET ON THIS GAME!
Mallorca vs Betis – Sunday, 11PM
These two sides on recent confusing runs of form lock horns with different things on the line on opposite ends of the table.
16th place Mallorca have 24 points, two above the relegation zone and need to avoid defeat to keep out of touch with the bottom three. A triumphant 4-1 win against Sevilla was quickly forgotten after defeat to Barca in their last game.
For fifth place Betis, no matter what the result is on Sunday, they will retain their standing on the table. With 38 points, they are seven away from the top four and four above their closest challengers Espanyol.
Betis have won four of their last five games against Mallorca, with the latter winning just once. Antony has been in good goalscoring form and was on target with a brace the last time these two sides met.
Prediction – Both teams to score – CLICK HERE TO PLACE YOUR BET ON THIS GAME!
