La Liga 2025-26 Season – Preview and Predictions

The Spanish La Liga events return on Matchday 20, featuring all 20 teams in an exciting list of rivalries. Almost half of the schedule is over, and we have 18 more matchdays to finalize the 2025-26 La Liga Champions. There are several storylines in the current matchday that will intensify. For instance, the 4-point gap between Barcelona and Real Madrid persists, and each matchday is getting more dramatic. Additionally, Barcelona’s recent victory over Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa adds further drama to the upcoming Matchday 20. Moreover, upcoming fixtures like Real Madrid vs Levante and Mallorca vs Athletic Club are among the most anticipated matches. Similarly, Real Sociedad vs Barcelona and Real Betis vs Villarreal are some of the other notable matchups ahead. For these games, we have given an exclusive analysis and an expert’s pick. Pick the side and place your odds from Bettingpremier’s La Liga predictions.

La Liga Matchday 19 Recap

Last week’s Matchday was entertaining to the core. There have been numerous instances in which we have seen teams perform and then give up. Matchday 19 featured only one game in which the win was dominant. Villarreal beat Alaves by 3-1, where the hosts went fully potent in the second half. Besides, every other game was either a single-goal different outcome or a 1-1 draw. Celta Vigo and Girona were the only teams to secure a clean-sheet victory on the last matchday. The game between Real Oviedo and Real Betis was notable for Real Betis equalizing in the final moments. Despite retaining possession, Real Betis failed to capitalize early on. Celta Vigo had a tough time scoring against Sevilla, remaining goalless until the 88th minute. Marcos Alonso scored the crucial goal needed for the win. You can get regular football commentaries like this on Bettingpremier.

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La Liga Predictions for Matchday 20

Espanyol vs Girona

Espanyol clashes with Girona on 16 January 2026 at the RCDE Stadium. This La Liga matchup is scheduled to begin at 03:00 p.m. ET.

Standings

Espanyol is ranked 5th in the current La Liga standings.

Girona ranks in 13th position in the La Liga standings.

Prediction

Espanyol and Girona are significantly different in form. They are ranked 5th in the league, with a 10-4-5 record, which is significantly higher than Girona’s 5-6-8. Regarding the last five games, Espanyol has won in 3 of them with a loss and drawn one. Similarly, Girona has also won in three games out of five. Especially, their last two games were a win, showing strong momentum. But on the defensive side, Espanyol has the upper hand, as they have a positive goal differential. They have scored 23 goals all over the league, while allowing only 20 goals. Although the difference is not so huge, Espanyol still has a better defense than Girona. Girona has a negative goal differential, which is the second-worst in the league. Having such a fragile defensive side, Espanyol will have an easy time penetrating and registering goals. Hence, Espanyol is the favorite to win.

Real Madrid vs Levante

Real Madrid and Levante will clash at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on 17 January 2026. This La Liga game is scheduled for 08:00 a.m. ET.

Standings

Real Madrid ranks 2nd in the current La Liga standings.

Levante struggles with relegation risk in 19th place.

Prediction

Real Madrid is the second-best team in the current season so far. In contrast, Levante is currently the second-worst team this season. This stark contrast already foreshadows the bigger picture. Real Madrid’s one of the biggest strengths is its squad depth. They have a perfect squad with all the elite teams like Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham. Especially, Kylian Mbappé is a scoring powerhouse who relentlessly scores. They are also defensively stronger, as they have a solid positive goal differential. This is particularly due to their effective v-blocking and possession-based playmaking. On the other hand, we have Levante, which is struggling to make an impact. They have been able to win only in three games so far. Levante has drawn five games and lost ten games. Mainly, they lack the consistency to face Real Madrid on the road. So, Real Madrid will win this time.

Mallorca vs Athletic Club

Mallorca and Athletic Club will face each other in the upcoming La Liga game on 17 January 2026. This La Liga game is scheduled to start at 10:15 a.m. ET at Bernabéu Stadium.

Standings

Mallorca is ranked 17th in the current La Liga standings.

Athletic Club ranks 8th in the current season standings.

Prediction

Mallorca is just one rank away from hitting the relegation risk. They are trying so hard to pick up on a momentum, but they fail miserably every time. The last two games were not in their favor, and they have shown a severe decline in possession and playmaking. But they have a better scoring and defensive side than Athletic Club. Over 19 games, they have scored 21 goals and have allowed 28 goals. On the contrary, Athletic Club has scored only 17 goals over 19 games and has allowed 25 goals. This highlights the technical gap between both teams and the slight superiority of Mallorca. If it were not against elite clubs, Mallorca would have sustained a decent spot in the league. In addition, they get to play at home this time. Hence, Mallorca has the winning edge over Athletic Club after a close contest.

Atletico Madrid vs Alaves

Atlético Madrid will welcome Alavés at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on 18 January 2026. This La Liga game will begin at 10:15 a.m. ET.

Standings

Atletico Madrid is 4th-ranked in the La Liga standings.

Alaves is in 16th place in the La Liga table.

Prediction

Atletico Madrid is an elite team with a quality potent enough to contend for the title. With 11 dominant wins, 5 draws, and 3 losses, Atletico Madrid aims to dominate once again at home. Julian Alvarez is the team’s top scorer and provides scoring stability. Under Diego Simone, their tactical approach has yielded them a substantial number of points in the table. At home, Atletico Madrid looks solid enough to break Alaves’s defense and outscore them. Conversely, Alaves has a poorer quality and has no significant strengths. They rely on their occasional moments of brilliance and a few good players. Alaves tends to concede more often than they score. This will leave them exposed to Atletico Madrid’s pressure, which Atletico Madrid will exploit. Based on squad depth and previous records, Atletico Madrid has a higher likelihood of winning. So, Atletico Madrid is the pick.

Real Sociedad vs Barcelona

Barcelona is about to face Real Sociedad on the road at Reale Arena on 18 January 2026. This La Liga game will start at 03:00 p.m. ET.

Standings

Real Sociedad ranks in 11th spot in the season standings.

Barcelona currently leads the table at 1st rank.

Prediction

Barcelona comes into this game in excellent form. Currently, they are the best team in the league, leading the table with 49 points. They have a strong winning streak with five consecutive wins in the league. Above all, they have recently won the Spanish Super Copa against Real Madrid. This recent win is an added momentum to their winning form. Players like Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Ferran Torres are absolute powerhouses. These players add a strong offensive momentum to the team. Real Sociedad, in contrast, has a poor league performance. They have an underwhelming form and are inferior to Barcelona’s team quality. Their last five games highlight their unstable form and inconsistency. A home advantage might allow them to gain possession and create excellent chances. However, Barcelona’s form will still prevail over Real Sociedad. Therefore, Barcelona will win in this La Liga game.