LaLiga matchday 38 preview & predicted lineups

It’s the final weekend in the Spanish top flight. There is not really anything to play for with all of the key issues at the top and bottom already resolved. That’s likely to lead to a lot of fringe players getting minutes this weekend. Here’s our full 2023/24 LaLiga matchday 38 preview with predicted lineups for all the clubs and win probabilities for every game.

LaLiga matchday 38 preview – Predicted lineups

Friday 24th May 2024

21:00 – Girona vs Granada

Girona have a really good opportunity to end a wonderful season in style at home to already relegated Granada. Artem Dovbyk is two behind Alexander Sorloth in the Pichichi race and should play the whole game in what’s likely to be a strong home eleven with Savio potentially playing his final match for the club. Juan Carlos is hoping for a rare start in goal and that’s a possibility but far from certain, while the same goes for Juanpe in defence.

Granada have lost four on the bounce and will be playing second tier football next term. There’s no telling how Jose Ramon Sandoval will approach this with some changes highly likely, other than to say he’ll be expecting a “damage limitation” job against a confident Girona. Marc Martinez will continue in goal.

Possible Lineups

Girona: Juan Carlos – Gutierrez, Blind, Juanpe, Eric Garcia – Herrera, Aleix Garcia, Ivan Martin – Savio, Dovbyk, Tsygankov (4-3-3)

Granada: Martinez – Neva, Torrente, Rubio, Mendez – Villar, Gumbau, Ruiz – Rodelas, Boye, Pellistri (4-3-3)

Saturday 25th May 2024

14:00 – Osasuna vs Villarreal

Jagoba Arrasate bids farewell to El Sadar after six years in this game and his team come into the match after one of the shock results of the season – a 4-1 win away to Atletico Madrid last weekend. Raul Garcia scored twice in that match and could keep his place despite the return to fitness of top scorer Ante Budimir while Aitor Fernandez may rotate in between the sticks.

Villarreal came from 4-1 down to hold Real Madrid last time out with Alexander Sorloth scoring all the goals. He’ll be allowed the chance to go for the Pichichi with Gerard Moreno fit again to partner him. The Yellow Submarine are in better shape selection-wise this weekend with one or two injuries clearing up and Alex Baena back from a ban. Pepe Reina may start in goal.

Possible Lineups

Osasuna: Aitor Fernandez – Mojica, Herrando, Catena, Areso – Torro, Moncayola, Muñoz – Aimar Oroz, Raul Garcia, Peña (4-3-3)

Villarreal: Reina – Moreno, Bailly, Mosquera, Femenia – Baena, Parejo, Comesaña, Guedes – Sorloth, Gerard Moreno (4-4-2)

16:15 – Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid

Martin Zubimendi is still a doubt for Real Sociedad and may not be risked with nothing on the line here. Imanol still seems uncertain as to what his best attack is and we could see more changes with that area of the pitch likely to be a priority in the summer transfer market for the Basques.

Atleti should recall Jose Maria Gimenez and Axel Witsel in defence after both missed the shock 4-1 home defeat to Osasuna due to suspension. Youngsters Arthur Vermeeren and Rodrigo Riquelme are both pushing for starts, as is Alvaro Morata after he scored off the bench last time out.

Possible Lineups

Real Sociedad: Remiro – Galan, Pacheco, Le Normand, Traore – Turrientes, Merino, Brais Mendez – Barrenetxea, Oyarzabal, Kubo (4-3-3)

Atletico Madrid: Oblak – Hermoso, Gimenez, Witsel – Lino, Vermeeren, Koke, Riquelme, Llorente – Morata, Griezmann

Away Team Name:

18:30 – Almeria vs Cadiz

Almeria sign off from the top flight with perhaps their best chance to finally win a home game against a Cadiz side that will be deflated after suffering relegation last weekend. It could be any one of their three keepers between the sticks after Fernando came in last time out but we’re likely to see Pepe Mel go pretty strong otherwise in pursuit of what would be a third win of the season and third under his leadership.

Cadiz’s potential great escape ended with a frustrating home draw against Las Palmas last time out which confirmed their relegation to the second tier. They’ve a host of absentees here with Chris Ramos and Victor Chust suspended as well as potentially seven injuries so we could see a number of changes from last weekend with David Gil perhaps due a start in goal.

Possible Lineups

Almeria: Diego Mariño – Centelles, Chumi, Montes, Pubill – Robertone, Edgar – Embarba, Viera, Baptistao – Lozano  (4-2-3-1)

Cadiz: Gil – Javi Hernandez, Mbaye, Fali, Iza – Alejo, Alcaraz, Alex Fernandez, Sobrino – Juanmi, Guardiola (4-4-2)

18:30 – Rayo Vallecano vs Athletic Club

Rayo are safe now but a win here could potentially be worth millions to the club in extra prize money so they may go with a strong team for their final home game of the campaign in Vallecas. They do have two notable suspensions though with Oscar Valentin and Abdul Mumin both sidelined. Falcao is in contention to start what’s likely to be his final game for the club.

Iñaki Williams is missing for Athletic who will finish 5th regardless of the result here. Ernesto Valverde also has doubts over Iker Muniain, Oihan Sancet and Gorka Guruzeta and may not take any chances given the unimportance of this match from their perspective. Unai Simon may return in goal and a number of youngsters may get opportunities off the bench if not from the start.

Possible Lineups

Rayo Vallecano: Dimitrievski – Espino, Aridane, Lejeune, Balliu – Ciss, Unai Lopez – Alvaro Garcia, Trejo, Isi – Falcao (4-2-3-1)

Athletic Club: Simon – Yuri, Vivian, Paredes, De Marcos – Prados, Galarreta – Berenguer, Unai Gomez, Nico Williams – Villalibre (4-2-3-1)

21:00 – Real Madrid vs Real Betis

Carlo Ancelotti may simply name the same eleven he plans to use in next weekend’s Champions League Final. That will mean a start for Thibaut Courtois while Eder Militao looks to have played himself out of contention after a shaky showing in the 4-4 draw at Villarreal last time out.

Betis missed out on Europa League qualification last weekend and they could be missing as many as eight players here to injury. Claudio Bravo is likely to start in goal with Rui Silva having been dealing with a bout of gastroenteritis. Pablo Fornals and Guido Rodriguez are among the injury doubts and may not be risked in a largely meaningless game while Chadi Riad should start his final match before moving to Crystal Palace.

Possible Lineups

Real Madrid: Courtois – Mendy, Nacho, Rudiger, Carvajal – Camavinga, Kroos, Valverde – Bellingham – Vinicius, Rodrygo (4-3-1-2)

Real Betis: Bravo – Miranda, Riad, Sokratis, Bellerin – Roca, Cardoso – Ayoze, Fekir, Abde Ez – Willian Jose (4-2-3-1)

Sunday 26th May 2024

14:00 – Getafe vs Mallorca

Getafe finish the season in true Getafe fashion with three suspensions. Ilaix Moriba, Diego Rico and Juanmi Latasa will all sit this one out as a result and they’ve had a minor injury doubt over Luis Milla too. The midfielder looks as though he should be fit and Pepe Bordalas may take the risk with a top half finish possible if they win.

Mallorca secured safety despite only drawing at home to Almeria last weekend. Javier Aguirre is leaving and he’s another coach who could spring plenty of surprises with his eleven this weekend. It’s possible that Dominik Greif may get a chance in goal after a good run in the Copa del Rey.

Possible Lineups

Getafe: Soria – Gaston, Alderete, Djene, Carmona – Oscar Rodriguez, Yellu, Maksimovic, Milla – Greenwood, Mata (4-4-2)

Mallorca: Greif – Copete, Raillo, Valjent – Lato, Antonio, Samu, Vidal – Dani Rodriguez – Muriqi, Prats (3-4-1-2)

16:15 – Celta Vigo vs Valencia

Celta Vigo are one of a number of safe bottom half teams who are still fighting for positions and more prize money so Claudio Giraldez should go relatively strong. Light changes are still possible to freshen things up though and there are a number of areas where the Galicians don’t really have a clear first choice option with a host of players competing for positions.

Valencia are really limping over the finish line with just one point from their last five games. We’re not expecting anything too radical from Ruben Baraja as there isn’t a great deal of depth right now with five players injured including Jose Luis Gaya. There could be one or two surprises in the eleven though after a poor home defeat last time out.

Possible Lineups

Celta Vigo: Guaita – Dominguez, Nuñez, Starfelt – Manu Sanchez, Beltran, Tapia, Mingueza – Swedberg, Larsen, Aspas (3-4-3)

Valencia: Mamardashvili – Yarek, Ozkacar, Mosquera, Correia – Almeida, Guerra, Pepelu – Diego Lopez, Duro, Peter (4-3-3)

16:15 – Las Palmas vs Alaves

Las Palmas defended pretty well and frustrated Cadiz into a goalless draw that guaranteed safety last weekend. Garcia Pimienta will be hungry to end a long winless streak on the final weekend to stem the growing tide of pessimism that is surrounding this club and he may field a relatively strong eleven although with plenty of out-of-form players, there are still likely to be a few changes.

Alaves have got three players suspended and have a doubt over Kike Garcia which should see Samu Omorodion get the nod up front in what’s likely to be his final game for the club. Jesus Owono will start in goal again.

Possible Lineups

Las Palmas: Valles – Cardona, Marmol, Coco, Alex Suarez – Kirian, Loiodice, Campaña – Moleiro, Sandro, Benito (4-3-3)

Alaves: Owono – Lopez, Marin, Abqar, Gorosabel – Guridi, Guevara – Simeone, Hagi, Vicente – Omorodion (4-2-3-1)

21:00 – Sevilla vs Barcelona

Quique Sanchez Flores is also off after this game so it’ll be his final team selection as Sevilla boss. He’s got a large number of injuries to deal with and may just opt to go as strong as possible from the players that are available given the challenge that awaits them against Barcelona.

Barcelona are guaranteed 2nd and it remains unclear whether or not Xavi will continue so this could be his final game in charge. He’s unlikely to do anything too radical, although it’s possible one or two youngsters could come in with Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Alejandro Balde still their only absentees. Xavi may consider resting Ilkay Gundogan with Pedri and Fermin Lopez both amongst the goals in recent weeks.

Possible Lineups

Sevilla: Nyland – Salas, Ramos, Bade – Pedrosa, Soumare, Agoume, Juanlu – Ocampos, Lukebakio – En-Nesyri (3-4-2-1)

Barcelona: Ter Stegen – Cancelo, Martinez, Cubarsi, Kounde – Pedri, Christensen, Fermin – Raphinha, Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal (4-3-3)

Please Note – If you’re using these predicted XI’s to pick your fantasy lineups, this weekend is by far the most unpredictable of the season and there will be surprise selections across the league. Few players can be considered safe picks with experimental lineups likely given nothing major is really at stake for any teams.