Champions Barcelona are five points clear of Atletico Madrid and Real Betis at the summit
Real Madrid are six points behind their rivals after losing two of their last four games
Promoted Malaga are the only team yet to win a match and start the weekend bottom of the pack
The Spanish top flight returns after the three-week international hiatus, with Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu battle against Villarreal the standout clash on the card.
Malaga vs Espanyol – Friday October 9 (8pm)
Key Stats
Malaga have managed only 14 shots, the fewest in LaLiga
Espanyol have lost four of their last six matches
Team news
Long-term absentees Fernando Calero, Julen Lobete, Diego Murillo and Aaron Ochoa are out and could again be joined in the Malaga infirmary by Adam Aznou, who is struggling with a knock.
Espanyol welcome defender Omar El Hilali back from suspension but Javi Puado and Kike Garcia are injured and Jofre Carreras is a doubt.
Need to know
All the stats point towards this being a low-key way for LaLiga to mark its return. Malaga have scored only three goals all season, blanking four times, while Espanyol are better at getting stuck in – their tally of 120 fouls is the highest in the division – than they are at finding the net. Neither are easy to trust, so a bore draw seems a likely outcome.
Score prediction: Malaga 0-0 Espanyol @ 8/1 with LiveScore Bet
Rayo Vallecano vs Athletic Bilbao – Saturday October 10 (1pm)
Key Stats
Both teams have scored in all seven of Rayo Vallecano’s games
Athletic Bilbao are on a four-match unbeaten run
Team news
It was a bad international break for Bilbao, who will be without key men Oihan Sancet and Nico Williams after they suffered injuries in training and while away with Spain respectively.
Augusto Batalla is Rayo’s only confirmed absentee, although Ivan Balliu and Adria Pedrosa must be assessed.
Need to know
Athletic Bilbao looked to have kicked into gear with shutout successes over Celta Vigo and Atletico Madrid but the stalemates with Elche and Alaves that followed suggest they may have to settle for a point at Vallecano.
Rayo have lost to only Real Madrid in their last four and with their seven matches producing 27 goals, the predicted draw is likely to be an exciting one.
Score prediction: Rayo Vallecano 2-2 Athletic Bilbao @ 10/1 with LiveScore Bet
Alaves vs Atletico Madrid – Saturday October 10 (3.15pm)
Key Stats
Alaves have picked up nine points from four home games
Atletico have scored nine goals in a run of three straight matches
Team news
Abde Rebbach was forced off in Alaves’s last game and remains a doubt despite the lengthy break.
Atletico midfielder Pablo Barrios missed his side’s last three matches and is another who will need to be assessed ahead of kick-off.
Need to know
With their strong squad piecing together a commanding three-game win streak, Atletico are hard to oppose. However, Alaves will be delighted this fixture is to be played at their Mendizorrotza home, where they have picked up nine of their 11 points and scored nine of their 11 goals. Take the hosts to grab a consolation.
Score prediction: Alaves 1-3 Atletico Madrid @ 11/1 with LiveScore Bet
Barcelona vs Getafe – Saturday October 10 (5.30pm)
Key Stats
Barcelona have won eight games in a row in all competitions
Getafe have managed just one win in six matches
Team news
Key Barca forward Raphinha suffered a minor injury while away with Brazil and may sit this one out alongside Roony Bardghji and Andreas Christensen.
Juanmi and Christantus Uche are out for the visitors, who must also assess Abdel Abqar and Kiko Femenia. Mario Martin is back from suspension to compensate, though.
Need to know
There looks to be no stopping Barcelona and even if Jose Bordalas’s low-block works for a while, the champions should run riot eventually. Barca have scored 36 goals in eight straight wins to start the campaign and with Lamine Yamal and most of his teammates in frightening form, another dominant victory awaits.
Score prediction: Barcelona 3-0 Getafe @ 5-1 with LiveScore Bet
Real Madrid vs Villarreal – Saturday October 10 (8pm)
Key Stats
Real Madrid have lost two of their last four league games
Both teams have scored in Villarreal’s last five matches and Real’s last four
Team news
Real stars Kylian Mbappe, Ibrahima Konate and Fede Valverde all suffered injuries on international duty and could miss out. Ferland Mendy and Raul Asencio are also out plus Dean Huijsen is suspended, so Eder Militao’s return is a boost.
Villarreal’s Tajon Buchanan was another felled down while representing his country and looks set to miss the trip to Madrid.
Need to know
Villarreal will have been delighted to beat Malaga and Levante 3-1 after a winless start to the season but they are likely to revert to form in the capital.
Real have won all four of their home games since Jose Mourinho’s return and having scored four goals in each of their league victories at the Bernabeu, they can put in a dominant performance.
Clean sheets have proved hard to come by, though, so expect the Yellow Submarine to hit their hosts with a strike of their own.
Score prediction: Real Madrid 3-1 Villarreal @ 8/1 with LiveScore Bet
Elche vs Celta Vigo – Sunday October 11 (1pm)
Key Stats
Both teams have scored in six of Elche’s seven games
This pair’s two 2025-26 head-to-heads had a goal at both ends
Team news
Elche midfielder Federico Redondo is suspended and Yago Santiago and Buba Sangare are sidelined.
Veteran Celta defender Sebastian Caceres is a doubt and teammates Jones El-Abdellaoui and Miguel Roman are long-term absentees. Captain Iago Aspas could make his return.
Need to know
The goals look set to flow in Alicante, and not for the first time. Elche’s first three home games have each produced five goals and with Celta putting five past Racing Santander last time, it would be no surprise to see both teams get on the scoresheet for a third straight head-to-head.
Score prediction: Elche 1-1 Celta Vigo @ 19/4 with LiveScore Bet
Real Sociedad vs Deportivo La Coruna – Sunday October 11 (3.15pm)
Key Stats
Real Sociedad have gone three home games without a win
Deportivo have scored in all but one of their seven LaLiga matches
Team news
Alvaro Odriozola is Real Sociedad’s sole absentee while Deportivo must do without key midfielder Marc Casado and star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was struck down by a meniscus tear before the break.
Need to know
Three losses in seven games will be deemed a bad start by Real Sociedad but those defeats have come against Real Betis, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, so they can do better against promoted Deportivo. The visitors will sorely miss Aubameyang and look set to be outclassed in San Sebastian.
Score prediction: Real Sociedad 2-1 Deportivo La Coruna @ 13/2 with LiveScore Bet
Real Betis vs Osasuna – Sunday October 11 (5.30pm)
Key Stats
Real Betis are on a five-match unbeaten run
Osasuna have shipped 12 goals during a four-game spell without a win
Team news
Betis defender Junior Firpo is out but fellow full-back Aitor Ruibal is nearing a return and could feature.
Jorge Herrando and Raul Moro miss out for Osasuna, who will be hoping Valentin Rosier is fit enough to return.
Need to know
A 1-0 win over Real Madrid was just what the doctor ordered for Real Betis, who have enjoyed three victories and a draw in the four games since. Notably, Betis have won their three home games this term 1-0 and they could repeat the trick against Osasuna, who have blanked in two of their last three matches and failed to fill the creativity vacuum caused by Victor Munoz’s departure for Liverpool.
Score prediction: Real Betis 1-0 Osasuna @ 13/2 with LiveScore Bet
Racing Santander vs Valencia – Sunday October 11 (8pm)
Key Stats
Racing Santander have conceded a league-high 21 goals
Only Malaga (3) start the weekend with fewer points than Valencia’s four
Team news
Andres Martin is nearing a return for Racing, who have an otherwise clear bill of health.
Valencia are certainly not in the same boat, heading to Cantabria without Jose Copete, Diego Lopez, Sergi Canos, Umar Sadiq and Dimitri Foulquier.
Need to know
A return of only four points from seven games cost Carlos Corberan his job and the international break should have given new manager Javier Aguirre time to spark some life into an underperforming Valencia.
Aguirre is a top manager – he showed that at the 2026 World Cup with Mexico – and he can make a winning start against a side who have conceded 12 goals in two matches.
Score prediction: Racing Santander 0-2 Valencia @ 13/1 with LiveScore Bet
Levante vs Sevilla – Monday October 12 (8pm)
Key Stats
Levante have managed only one win in six games
Sevilla are unbeaten on the road this term
Team news
Levante pair Hugo Sotelo and Karl Etta Eyong are almost over their knocks and may make the squad.
Sevilla should have defender Marcao available but continue to be without Lucas Stassin and Ruben Vargas.
Need to know
A huge eight points separate high-flying Sevilla and lowly Levante, with that gulf likely to show on Monday. Sevilla’s unbeaten road includes a 3-1 win at Athletic Bilbao, suggesting they should be too strong for a Levante side who lack the overall quality of their visitors.
Score prediction: Levante 1-2 Sevilla @ 17/2 with LiveScore Bet
