Following a slightly strange start to 2024 with only seven matches last weekend as the Supercopa took place, we’re back to a full quota of Spanish top flight fixtures for matchday 21. Barcelona’s trip to Betis is the standout game with all of the top three in action on Sunday. Here’s our full 2023/24 LaLiga matchday 21 preview with predicted lineups for all 20 clubs, win probabilities for every game and details on where to watch the action.
LaLiga matchday 21 preview – Predicted lineups
Friday 19th January 2024
21:00 – Alaves vs Cadiz
| Alaves | Cadiz | |
| Win Probability | 54% | 19% |
Cadiz boss Sergio may well lose his job if his team loses this game. The Andalusians are winless since early September in LaLiga and they’ve not made any January signings yet. Ruben Sobrino’s suspension adds to their considerable selection issues here with the likes of Darwin Machis and Roger Marti out injured.
There are less problems as far as the hosts are concerned but Alaves are without Abdel Abqar again. Kike Garcia looks like he may have edged ahead of Samu Omorodion as the preferred striker right now.
Predicted Alaves Lineup: Sivera – Javi Lopez, Duarte, Marin, Gorosabel – Blanco, Guevara – Vicente, Guridi, Rioja – Kike Garcia (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Luis Garcia
Predicted Cadiz Lineup: Ledesma – Pires, Fali, Chust, Iza – Escalante, Kouame, Alcaraz – Navarro, Ramos, Alejo (4-3-3)
Coach: Sergio
Saturday 20th January 2024
14:00 – Rayo Vallecano vs Las Palmas
| Rayo Vallecano | Las Palmas | |
| Win Probability | 50% | 22% |
Rayo Vallecano play their first league game in 18 days, but they are missing Pathe Ciss and Kike Perez to suspension. Sergio Camello’s brace at Getafe should see him lead the line.
Las Palmas will want to keep changes to a minimum after a 3-0 win over Villarreal last weekend. Julian Araujo serves the second game of a four match ban.
Predicted Rayo Vallecano Lineup: Dimitrievski – Espino, Lejeune, Aridane, Balliu – Unai Lopez, Valentin – Alvaro Garcia, Trejo, Isi Palazon – Camello (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Francisco
Predicted Las Palmas Lineup: Valles – Cardona, Marmol, Herzog, Alex Suarez – Kirian, Perrone, Muñoz – Moleiro, Sandro, Munir (4-3-3)
Coach: Garcia Pimienta
16:15 – Villarreal vs Mallorca
| Villarreal | Mallorca | |
| Win Probability | 45% | 27% |
Villarreal’s defensive issues go on with the return of Eric Bailly not doing much to help things so far. They’ve a host of injury problems here too with Dani Parejo likely to be out for around a month with a knee issue.
Mallorca are missing Giovanni Gonzalez to suspension while Cyle Larin should continue to lead the line with a late midweek winner in the Copa del Rey against Tenerife a boost to his confidence levels.
Predicted Villarreal Lineup: Jorgensen – Romero, Cuenca, Bailly, Altimira – Baena, Coquelin, Comesana, Akhomach – Sorloth, Gerard Moreno (4-4-2)
Coach: Marcelino
Predicted Mallorca Lineup: Rajkovic – Nastacic, Raillo, Valjent – Costa, Darder, Samu, Morlanes, Antonio – Dani Rodriguez – Larin (3-5-1-1)
Coach: Javier Aguirre
18:30 – Valencia vs Athletic Club
| Valencia | Athletic Club | |
| Win Probability | 28% | 44% |
Two form teams meet here with Valencia winning their last three in the league and Athletic their last six in all competitions. Los Che are in good shape fitness-wise but Selim Amallah and Mouctar Diakhaby are away on international duty.
Athletic are still missing Iñaki Williams, but his replacement Alex Berenguer scored both goals in the 2-1 win over Real Sociedad last weekend.
Predicted Valencia Lineup: Mamardashvili – Gaya, Gabriel Paulista, Mosquera, Foulquier – Canos, Pepelu, Guillamon, Fran Perez – Duro, Diego Lopez (4-4-2)
Coach: Ruben Baraja
Predicted Athletic Club Lineup: Simon – Yuri, Paredes, Vivian, Lekue – Vesga, Ruiz de Galarreta – Nico Williams, Sancet, Berenguer – Guruzeta (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Ernesto Valverde
21:00 – Celta Vigo vs Real Sociedad
| Celta Vigo | Real Sociedad | |
| Win Probability | 30% | 39% |
Both Celta and Real Sociedad were Copa del Rey winners in midweek to book Quarter Final berths. The hosts should rotate the likes of Iago Aspas back into their starting eleven here with Rafa Benitez potentially reverting to a back four after using three centre-backs in Mallorca.
Real Sociedad are still missing internationals Take Kubo and Hamari Traore but should be at full strength otherwise, although some rotation is possible with Mikel Merino perhaps due a rest.
Predicted Celta Vigo Lineup: Guaita – Manu Sanchez, Nuñez, Jailson, Mingueza – De La Torre, Beltran, Tapia, Carles Perez – Aspas, Larsen (4-4-2)
Coach: Rafa Benitez
Predicted Real Sociedad Lineup: Remiro – Aihen, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Elustondo – Turrientes, Zubimendi, Brais Mendez – Barrenetxea, Sadiq, Oyarzabal (4-3-3)
Coach: Imanol Alguacil
Sunday 21st January 2024
14:00 – Osasuna vs Getafe
| Osasuna | Getafe | |
| Win Probability | 44% | 25% |
Osasuna return to league action after Supercopa and Copa del Rey defeats but the game may still come too soon for Chimy Avila who is still an injury doubt.
Just for a change, Getafe have players suspended. Three in fact, with Juanmi Latasa, Jaime Mata and Damian Suarez not making the trip to Pamplona but they have no fresh injury concerns. The striker shortage could see long-term injury absentee Enes Unal make a swifter than expected return to the starting eleven, although it’s possible Bordalas may still opt to hold him back another week or two.
Predicted Osasuna Lineup: Herrera – Pena, David Garcia, Catena, Areso – Torro, Oroz, Moi Gomez – Ruben Garcia, Budimir, Arnaiz (4-3-3)
Coach: Jagoba Arrasate
Predicted Getafe Lineup: Soria – Rico, Gaston, Djene, Iglesias – Greenwood, Milla, Maksimovic, Carmona – Unal, Mayoral (4-4-2)
Coach: Jose Bordalas
16:15 – Real Madrid vs Almeria
| Real Madrid | Almeria | |
| Win Probability | 84% | 6% |
Carlo Ancelotti could consider some rotation in this game after Thursday’s Madrid derby in the cup went to Extra Time. Kepa could come in between the sticks but with no match this coming week, we should still expect a strong Real Madrid eleven.
As for Almeria, they are missing suspended striker Leo Baptistao. They dominated against table topping Girona last weekend but couldn’t force a breakthrough. The visitors have a doubt over the fitness of Cesar Montes ahead of their trip to the Bernabeu.
Predicted Real Madrid Lineup: Kepa – Fran Garcia, Nacho, Rudiger, Carvajal – Kroos, Tchouameni, Valverde – Bellingham – Vinicius, Rodrygo (4-3-1-2)
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
Predicted Almeria Lineup: Maximiano – Akieme, Chumi, Montes, Pubill – Edgar – Embarba, Lopy, Robertone, Arribas – Ramazani (4-1-4-1)
Coach: Gaizka Garitano
18:30 – Real Betis vs Barcelona
| Real Betis | Barcelona | |
| Win Probability | 24% | 52% |
Betis are really short on numbers right now with three players on AFCON duty while they have four definite injury absentees with Guido Rodriguez, Ayoze Perez, Marc Bartra and Aitor Ruibal sidelined. Nabil Fekir got more minutes under his belt last weekend and may feature off the bench again.
Barcelona left Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan and Pedri on the bench on Thursday in the cup with the trio set to return here. Joao Cancelo didn’t feature in that game and remains a doubt heading into this.
Predicted Real Betis Lineup: Rui Silva – Abner, Sokratis, Pezzella, Bellerin – Roca, Altimira – Henrique, Isco, Assane – Willian Jose (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Manuel Pellegrini
Predicted Barcelona Lineup: Peña – Balde, Araujo, Christensen, Kounde – Gundogan, De Jong, Pedri – Ferran, Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal (4-3-3)
Coach: Xavi
21:00 – Girona vs Sevilla
| Girona | Sevilla | |
| Win Probability | 58% | 19% |
Girona were outplayed by bottom club Almeria last weekend with Michel surprisingly leaving the likes of Savio and Viktor Tsyhankov on the bench. Both may return this week, but Girona have a big hole to fill with key man Aleix Garcia suspended. Eric Garcia remains a doubt and it’s unclear who will partner Daley Blind in central defence with Juanpe also an injury concern.
Sevilla have signed Hannibal Mejbri and Mateo Mejia from Manchester United and Lucien Agoumé from Inter, but it’s questionable whether those inexperienced youngsters will really have a big impact in a struggling team. Young forward Isaac Romero may lead the line after a midweek brace in the Copa del Rey with Youssef En Nesyri away on AFCON duty.
Predicted Girona Lineup: Gazzaniga – Miguel, Blind, Juanpe, Couto – Herrera, Solis, Ivan Martin – Savinho, Dovbyk, Tsygankov (4-3-3)
Coach: Michel
Predicted Sevilla Lineup: Dmitrovic – Pedrosa, Marcao, Ramos, Bade, Navas – Rakitic, Sow, Suso – Romero, Ocampos (5-3-2)
Coach: Quique Sanchez Flores
Monday 22nd January 2024
21:00 – Granada vs Atletico Madrid
| Granada | Atletico Madrid | |
| Win Probability | 21% | 55% |
Granada have made a third January signing with Martin Hongla arriving from Verona but he won’t be available for the next two league games. Otherwise Alexander Medina should be able to name his best eleven with few injury concerns right now.
Atleti will be grateful to have had an extra day off following the Madrid derby on Thursday but Diego Simeone may still rotate in some positions following that game with Jose Maria Gimenez one of the more likely to get a rest. Memphis is an option should he decide to change one of his front two.
Predicted Granada Lineup: Batalla – Neva, Piatkowski, Bruno Mendez, Ricard – Gumbau, Ruiz, Villar – Uzuni, Boye, Bryan Zaragoza (4-3-3)
Coach: Alexander Medina
Predicted Atletico Madrid Lineup: Oblak – Hermoso, Witsel, Savic – Riquelme, Koke, De Paul, Llorente, Molina – Griezmann, Morata (3-5-2)
Coach: Diego Simeone
LaLiga matchday 21 fixtures – Where to watch
