This exciting 2024-25 La Liga Matchday 20 holds great importance, as the teams at the bottom of the table are fighting to avoid relegation. At the same time, the teams at the top of the league are in a situation where they need to maintain their momentum. A win could keep their title race hopes alive, but a loss could be a significant setback.
In the top-position battle, Atletico Madrid leads with 44 points, and Real Madrid is behind them with 43 points, so a win would help Atletico Madrid maintain its lead. At the bottom table, Espanyol is currently in 18th place with 16 points, just one point above the relegation zone. Their upcoming match against Real Valladolid is crucial for them to show their full potential and move away from the relegation zone.
2024-25 La Liga Matchday 19 brought us some thrilling football action. Rayo Vallecano defeated Celta Vigo with a scoreline of 2-1, thanks to Adrian Embarba and Jorge de Frutos. In the 55th minute, Julian Alvarez scored the winning goal for Atletico Madrid, and their solid defense made Osasuna leave the ground without scoring a single shot. By a margin of one point, Getafe defeated Las Palmas; they had a ball possession of 37%, 12 goal attempts, and three shots on goal.
Matchday 19 witnessed two draw matches, Sevilla and Valencia 9 with 1-1, and Espanyol equalized the game with Leganes at 1-1. While the rest of the matches showed a solid defense play of the teams, Valladolid defeated Betis 1-0, Alaves lost to Girona 0-1, and Real Sociedad secured their second straight win over Villarreal 1-0. This article provides an insightful view on the upcoming 2024-25 La Liga matchday 20 preview and prediction, and for more sports updates, you can check out our website.
Espanyol vs. Valladolid
At RCDE Stadium (Cornella de Llobregat), Espanyol will compete against Valladolid on January 17, 2025, in the exciting matchday 20 of the 2024-25 La Liga showdown.
Championship Won
- RCD Espanyol de Barcelona: 0 La Liga title
- Valladolid CF: 0 La Liga title
The battle between Espanyol and Valladolid is vital, as both teams are at the bottom of the table. In their last ten La Liga matches, Espanyol managed to secure only one win; this underperformance put them in the relegation zone. This season, they have won just four out of 19 games, with all victories occurring at home. Their home performance indicates a mid-table standing, and they could achieve another home win, having triumphed in five of their last six matches against Valladolid at home. Valladolid shows improved performance compared to other teams at the bottom, securing victories in two of their previous five league matches.
Nonetheless, both of those wins were on home ground, while they have faced difficulties on the road, losing eight out of nine away games this season. Similarly, Espanyol has encountered challenges when playing away from home. This will be a must-win game for Espanyol to move out of the relegation zone, so they need to play strategically and focus on their strong side. Antoniu Roca from Espanyol and Kike Pérez from Valladolid are key players to observe. Roca has faced challenges this season, whereas Pérez recently netted a decisive goal for Valladolid. Espanyol will have a higher chance of winning this game based on their current form.
Girona vs. Sevilla
Sevilla is making a road trip to Estadio Municipal de Montilivi (Girona) to face off against Girona on January 18, 2025, in the highly anticipated La Liga encounter.
Championship Won
- Girona FC: 0 La Liga title
- Sevilla FC: 1 La Liga title
Girona has been inconsistent this season. They are in eighth place with eight wins, four draws, and seven losses. Even with a sluggish beginning, their manager, Míchel, pushes the team to qualify for Europe again. In the recent form, after their winter break, they won the match against Alaves with a score of 1-0 and achieved back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since September. They have emerged victorious in three of their last four home games, netting three or more goals in each win. This match will also be promising given their favorable record against Sevilla, having won all their last six encounters, including a notable 5-1 victory last season.
In their opening league match in 2025, Sevilla struggled to secure a last-minute equalizer, ending in a 1-1 draw with bottom-placed Valencia. This result leaves Sevilla without a win in their last three matches (one draw, two losses) and marks three consecutive away losses, during which they conceded 12 goals. Sevilla stands at 13th in the league, facing the grim possibility of finishing in the bottom half for the third straight season, a situation they haven’t encountered in this century. Therefore, Girona has the upper hand against Sevilla in this match.
Leganes vs. Atlético de Madrid
The League top Atletico de Madrid is all set for matchday 20 against Leganes on January 18, 2025, at Estadio Municipal de Butarque (Leganes) in the 2024-25 La Liga fixture.
Championship Won
- Leganes: 0 La Liga title
- Atlético de Madrid: 11 La Liga titles
In round 17, Leganes secured a promising 1-0 victory against Barcelona, but they struggled to maintain that momentum and recently concluded their match with a 1-1 draw against Espanyol. Coach Borja Jiménez considered this a missed chance, as they allowed a goal within the first 20 minutes of the game. Over their recent home match, Leganes suffered a 5-2 defeat to Villarreal, extending their poor record against teams in the top half of the table. They have lost all five home games against the current top-ten squads, four of which were without scoring a single point. As they face Atletico Madrid, the league leaders must avoid another sluggish start.
Atlético Madrid has been impressive, especially in the latter stages of matches. They scored more goals in the second half of 14 out of 19 games. They are on an eight-match winning streak and recently set a club record with their 14th consecutive victory in all competitions, defeating Osasuna 1-0. Manager Diego Simeone stressed the need to remain humble. Almost all of Atlético’s away matches have been against top-half teams, which equips them well for challenging encounters. However, their away performance is not flawless. They have won only 50% of their games as favorites. Additionally, they have lost two of their last four away matches against newly promoted teams. Considering Atletico Madrid’s excellent form and Legane’s inconsistent performance, this game will favor a triumph for Atletico Madrid.
Real Betis Balompié vs. Deportivo Alavés
On January 18, 2025, Real Betis and Deportivo Alaves will go head to head at Estadio Benito Villamarín (Sevilla) in round 20 of 2024-25 La Liga.
Championship Won
- Real Betis Balompié: 1 La Liga titles
- Deportivo Alavés: 0 La Liga title
Both teams head into this match with a defeat, where Real Betis suffered a 1-5 defeat against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey. Only in the 84th minute of the game was Real Betis able to mark their first goal by Vitor Roque, wherein the entire match, their defense was utterly lackluster, which added an advantage to the opponent to take an early lead. On offense, Real Betis scored a total of 21 goals with an average of 1.1 points per game, and on defense, they conceded 23 goals with an average of 1.2 points per game.
At the same time, Alaves lost to Girona with a score of 0-1 and were involved in substitution change in the entire match, but nothing improved their gameplay, and they struggled to score their chances into goal. Over to their offense, they are standing 11th with a total of 21 goals scored with an average of 1.1 points per game, and in defense, they are standing at the bottom second with a total of 31 goals conceded with an average of 1.6 points per game. Considering Alaves’ defensive setbacks in the forthcoming match, Real Betis will have an edge in winning this game with their balanced offense and defense.
Getafe vs. Barcelona
The match between Getafe and Barcelona is scheduled for January 18, 2025, at the Coliseum (Getafe) on matchday 20 of the 2024-25 La Liga season.
Championship Won
- Getafe CF: 0 La Liga title
- FC Barcelona: 27 La Liga titles
Barcelona is currently third in the league table, with 12 victories, two draws, and five defeats. Due to their recent setbacks, which pushed them down from second place to third, they have to work hard in the upcoming matchdays to move their position upward. Barcelona’s offense was phenomenal this season, making them stand out from the other teams. They scored 51 total goals with an average of 2.7 points per game. Defensively, they are standing in 8th place with 22 goals conceded with an average of 1.2 points per game. Robert Lewandowski is the standout player for Barcelona, who scored 16 goals, and Raphinha scored 11 goals. Despite their strong performance, there have been occasional dips.
In addition to this, the intense competition from Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid makes the title race challenging. On the other hand, this season is challenging for Getafe, who is standing 15th with four wins, seven draws, and eight losses. Their offense struggled more laboriously this season, with only 13 goals and an average of 0.7 points per game. However, their defense was third-best this season, conceding 16 goals with an average of 0.8 points per game. In Getafe, watch Munir El Haddadi and Enes Ünal as pivotal players. Munir has delivered steady performances, whereas Ünal has displayed moments of brilliance. Given the recent performance of both teams, Barcelona is a clear favorite to win this game.
Celta Vigo vs. Athletic Club
At Estadio de Balaídos (Vigo), Celta Vigo will host Athletic Club on January 19, 2025, in the matchday 20 of the La Liga action.
Championship Won
- Celta Vigo: 0 La Liga title
- Athletic Club: 8 La Liga titles
Celta Vigo recently drew with Barcelona and achieved victories against Real Sociedad, Real Mallorca, and Getafe in their last four home matches. They aim to secure a win without allowing any goals against Athletic Bilbao for the first time since 2006. Unfortunately, Celta Vigo will be without their injured star, Iago Aspas, whose finishing capabilities were absent in their previous match against Rayo Vallecano. However, Celta has shown resilience and recovered from its recent losses.
On the other hand, Athletic Club is in excellent shape, boasting a ten-match unbeaten streak. Since matchday 14, they have garnered more points than any other team, aside from Atlético Madrid. Athletic Bilbao has lost just one away game since October, and coach Ernesto Valverde possesses a solid record against Celta Vigo, having won 15 out of 23 encounters. While Athletic Club has the advantage, Celta Vigo remains hopeful of an unexpected victory.
Real Madrid vs. Las Palmas
For matchday 20, Real Madrid will be at their home and face off against Las Palmas on January 19, 2025, at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid).
Championship Won
- Real Madrid: 35 La Liga titles
- Las Palmas: 0 La Liga title
The second-placed Real Madrid enters this match with 43 points from 19 games, and it would be looking to continue their impeccable form with five wins out of five games at home. Meanwhile, Las Palmas are in 14th place with 22 points from 19 games, and their away record is nothing impressive, as they have won just three of their nine away games. Real Madrid has been in great form, scoring 43 goals and conceding 19. Their attack, spearheaded by Karim Benzema and Vinícius Júnior, has been particularly forceful. At the same time, their firm defense has kept opponents from getting too complacent in the title race.
Even though the team of Las Palmas is struggling, they have shown resilience and made significant progress throughout this season, including securing a 1-1 draw against Barcelona. The two teams’ head-to-head record is in favor of Real Madrid as the capital club has won the last six meetings between the two, with a 3-0 victory in their most recent meeting in March 2018. Las Palmas will want to reverse this trend to gain a much-needed win in the league. Therefore, Real Madrid goes into this game as the clear favorite with excellent form, playing at home.
Osasuna vs. Rayo Vallecano
On January 19, 2025, Osasuna will compete against Rayo Vallecano at Estadio El Sadar (Pamplona) in the exhilarating La Liga showdown.
Championship Won
- Osasuna: 0 La Liga title
- Rayo Vallecano: 0 La Liga title
Osasuna has been performing well at home this season. They plan to use their home advantage by having a strong defense and quickly attacking from the midfield. Rayo Vallecano has shown that it can bounce back and is known for its aggressive counterattacks. Recently, it has been able to threaten any opponent with its speed and skilled forwards, taking advantage of defensive mistakes.
The matches between Osasuna and Rayo Vallecano have always been intense because of their history. Osasuna has won in the last five games each time, but Rayo Vallecano won’t give up easily. This upcoming match will be exciting, as both teams want to prove they are better than the other. It could be a big moment for either team this season. Osasuna’s home game might give them an edge, but Rayo Vallecano is determined to win.
Valencia vs. Real Sociedad
In the 2024-25 La Liga, Valencia will square off Real Sociedad on January 19, 2025, at Estadio de Mestalla (Valencia).
Championship Won
- Valencia: 6 La Liga titles
- Real Sociedad: 2 La Liga titles
Valencia has had ups and downs recently, with some great moments mixed with disappointing performances. However, they have been strong at home and will depend on their enthusiastic fans at the Mestalla. With players like Hugo Duro and Gonçalo Guedes playing well, Valencia will try to capitalize on Real Sociedad’s mistakes. On the other hand, Real Sociedad has been one of the strongest teams in the league this season, always competing for the top spots.
Coach Imanol Alguacil has taught his team to play with good tactics, making it hard for opponents to score against them. Their midfield players, led by Martín Zubimendi, are very important in controlling the game and protecting the defense, which allows creative players like Mikel Oyarzabal and Alexander Isak to shine in attack. Valencia needs to win in front of their fans, while Real Sociedad wants to keep up their outstanding performance in La Liga. Considering Valencia’s home-field advantage and their attacking skills, this match might end in a close draw.
Villarreal vs. Mallorca
Matchday 20 will wrap up with the battle between Villarreal and Mallorca on January 20, 2025, at Estadio de la Ceramica (Villarreal).
Championship Won
- Villarreal: 0 La Liga title
- Mallorca: 0 La Liga title
Villarreal, nicknamed the Yellow Submarine, has had a season with ups and downs. They usually play well at home, where their fans bring much energy. In contrast, Mallorca, called Los Bermellones, has been working hard to stay in the La Liga competition. They focus on a strong defense and quick counterattacks to earn points. For Villarreal, keep an eye on Gerard Moreno.
He is known for finishing well and creating chances when they seem unlikely. Mallorca, watch out for Muriqi. His size and strength make him hard to defend against, and he often scores goals. Given how both teams perform now, Villarreal has the upper hand because they play at home. They usually manage the game well and create many scoring chances, which will probably help them win.
