LaLiga matchday 20 preview & predicted lineups

Just the seven league games this weekend with the Supercopa taking place over in Saudi Arabia. However there’s plenty to get stuck into, including one of the biggest Basque derbies in years as Champions League hopefuls Athletic Club and Real Sociedad meet. Here’s our 2023/24 LaLiga matchday 20 preview with predicted lineups and win probabilities.

LaLiga matchday 20 preview – Predicted lineups

Friday 12th January 2024

21:00 (CET) – Sevilla vs Alaves

This is a really big one at the bottom to kick things off with just one point and one place separating Sevilla and Alaves. The hosts were dealing with a major injury crisis in late December. That’s eased up a little but they’re still missing a number of players while striker Youssef En Nesyri has jetted off to Ivory Coast to take part in the Africa Cup of Nations which should hand Rafa Mir a start here.

Alaves have also lost two players to that tournament with back-up keeper Jesus Owono and defender Abdel Abqar representing their countries this month.

Predicted Sevilla Lineup: Dmitrovic – Pedrosa, Ramos, Bade, Navas – Soumare, Sow – Suso, Rakitic, Ocampos – Rafa Mir (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Quique Sanchez Flores

Predicted Alaves Lineup: Sivera – Javi Lopez, Duarte, Marin, Gorosabel – Blanco, Guevara – Rebbach, Guridi, Rioja – Omorodion (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Luis Garcia

Saturday 13th January 2024

14:00 – Las Palmas vs Villarreal

Julian Araujo begins a four game ban for Las Palmas which leaves them with a hole at right back and they’re suddenly a bit short on defensive options for this game with Daley Sinkgraven also suspended while Saul Coco is on AFCON duty.

Omenuke Mfulu is also heading to Ivory Coast so Villarreal may see this as a good time to be heading to Gran Canaria. The visitors are still conceding way too many goals though and may go with new signing Eric Bailly in central defence here.

Predicted Las Palmas Lineup: Valles – Cardona, Marmol, Herzog, Alex Suarez – Kirian, Perrone, Muñoz – Moleiro, Sandro, Munir (4-3-3)

Coach: Garcia Pimienta

Predicted Villarreal Lineup: Jorgensen – Moreno, Cuenca, Bailly, Altimira – Baena, Capoue, Parejo, Akhomach – Sorloth, Gerard Moreno (4-4-2)

Coach: Marcelino

16:15 – Mallorca vs Celta Vigo

This is a tough game to call between two sides who have picked up a few results of late to ease their relegation concerns. Mallorca have some defensive issues with Matija Nastasic suspended, Martin Valjent injured and doubts over the fitness of Jaume Costa and Pablo Maffeo.

Celta meanwhile are missing Jonathan Bamba who’s away on AFCON duty while Carl Starfelt and Franco Cervi join long-term absentee Joseph Aidoo on the treatment table.

Predicted Mallorca Lineup: Rajkovic – Copete, Raillo, Giovanni – Lato, Darder, Samu, Antonio, Maffeo – Dani Rodriguez – Larin (3-5-1-1)

Coach: Javier Aguirre

Predicted Celta Vigo Lineup: Guaita – Manu Sanchez, Nuñez, Dominguez, Mingueza – De La Torre, Beltran, Tapia, Carles Perez – Aspas, Larsen (4-4-2)

Coach: Rafa Benitez

18:30 – Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad

This is the big one this weekend with Basque rivals Athletic Club and Real Sociedad both going well this season and looking like they’ll be in Europe next term. San Mames is sure to be rocking come Saturday, but a combination of injuries and international call-ups mean both sides will be missing key players.

There’ll be no Iñaki Williams for the hosts with the in-form winger on duty with Ghana. Real Sociedad are harder hit overall though with goalkeeper Alex Remiro suspended which will see youngster Unai Marrero start in goal while Hamari Traore, Take Kubo and Umar Sadiq have international commitments.

Predicted Athletic Club Lineup: Simon – Yuri, Paredes, Vivian, De Marcos – Vesga, Ruiz de Galarreta – Nico Williams, Sancet, Berenguer – Guruzeta (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Ernesto Valverde

Predicted Real Sociedad Lineup: Marrero – Tierney, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Elustondo – Merino, Zubimendi, Brais Mendez – Barrenetxea, Oyarzabal, Zakharyan (4-3-3)

Coach: Imanol Alguacil

21:00 – Real Betis vs Granada

This would ordinarily feel like a certain home win, but Granada’s really impressive win over Cadiz gives the 19th placed side something to build from. They acted quickly in January by bringing in goalkeeper Augusto Batalla and defender Bruno Mendez from South American clubs and the duo helped inspire a first clean sheet of the campaign last time out.

Both should keep their places here for the trip to Betis who have something of a defensive selection crisis with Chadi Riad and Youssouf Sabaly on international duty while Marc Bartra and Hector Bellerin are on a pretty lengthy injury list.

Predicted Real Betis Lineup: Rui Silva – Abner, Sokratis, Pezzella, Ruibal – Roca, Guardado – Ayoze Perez, Isco, Assane – Willian Jose (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Manuel Pellegrini

Predicted Granada Lineup: Batalla – Neva, Miquel, Bruno Mendez, Manafa – Carreras, Ruiz, Villar, Bryan Zaragoza – Boye, Uzuni (4-4-2)

Coach: Alexander Medina

Sunday 14th January 2024

14:00 – Almeria vs Girona

With their title rivals over in the Middle East, Girona should go top this weekend when they travel to rock bottom and still winless Almeria. The hosts have lost three players to the Africa Cup of Nations including midfielder Iddrisu Baba but striker Luis Suarez is nearing fitness, although this game may still come too soon.

This will be a bit of a test for Girona defensively though as they’re missing both Eric Garcia and David Lopez (who has a four game ban) which is likely to see back-up centre-back Juanpe make his first league start of the campaign.

Predicted Almeria Lineup: Maximiano – Akieme, Edgar, Montes, Pubill – Lopy, Robertone – Ramazani, Arribas, Embarba – Baptistao (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Gaizka Garitano

Predicted Girona Lineup: Gazzaniga – Miguel, Blind, Juanpe, Couto – Aleix Garcia, Herrera, Ivan Martin – Savinho, Dovbyk, Tsygankov (4-3-3)

Coach: Michel

16:15 – Cadiz vs Valencia

Cadiz and Valencia round things off on Sunday afternoon. The hosts are winless in the league since the first day of September and in desperate need of ending that streak as they slide further towards danger.

They’ll be without the suspended Ruben Sobrino for the visit of Valencia who’ve found a bit of form of late with a more orthodox 4-4-2 seeing Hugo Duro partner Roman Yaremchuk in attack. Hugo Guillamon is also enjoying something of a renaissance in midfield which may see promising youngster Javi Guerra have to settle for a place on the bench again.

Predicted Cadiz Lineup: Ledesma – Javi Hernandez, Fali, Luis Hernandez, Iza – Machis, Alcaraz, Kouame, Alejo – Ramos, Guardiola (4-4-2)

Coach: Sergio

Predicted Valencia Lineup: Mamardashvili – Gaya, Gabriel Paulista, Mosquera, Correia – Canos, Pepelu, Guillamon, Fran Perez – Duro, Yaremchuk (4-4-2)

Coach: Ruben Baraja

LaLiga matchday 20 fixtures – Where to watch