LaLiga 2022/23 is heading for its conclusion with Barcelona already the champions. The fight is on for survival though with a host of teams scrapping out at the bottom while the race for European places is also heating up. We have LaLiga predictions and match previews for every game.
Our LaLiga match predictions and full previews will be added below roughly 24-48 hours before kick-off. They are well-researched and written by Spanish football specialists. However, please note, we do not provide LaLiga betting tips and do not guarantee any profits should you be using our score predictions to bet on games. If you’re betting on Spanish football, make sure you do so responsibly and never stake more than you can afford to lose. BeGambleAware has some sound advice on the dangers of gambling and how to bet safely.
LaLiga Predictions 2022/23 – Matchday 38
Sunday 4th June 2023
18:30 – Mallorca vs Rayo Vallecano
18:30 – Real Sociedad vs Sevilla
18:30 – Villarreal vs Atletico Madrid
18:30 – Real Madrid vs Athletic Club
18:30 – Osasuna vs Girona
21:00 – Real Betis vs Valencia
21:00 – Celta Vigo vs Barcelona
21:00 – Espanyol vs Almeria
21:00 – Elche vs Cadiz
21:00 – Real Valladolid vs Getafe
LaLiga 2022/23 Season Predictions (written: 5/9/22)
Unlike our season preview which goes into greater depth on every club, these LaLiga predictions for how things may finish were done after the closure of the transfer window with most teams four games in (5/9/22). As a result, in some cases there may be minor changes to our earlier verdicts on each team reflecting late transfer activity and how they have looked in the opening games.
Barcelona
- Last Season: 2nd
- Key Signings: Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, Raphinha
- Fantasy Star: Jules Kounde
- LaLiga 2022/23 Prediction: 1st
Barcelona’s novel solution to a financial crisis has been to sell off future earnings and spend lots of money on new players. Their starting XI and squad depth is much improved as a result and the goals of their new Polish striker may just help fire them to the title, although it may go to the wire.
Real Madrid
- Last Season: 1st
- Key Signings: Aurelién Tchouaméni, Antonio Rüdiger
- Fantasy Star: Karim Benzema
- LLE Prediction: 2nd
Heading into the season, we fancied Real Madrid to just pip Barcelona to the title. 4 wins from 4 (at the time of writing) suggests there is little reason to change that call but the sale of Casemiro to Manchester United could yet prove costly when tougher games come along and Barça’s extra squad depth and greater array of attacking options could prove decisive over 38 games in such a congested season. Either way, we should be in for a thrilling title race.
Atlético Madrid
- Last Season: 3rd
- Key Signings: Nahuel Molina, Alex Witsel
- Fantasy Star: Jose María Gimenez
- LLE Prediction: 3rd
Atletico Madrid will be happy that the 2021/22 season is now a thing of the past and they look to have a little bit more clarity about them this term with Alvaro Morata and Joao Felix seemingly the preferred front two while defensively it surely can’t be as bad as last year. They don’t look to have done enough in the market though to suggest they seriously can push a much stronger Barcelona or defending champions Real Madrid. Hard to see them finishing higher or lower than 3rd.
Villarreal
- Last Season: 7th
- Key Signings: Giovani Lo Celso, José Luis Morales
- Fantasy Star: Dani Parejo
- LLE Prediction: 4th
We tipped Villarreal for 4th in the season preview and having won 5 of their opening 6 in all competitions, including a statement win at the Metropolitano, they have since established themselves as the clear favourites to join the “big 3” in next season’s Champions League. LaLiga is clearly a priority this term for Unai Emery and his side with greater consistency needed than we’ve seen in recent years when European distractions have understandably taken precedence.
Real Betis
- Last Season: 5th
- Key Signings: Luiz Felipe, Willian Jose, Luiz Henrique
- Fantasy Star: Nabil Fekir
- LLE Prediction: 5th
It has been a challenging summer at the Benito Villamarin and they started the season without enough players to fill the subs bench due to registration issues. However they’ve eventually managed to clear those up whilst still starting the campaign well and without having to sell any outright stars. There’s absolutely no reason why Betis can’t replicate last term’s top six finish.
Real Sociedad
- Last Season: 6th
- Key Signings: Umar Sadiq, Brais Mendez, Take Kubo
- Fantasy Star: David Silva
- LLE Prediction: 6th
Despite spending over €50m on new signings this summer, Real Sociedad recouped all that and more in one sale as Alexander Isak departed for Newcastle. As talented as he is, the Swede only netted 6 goals in LaLiga last term so in the short-term, Real Sociedad may feel they are in a better place with Umar Sadiq making a bright start to his Spanish top flight career and Brais Mendez also settling in nicely. Another top six finish looks likely for La Real.
Athletic Club
- Last Season: 8th
- Key Signings: Ander Herrera, Gorka Guruzeta
- Fantasy Star: Muniain
- LLE Prediction: 7th
The return of Ernesto Valverde has sparked a bright start for Athletic and they look capable of pushing for European qualification. Defensively they are solid and young talents like Nico Williams and Oihan Sancet continue to develop further up the pitch. The lack of a natural goalscorer remains the main flaw but they could just sneak that final European spot if one of the more fancied sides falters.
Sevilla
- Last Season: 4th
- Key Signings: Tanguy Nianzou, Marcão, Isco
- Fantasy Star: Marcão
- LLE Prediction: 8th
We worried for Sevilla heading into the season and those fears look more than justified in the opening weeks. Things should improve once new central defensive signings Tanguy Nianzou and Marcão are both fully fit and settled but there are problems across the pitch right now and that’s largely a continuation of their demise during the second half of last season. Julen Lopetegui may not last much longer, but whoever the coach is, Sevilla will struggle to get close to the top four and are in danger of missing out on Europe altogether after a summer where key players like Jules Kounde and Diego Carlos have left.
Osasuna
- Last Season: 10th
- Key Signings: Moi Gomez, Ez Abde, Rubén Peña
- Fantasy Star: David Garcia
- LLE Prediction: 9th
Jagoba Arrasate continues to do a brilliant job at El Sadar and he rarely gets the credit he deserves. The same could be said of a few of his players and crucially Osasuna held onto key men such as David Garcia and Jon Moncayola this summer. The emergence of youngster Aimar Oroz has also been a major plus with the 20 year old shining in the opening few games and the Pamplona-based team look on course for a top half finish and are perhaps dark horses for the final European place.
Valencia
- Last Season: 9th
- Key Signings: André Almeida, Edinson Cavani, Nico Gonzalez
- Fantasy Star: Gabriel Paulista
- LLE Prediction: 10th
All change at Valencia this summer with coach Pepe Bordalas and first team regulars such as Carlos Soler, Goncalo Guedes and Maxi Gomez leaving. They do look to have recruited quite well though despite some significant financial limitations and new boss Gennaro Gattuso has got an early response from these players. Valencia should be mid-table again at worst.
Celta Vigo
- Last Season: 11th
- Key Signings: Jørgen Larsen, Oscar Rodriguez, Unai Nunez
- Fantasy Star: Iago Aspas
- LLE Prediction: 11th
Celta are another team to have experienced a high turnover of players but things did perhaps need freshening up after a disappointing 2021/22 campaign. Much will of course depend on Iago Aspas again, but so far the early signs are promising for this new look Celta side and they look capable of at least replicating last season’s 11th place finish.
Espanyol
- Last Season: 14th
- Key Signings: Joselu, Vinicius Souza, Martin Braithwaite
- Fantasy Star: Sergi Darder
- LLE Prediction: 12th
Espanyol’s summer was largely overshadowed by the Raul De Tomas transfer saga and it’s a situation that will now need to be managed delicately after the want-away striker narrowly missed out on a deadline day move. It’s a conundrum for highly rated new boss Diego Martinez who made a slow start but has sufficient quality in his squad to suggest Espanyol can improve on 14th last term.
Getafe
- Last Season: 15th
- Key Signings: Borja Mayoral, Luis Milla, Portu
- Fantasy Star: Luis Milla
- LLE Prediction: 13th
Getafe were largely perceived to have had an excellent summer in the transfer market which makes their woeful start to the season all the more puzzling. Quique Sánchez Flores is perhaps seeking to adopt a more enterprising style which may take time. Overall, Getafe do still look to have more quality than a number of other teams in LaLiga and ought to steer clear of trouble, although pre-season suggestions that they may be top half contenders already look wide of the mark.
Girona
- Last Season: 6th (Segunda)
- Key Signings: Miguel Gutiérrez, Yangel Herrera, Taty Castellanos
- Fantasy Star: Arnau Martínez
- LLE Prediction: 14th
Girona needed to do good business on their return to the top flight after 3 years in the second tier and they really do look to have done that. It may take some time for all the pieces to click together but they should have goals in their team with Cristhian Stuani and Taty Castellanos up front while they’ve also added some exciting youngsters. The Catalans look capable of beating the drop.
Mallorca
- Last Season: 16th
- Key Signings: Vedat Muriqi, Predrag Rajkovic, Pablo Maffeo
- Fantasy Star: Vedat Muriqi
- LLE Prediction: 15th
Mallorca are certainly one of the relegation candidates but they do look to have addressed some of the fundamental weaknesses in their team particularly in goal where Predrag Rajkovic should make a big difference. Young centre-back José Copete also looks like a real find on a free transfer from Ponferradina. You’d still worry for them should Vedat Muriqi get injured but assuming the striker can stay fit, Mallorca ought to be okay.
Rayo Vallecano
- Last Season: 12th
- Key Signings: Florian Lejeune, Sergio Camello
- Fantasy Star: Alejandro Catena
- LLE Prediction: 16th
Rayo exceeded all expectations last season and a decline should certainly be expected this term, particularly after a relatively underwhelming transfer window. They made a late bid for Raul De Tomas on deadline day but the failure to pull that off leaves them a bit short in attack with doubts over Falcao’s fitness and increasingly form. A closer brush with relegation looks likely this term but they have a very bright coach in the shape of Andoni Iraola and may just stay afloat.
Almería
- Last Season: 1st (Segunda)
- Key Signings: El Bilal Touré, Kaiky, Lazaro
- Fantasy Star: Fernando Martínez
- LLE Prediction: 17th
Almeria are perhaps the biggest unknown after the conclusion of the transfer window. They’ve made a relatively bright start to the season but the deadline day sale of star striker Umar Sadiq and additions of a host of young players who are unproven at this level, leaves more questions than answers at this stage. Seven of their summer signings are aged 20 or under and they will need a few of them to hit the ground running if they are to avoid being sucked into the thick of the relegation battle.
Elche
- Last Season: 13th
- Key Signings: Álex Collado, Roger Marti
- Fantasy Star: Alex Collado
- LLE Prediction: 18th
In truth, there’s not a lot to choose between the likes of Elche, Mallorca and Rayo with just 3 points separating those clubs in the final reckoning last season. It may well go to the wire again for the final relegation place but the early signs don’t look particularly good for Elche who have been really poor defensively so far and haven’t looked too great at the other end either with key striker Lucas Boye struggling to get fit. A tough season may lie ahead for Francisco’s team.
Real Valladolid
- Last Season: 2nd (Segunda)
- Key Signings: Gonzalo Plata, Sergio Asenjo, Juanjo Narváez
- Fantasy Star: Jawad El Yamiq
- LLE Prediction: 19th
Real Valladolid were dealt a really tough set of opening fixtures and haven’t been helped by early season injuries to the likes of Shon Weissman and Gonzalo Plata. It may be several weeks before we get a good idea of their level but right now, it feels like a squad that will be short on goals and one that may struggle to beat the drop.
Cádiz
- Last Season: 17th
- Key Signings: Ruben Alcaraz, Víctor Chust, Brian Ocampo
- Fantasy Star: Ruben Alcaraz
- LLE Prediction: 20th
Cadiz survived by the skin of their teeth last season with Sergio inspiring an excellent late run to secure safety on the final day. It will be hard for them to match that intensity over 38 games though and while injuries have contributed to what has been a woeful start, this squad just feels short on the kind of quality that will be needed to stay up this term.
