LaLiga 2025/26 matchday 18 predicted lineups

Written by: Mark Sochon

Published on: January 2, 2026

Spanish football is back for the new year, with Rayo Vallecano hosting Getafe in the first LaLiga match of 2026. There’s also a big Catalan derby to look forward to this weekend.

Here are our LaLiga predicted lineups for matchday 18. All kick-off times are based on the local time in Spain. Players in bold are those considered to have the highest chance of starting (80% or more).


LaLiga predicted lineups – Matchday 18


Espanyol
Espanyol host neighbours Barcelona in their first game of 2026.

Friday 2nd January 2026

21:00 – Rayo Vallecano vs Getafe

Rayo Vallecano predicted lineup

Batalla – Chavarria, Felipe, Lejeune, Ratiu – Valentin, U. Lopez – A. Garcia, Diaz, Palazon – Camello (4-2-3-1)

Getafe predicted lineup

Soria – Rico, Djene, Duarte, Iglesias, Femenia – Martin, Arambarri, Milla – Liso, Sancris (5-3-2)

La Liga predictions

Saturday 3rd January 2026

14:00 – Celta Vigo vs Valencia

Celta Vigo predicted lineup

Radu – Alonso, Starfelt, M. Fernandez – Mingueza, Moriba, Beltran, Rueda – Zaragoza, Swedberg – Iglesias (3-4-2-1)

Valencia predicted lineup

Agirrezabala – Gaya, Copete, Tarrega, Correia – Almeida, Pepelu, Guerra, Rioja – Beltran, Duro (4-4-2)

16:15 – Osasuna vs Athletic Club

Osasuna predicted lineup

Herrera – Galan, Catena, Herrando, Rosier – Moncayola, Torro – Ruben Garcia, Oroz, Muñoz – Budimir (4-2-3-1)

Athletic Club predicted lineup

Simon – Boiro, Vivian, Paredes, Gorosabel – Jauregizar, Ruiz de Galarreta – N. Williams, Sancet, I. Williams – Guruzeta (4-2-3-1)

18:30 – Elche vs Villarreal

Elche predicted lineup

Peña – Bigas, Affengruber, Chust  – Valera, Febas, Aguado, Nuñez, Josan – Mir, A. Rodriguez (3-5-2)

Villarreal predicted lineup

Junior – Cardona, Marin, Foyth, Mouriño – Moleiro, Comesaña, Parejo, Pepe – A. Perez, Mikautadze (4-4-2)

21:00 – Espanyol vs Barcelona

Espanyol predicted lineup

Dmitrovic – Romero, Cabrera, Calero, El Hilali – Lozano, Exposito, Gonzalez de Zarate – Milla, R. Fernandez, Dolan (4-3-3)

Barcelona predicted lineup

J. Garcia – Balde, Martin, Cubarsi, Kounde – Pedri, E. Garcia – Raphinha, Fermin, Yamal – Ferran (4-2-3-1)

La Liga team news

Sunday 4th January 2026

14:00 – Sevilla vs Levante

Sevilla predicted lineup

Vlachodimos – Oso, Salas, Gudelj, Azpilicueta, Carmona – Agoume, Mendy, Sow – Alexis, Romero (5-3-2)

Levante predicted lineup

Ryan – Pampin, Moreno, De la Fuente, Toljan – Rey, Vencedor, Arriaga – P. Martinez, Romero, C. Alvarez (4-3-3)

16:15 – Real Madrid vs Real Betis

Real Madrid predicted lineup

Courtois – Carreras, Huijsen, Rudiger, Valverde – Guler, Tchouameni – Vinicius, Bellingham, Rodrygo – G. Garcia (4-2-3-1)

Real Betis predicted lineup

Valles – Rodriguez, Natan, Bartra, Bellerin- Roca, Deossa – Ruibal, Fornals, Antony – C. Hernandez (4-2-3-1)

18:30 – Mallorca vs Girona

Mallorca predicted lineup

Roman – Mojica, Raillo, Valjent, Maffeo – S. Costa, Morlanes – Virgili, Darder, Joseph – Muriqi (4-2-3-1)

Girona predicted lineup

Gazzaniga – Moreno, Blind, Reis, Frances – Martin, Witsel, A. Martinez – Gil, Vanat, Tsygankov (4-3-3)

18:30 – Alaves vs Real Oviedo

Alaves predicted lineup

Sivera – Youssef, Pacheco, Tenaglia, Jonny – Ibañez, Blanco – Rebbach, D. Suarez, Vicente – T. Martinez (4-2-3-1)

Real Oviedo predicted lineup

Escandell – Alhassane, Bailly, Costas, Ahijado – Colombatto, Sibo – Chaira, Reina, Brekalo – Viñas (4-2-3-1)

21:00 – Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid

Real Sociedad predicted lineup

Remiro – Muñoz, Martin, Caleta-Car, Aramburu – Soler, Turrientes – Guedes, B. Mendez, Kubo – Oyarzabal (4-2-3-1)

Atletico Madrid predicted lineup

Oblak – Ruggeri, Hancko, Pubill, Llorente – Baena, Barrios, Koke, Simeone – Sorloth, Alvarez (4-4-2)


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