LALIGA preview: Club football returns with tricky tests for title contenders
THE September international break has come and gone, so now it’s time for LALIGA EA Sports to resume.
Real Madrid are the early leaders after winning their first four games, but they’ll face a very tricky test in Matchday 5 as they host Real Sociedad. Their title rivals also have tough fixtures, as Atlético Madrid go away to Valencia and Barcelona take on Real Betis.
The very first game of the matchday will take place in Vallecas on Friday night, as Rayo Vallecano host Deportivo Alavés.
Both these teams have collected six points so far, and they’ll each look to kick on after completing some important signings towards the end of the transfer window, such as the return of Sergio Camello to Rayo Vallecano or the arrival of rising star Samu Omorodion at the Basque club.
Bilbao is the site of the first fixture of Saturday, as Athletic Bilbao clash with Cádiz. Given that the Basques scored four goals in each of their meetings with Cádiz last season, they’ll feel confident approaching this game, but the Andalusian outfit do look solid in defence this term and have had a positive start to the campaign.
Valencia vs Atlético Madrid follows, a historic fixture of Spanish football, and this will be a return to Mestalla for Samuel Lino.
The Brazilian was on loan with Los Che last season, but now has a chance to make the left-wing-back position in Diego Simeone’s scheme his own, so he’ll look to impress.
Later on Saturday, Mallorca make the trip to the other side of Spain to visit Celta Vigo, where there is fresh confidence given that Rafael Benítez’s side secured their first victory of the season just before the international break.
Then on Saturday night it’s time for Barcelona vs Real Betis, a game that usually produces goals, goals and more goals. Specifically, the last 22 LALIGA EA Sports duels between these two clubs have had 98 goals, an average of 4.5 goals per game.
With Real Betis’ Willian José already on three goals for the season, and with Robert Lewandowski up and running with two goals, this should be an entertaining contest in the Catalan capital.
Four more games follow on Sunday, starting with Getafe vs Osasuna. Given that Osasuna lost to Los Azulones in each of last season’s meetings, Jagoba Arrasate’s squad will be determined to secure a different outcome on this trip to the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.
Pacheta then makes his debut as Villarreal coach when El Submarino Amarillo take on Almería on Sunday afternoon, with the 55-year-old tactician having taken over from Quique Setién during the international break.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Spaniard sets up his team, given that there is so much quality in this Villarreal CF squad, which boasts the likes of Gerard Moreno, Dani Parejo, Alexander Sørloth, Yeremy Pino and more.
On Sunday evening, there is a battle between two clubs who find themselves inside the relegation zone at this early stage. Even though this is only Matchday 5, both Sevilla and Las Palmas will be desperate to secure their first victory of the season and to start climbing positions in the standings.
Sunday’s action then concludes at the Bernabéu, as Real Madrid take on Real Sociedad. Not only is this a duel between the teams that finished second and fourth last campaign, but this is also a meeting of two of the most impressive players from the start of the 2023/24 season, in Jude Bellingham and Takefusa Kubo. They’ll each look to lead their teams to victory in the Spanish capital.
The final fixture of the matchday is between Granada and Girona on Monday night, as the Catalan club look to continue their very impressive start to the new season.
Girona already have 10 points on the board and they’re playing an exciting brand of football, with 10 players in Míchel’s squad having already scored or assisted this season. They’ll look to keep up their bright start when they visit Granada to conclude the matchday.
Watch LALIGA EA Sports live this weekend on your local broadcasters.
