La Liga Matchday 18 | Predictions and Latest Performance

La Liga Matchday 17 ended, and now we are going to witness Matchday 18. The matchups in Matchday 17 are intense. Guess what, this upcoming Matchday 18 is going to be even better. Let’s not wait and get into the deep analysis, because this article is going to give you the precise predictions so you can bet on them. Follow Betting Premier to get La Liga updates.

We are not going to neglect how the teams performed in their last matches; those included some of the greatest performances that fans have ever witnessed. But the upcoming games are going to be better than the last matchday. The matchups themselves indicate that this Matchday 18 is going to make the fans buzz. If you are really into sports and predictions, you are in the right place. We provide the best, up-to-date blogs about sports. Stay tuned to Betting Premier.

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La Liga Matchday 17 Recap

There was a lot going on in the fans’ minds about the last matches. But after all, all the games that took place changed the entire league’s trajectory. This is going to make La Liga a faster-paced league. Let’s look at the last games that took place in Matchday 17. Valencia vs. Mallorca ended in a draw. Both teams scored one goal, and the game ended. Oviedo vs. Celta Vigo also ended in a draw, a goalless draw.

Levante vs. Real Sociedad also ended in a draw. Real Madrid won the game against Sevilla. Real Madrid scored two goals, and Sevilla didn’t score a goal untill the end. Elche, on the other hand, faced  Rayo Vallecano. Héctor Fort scored an early goal, and then came the late goals by Álvaro Rodríguez, Germán Valera, and Martim Neto. Click here to get football updates and predictions.

Upcoming La Liga games

Celta Vigo vs Valencia

The RC Celta de Vigo will clash against Valencia CF on Matchday 18 of the La Liga 2025-26. This clash will take place on January 2, 2026, at Balaídos.

Latest Performance

Celta Vigo clashed with Oviedo in the last game; the game ended in a draw, with neither team scoring. Before this game, they had faced Athletic Club, and this game was in favor of Celta Vigo, which shows that they are still in good form. On the other hand, Valencia faced Mallorca in their last match, which ended in a draw. Both teams are in good form and have been competitive in recent games, as seen in their recent performances.

Predictions

Celta Vigo is in good momentum; they have only had draws in their recent games only. The rest of the games they have faced have been complete dominance. They are in the best form right now. But Valencia and their defensive weakness are going to cost them this game. Celta Vigo could take control of the game with their strong midfield; Valencia’s form is not promising enough for this game. Expect Celta Vigo to win the upcoming match.

Osasuna vs Athletic Club

The CA Osasuna will face Athletic Club on Matchday 18 of the La Liga 2025-26. This clash will take place on January 3, 2026, at El Sadar, Pamplona.

Latest Performance

Osasuna’s performance in recent games has been more aggressive. Osasuna faced Alaves in the last game, they secured three goals and won the game, and they have great defensive discipline too. The Alaves can’t break through the Osasuna and score a goal. On the other hand, the Athletic Club faced Espanyol in the last game; they were not able to handle the situation in the mid-game and lost to Espanyol 1-2, which favored Espanyol to win.

Predictions

Expect the Osasuna to come into the game faster; the Athletic Club could flip the game around, but they have to be stronger on the offensive side. Otherwise, the game is entirely in the hands of Osasuna. This is going to be more competitive for the Athletic Club. Expect a slow start and fewer goals from Osasuna in the mid-game; Athletic Club scoring a goal is unlikely. Osasuna will win this match against the Athletic Club.

Elche vs Villarreal

The Elche CF will go against Villarreal CF on Matchday 18 of the La Liga 2025-26. This clash will take place on January 3, 2026, at Manuel Martínez Valero.

Latest Performance

In their recent game, Elche clashed against Rayo Vallecano, and the last game ended at a score of 4-0 in favour of Elche. This is not some mediocre performance; this is elite-level discipline to score four goals against a team like Rayo Vallecano. They are in the perfect form right now. On the other hand, Villarreal have faced Barcelona, and they have lost the game. They are not in the form right now, and they don’t have the momentum to take over the next game.

Predictions

Elche and their offensive strengths are going to help them a lot. While Villarreal might have a good midfield, they cannot resist for too long; they have to push and put more pressure in order to win. Villarreal’s chances of winning are far lower. Fans are not expecting much from Villarreal. Elche is going to take control of the game, but not too fast. Expect a fast start with some early goals scored by Elche. Elche is more anticipated to win the upcoming game.

Espanyol vs Barcelona

The RCD Espanyol de Barcelona will face off against FC Barcelona on Matchday 18 of the La Liga 2025-26. This clash will take place on January 3, 2026, at RCDE Stadium

Latest Performance

The Espanyol has been performing exceptionally well; they are on a great run, losing very few games. Against the Athletic Club, Espanyol have performed aggressively and secured the win. On the other hand, Barcelona has faced Villarreal in the last game. Villarreal had no chance of winning the last game; Barcelona took control and scored two goals. Raphinha scored an early goal, and Lamine Yamal scored another one late.

Predictions

Espanyol is in good form, they are winning their recent games, and haven’t lost in the last three games. But when looking at the Barcelona side, they haven’t lost a single game since November. They are at the peak of their performance; defeating them right now is challenging. But Espanyol could make some gameplay changes and make it harder for Barcelona to score. But this one is surely for Barcelona. Expect Barcelona to win the upcoming game against Espanyol,

Real Madrid vs Real Betis

Real Madrid CF will face Real Betis Balompié on Matchday 18 of the La Liga 2025-26. This game will take place on January 4, 2026, at Estadio Bernabeu.

Latest Performance

Real Madrid faced Sevilla in the last game, and Real Madrid managed to score two goals. Jude Bellingham scored one, and Kylian Mbappé scored another goal. While the Real Madrid performance was at its peak, Sevilla didn’t score a goal; they got a red card in mid-game. On the other hand, Real Betis have faced Getafe in the last game and won. Getafe wasn’t able to score a goal, while Real Betis scored four goals.

Predictions

Real Madrid does have some young, promising players, but they might have some midfield weaknesses. They also have a great adaptability under pressure, while Real Betis is better in possession of the ball, and has better defensive strength. Expect a game with fewer goals but more pressure. The Real Betis does have the edge. Real Betis will win the upcoming game.

Real Sociedad vs Atlético Madrid

Real Sociedad will face Atlético de Madrid on Matchday 18 of the La Liga 2025-26. This match will take place on January 4, 2026, at Donostia / San Sebastián.

Latest Performance

The latest performance of Real Sociedad includes Real Sociedad facing Levante and ending in a draw. Both teams scored 1 goal and ended the game in a draw. On the other hand, the Atletico Madrid clashed against the Girona in the last match. Atletico Madrid scored three goals against Girona. They managed to win, yet Atletico Madrid lacks the midfield strength, and they have to change their gameplay in order to make their midfield stronger.

Predictions

Expect the Real Sociedad to push harder; they are going to put more pressure and score a goal or two in the beginning. Atletico Madrid does not have the edge here in this game. But they can turn things around in the game. Expect a slow start and more pressure. Real Sociedad is going to push with their full potential, and they will be victorious in the upcoming match.