LaLiga matchday 17 preview – Predicted lineups & where to watch

There are some cracking games this weekend in Spain with Athletic Club vs Atletico Madrid, Valencia vs Barcelona, Real Sociedad vs Betis and Real Madrid vs Villarreal all on the agenda. Here’s our full 2023/24 LaLiga matchday 17 preview with predicted lineups for all 20 clubs, win probabilities for every game and details on where to watch the action.

LaLiga matchday 17 preview – Predicted lineups & win probabilities

Friday 15th December 2023

21:00 – Osasuna vs Rayo Vallecano

Friday night’s action sees Rayo travel to El Sadar. The visitors seem to have the cleanest bill of health in LaLiga every weekend with Oscar Trejo their only absentee. Doubts remain over their best striker with Sergio Camello potentially rotating in for Raul De Tomas.

There’s clarity in that position for Osasuna at least with Ante Budimir banging in the goals but they’ve a number of players elsewhere in the team that aren’t quite operating on their best level.

Predicted Osasuna Lineup: Herrera – Cruz, David Garcia, Catena, Areso – Torro, Aimar Oroz, Moi Gomez – Ruben Garcia, Budimir, Avila (4-3-3)

Coach: Jagoba Arrasate

Predicted Rayo Vallecano Lineup: Dimitrievski – Espino, Mumin, Lejeune, Balliu – Ciss, Valentin – Alvaro Garcia, Unai Lopez, Isi Palazon – Camello (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Francisco

Saturday 16th December 2023

14:00 – Celta Vigo vs Granada

1 win in 16 plays 1 win in 16 as Celta Vigo entertain Granada in a key game at the bottom. Tasos Douvikas got his long-awaited chance last time out but did little to help his cause in a quiet display for Celta who could turn back to Iago Aspas in attack here.

As for Granada, they are playing more cautiously under a new boss and aren’t expected to change much from the eleven that held Athletic last time out.

Predicted Celta Vigo Lineup: Guaita – Manu Sanchez, Nuñez, Starfelt, Kevin – Bamba, De La Torre, Tapia, Mingueza – Aspas, Larsen (4-4-2)

Coach: Rafa Benitez

Predicted Granada Lineup: Ferreira – Neva, Miquel, Torrente, Ricard – Gumbau, Ruiz – Uzuni, Villar, Bryan Zaragoza – Boye (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Alexander Medina

16:15 – Athletic Club vs Atletico Madrid

It’s a big one in Bilbao with Athletic the slight favourites against Atleti. The hosts have midfield selection issues with Dani Garcia a doubt and Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta sidelined due to injury.

Atletico meanwhile should recall Alvaro Morata and Koke after midweek rests with Antoine Griezmann likely to operate off Morata in attack in a 3-5-2 system.

Predicted Athletic Club Lineup: Simon – Lekue, Paredes, Vivian, De Marcos – Herrera, Vesga – Nico Williams, Sancet, Iñaki Williams – Guruzeta (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Ernesto Valverde

Predicted Atletico Madrid Lineup: Oblak – Hermoso, Witsel, Gimenez – Lino, Koke, De Paul, Llorente, Molina – Griezmann, Morata (3-5-2)

Coach: Diego Simeone

18:30 – Sevilla vs Getafe

Sevilla have all kinds of problems right now with no league wins since the appointment of Diego Alonso, no European football to look forward to in 2024 and the division’s biggest injury crisis to boot.

They could be missing as many as ten players here for the visit of Getafe who can welcome three players back from suspensions but are without Domingos Duarte this weekend after his red card in the win over Valencia.

Predicted Sevilla Lineup: Dmitrovic – Pedrosa, Gudelj, Ramos, Juanlu – Soumare, Sow – Oliver, Rakitic, Ocampos – En Nesyri (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Diego Alonso

Predicted Getafe Lineup: Soria – Rico, Gaston, Alderete, Damian Suarez – Milla, Djene, Maksimovic – Greenwood, Latasa, Mayoral (4-3-3)

Coach: Jose Bordalas

21:00 – Valencia vs Barcelona

Mestalla is the setting for the Saturday night game as Barcelona aim to avoid a third defeat in seven days. Xavi is under real pressure and he’s made some strange calls of late, including playing veteran striker Robert Lewandowski in a rather meaningless Champions League game in midweek. Changes are possible but far from guaranteed from the team that slumped to a 4-2 loss against Girona last Sunday.

Valencia meanwhile are missing Javi Guerra and Gabriel Paulista to suspensions which may even give forgotten man Hugo Guillamon a rare start.

Predicted Valencia Lineup: Mamardashvili – Yarek, Diakhaby, Mosquera, Correia – Pepelu, Guillamon – Fran Perez, Diego Lopez, Foulquier – Duro (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Ruben Baraja

Predicted Barcelona Lineup: Peña – Cancelo, Christensen, Araujo, Kounde – Gundogan, De Jong, Pedri – Felix, Lewandowski, Raphinha (4-3-3)

Coach: Xavi

Sunday 17th December 2023

14:00 – Almeria vs Mallorca

Almeria are rock bottom and still winless with a number of injuries not helping matters. A spirited showing in the 2-1 defeat at the Civitas Metropolitano last time out, may mean we don’t see many changes here from Gaizka Garitano.

Mallorca may only make one change after they claimed a much needed win over Sevilla with centre-back Martin Valjent unavailable due to injury.

Predicted Almeria Lineup: Maximiano – Akieme, Edgar, Montes, Chumi – Lopy, Robertone – Embarba, Arribas, Pozo – Baptistao (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Gaizka Garitano

Predicted Mallorca Lineup: Rajkovic – Nastacic, Raillo, Giovanni – Costa, Darder, Samu, Mascarell, Maffeo – Dani Rodriguez – Larin (3-5-1-1)

Coach: Javier Aguirre

16:15 – Real Sociedad vs Real Betis

Both sides had big European games in the week (and play again in LaLiga next week) so we can expect a bit of rotation here, although significant injury problems mean Betis’ options are limited in some areas.

Brais Mendez and Ander Barrenetxea are out for Real Sociedad who’ve had another good week, winning 3-0 at Villarreal before clinching top spot in their Champions League group with a draw in Milan.

Predicted Real Sociedad Lineup: Remiro – Tierney, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Traore – Merino, Zubimendi, Zakharyan – Oyarzabal, Sadiq, Kubo (4-3-3)

Coach: Imanol Alguacil

Predicted Real Betis Lineup: Rui Silva – Abner, Riad, Pezzella, Bellerin – Roca, Carvalho – Ayoze Perez, Isco, Luiz Henrique – Willian Jose (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Manuel Pellegrini

18:30 – Las Palmas vs Cadiz

Las Palmas continue to significantly outperform their pre-season expectations and they are favourites here against Cadiz. They are missing their best left back Sergi Cardona though to suspension and have a few injury doubts.

Midfielder Gonzalo Escalante remains the main absentee for Cadiz who have drawn their last three in the league.

Predicted Las Palmas Lineup: Valles – Sinkgraven, Marmol, Saul Coco, Araujo – Kirian Rodriguez, Loiodice, Munoz – Moleiro, M. Cardona, Munir (4-3-3)

Coach: Garcia Pimienta

Predicted Cadiz Lineup: Ledesma – Javi Hernandez, Momo, Fali, Carcelen – Machis, Alcaraz, Alex Fernandez, Alejo – Ramos, Roger Marti (4-4-2)

Coach: Sergio

21:00 – Real Madrid vs Villarreal

Real Madrid’s injury issues are still pretty extensive but Aurelien Tchouameni is getting closer to a return which would give them a fresh midfield option soon. There are various ways that Carlo Ancelotti could go with Dani Ceballos and Luka Modric also potential starters here for the visit of Villarreal. Kepa got the nod in goal in Berlin in midweek but Andriy Lunin is playing well and could keep the league position for now.

The visitors could potentially rest a few players after a fine 3-2 win at Rennes on Thursday and ahead of a much more winnable league fixture against Celta Vigo on Wednesday.

Predicted Real Madrid Lineup: Lunin – Mendy, Alaba, Rudiger, Lucas Vazquez – Bellingham, Kroos, Modric, Valverde – Brahim, Rodrygo (4-4-2)

Coach: Carlo Ancelotti

Predicted Villarreal Lineup: Jorgensen – Pedraza, Cuenca, Albiol, Altimira – Baena, Capoue, Parejo, Akhomach – Gerard Moreno, Morales (4-4-2)

Coach: Marcelino

Monday 18th December 2023

21:00 – Girona vs Alaves

Girona’s stunning rise goes on with their 4-2 win at Catalan rivals Barcelona last weekend making a real statement of intent as to the seriousness of their title ambitions. Super sub Cristhian Stuani is suspended here but they could go with the same eleven that triumphed at the Estadi Olimpic.

Alaves meanwhile will have to make one change in defence with Abdel Abqar suspended.

Predicted Girona Lineup: Gazzaniga – Miguel, Blind, Eric Garcia, Couto – Aleix Garcia, David Lopez, Ivan Martin – Savio, Dovbyk, Tsygankov (4-3-3)

Coach: Michel

Predicted Alaves Lineup: Sivera – Javi Lopez, Duarte, Marin, Gorosabel – Blanco, Guevara – Rioja, Guridi, Rebbach – Omorodion (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Luis Garcia

LaLiga matchday 17 fixtures – Where to watch