LaLiga matchday 23 preview & predicted lineups

It’s a big weekend at the top of LaLiga with Girona entertaining Real Sociedad on Saturday before the third Madrid derby of 2024 takes place at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. Here’s our full 2023/24 LaLiga matchday 23 preview with predicted lineups for all 20 clubs, win probabilities for every game and details on where to catch the action.

LaLiga matchday 23 preview – Predicted lineups

Friday 2nd February 2024

21:00 – Athletic Club vs Mallorca

Athletic are in pretty good shape selection wise when it comes to their key men but there is one big selection call for Ernesto Valverde. That’s whether to go with the fit again Yeray or Aitor Paredes in central defence.

Pablo Maffeo looks set to be the only absentee for the visitors. Javier Aguirre will be mulling over whether to start the fit again Vedat Muriqi in attack, either in place of Cyle Larin or alongside him in a 3-5-2.

Both sides are in Copa del Rey Semi Final action next week but we shouldn’t expect to see key players rested because of that.

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

Coach: Ernesto Valverde

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

Coach: Javier Aguirre

Saturday 3rd February 2024

14:00 – Valencia vs Almeria

Valencia sold Gabriel Paulista to Atletico Madrid this week and with Mouctar Diakhaby still on AFCON duty, they’re a bit short on central defensive options here. Sergi Canos, Andre Almeida and Thierry Correia are still out.

After two good performances against the top two, Almeria’s season plunged to a fresh low with a 3-0 home loss to Alaves last time out. They’re missing Luis Suarez again here while Largie Ramazani is available and will compete with Adri Embarba for a starting role.

Predicted Valencia Lineup: Mamardashvili – Gaya, Yarek, Mosquera, Foulquier – Pepelu, Guillamon, Guerra – Diego Lopez, Duro, Fran Perez (4-3-3)

Coach: Ruben Baraja

Predicted Almeria Lineup: Maximiano – Centelles, Chumi, Montes, Pubill – Lopy, Robertone, Edgar – Ramazani, Baptistao, Arribas (4-3-3)

Coach: Gaizka Garitano

16:15 – Granada vs Las Palmas

Granada have let starman Bryan Zaragoza join Bayern immediately rather than in the summer in a fresh blow to their survival hopes. They have been very active themselves this window though and boss Alexander Medina hasn’t been afraid to throw new signings straight into the starting eleven so don’t rule out a full debut for Manchester United loanee Facundo Pellistri.

By contrast to the chaotic season Granada are having, things are much more settled at Las Palmas who are unlikely to change much from their narrow defeat to Real Madrid last weekend.

Predicted Granada Lineup: Batalla – Neva, Miquel, Bruno Mendez, Ricard – Gumbau, Ruiz, Villar – Uzuni, Boye, Pellistri (4-3-3)

Coach: Alexander Medina

Predicted Las Palmas Lineup: Valles – Cardona, Marmol, Coco, Alex Suarez – Kirian, Perrone, Loiodice – Moleiro, Sandro, Munir (4-3-3)

Coach: Garcia Pimienta

18:30 – Alaves vs Barcelona

Samu Omorodion bagged a brace on his return to the starting lineup at Almeria and should keep his place up top for Alaves. Abdel Abqar is available again after international duty but after three straight wins, Ruben Duarte may keep his place in central defence.

This is already Barcelona’s tenth competitive game of 2024 and their injuries are mounting with as many as eight players potentially missing here. New signing Vitor Roque bagged the only goal in midweek against Osasuna off the bench, but may not be trusted from the start yet despite injuries to Joao Felix and Ferran Torres. Andreas Christensen may return in defence for Xavi who has announced his intention to leave at the end of the season.

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

Coach: Luis Garcia

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

Coach: Xavi

21:00 – Girona vs Real Sociedad

Girona could make at most a couple of changes to last weekend’s winning team with Eric Garcia expected to be fit enough to start in defence. Ivan Martin will also be hoping to return but Portu could keep his place after scoring the only goal in Vigo.

Real Sociedad have big problems at full back right now with Kieran Tierney and Aihen Muñoz injured while Aritz Elustondo is rated doubtful and Hamari Traore is still on international duty. Take Kubo’s Japan are also still involved in the Asian Cup so he’ll be missing once more. Imanol could consider mixing up his front-line or even his system after they barely created anything in a drab game against Rayo last time out.

Predicted Girona Lineup: Gazzaniga – Miguel, Blind, Eric Garcia, Couto – Herrera, Aleix Garcia, Portu – Savio, Dovbyk, Tsygankov (4-3-3)

Coach: Michel

Predicted Real Sociedad Lineup: Remiro – Galan, Le Normand, Zubeldia, Aramburu – Merino, Zubimendi, Brais Mendez – Oyarzabal, Sadiq, Barrenetxea (4-3-3)

Coach: Imanol Alguacil

Sunday 4th February 2024

14:00 – Villarreal vs Cadiz

Villarreal are fresh from a 5-3 win at Barcelona, by far their best result of an otherwise poor season, so we could see an unchanged eleven this weekend from Marcelino.

Cadiz drew their first match under Mauricio Pellegrino but their injury problems are compounded by two suspensions with Fali and Ruben Alcaraz unavailable. They look like they will play 4-2-3-1 under their new boss with Chris Ramos expected to lead the line again. Juanmi could feature off the bench after his move from Betis.

Predicted Villarreal Lineup: Jorgensen – Moreno, Cuenca, Bailly, Femenia – Baena, Coquelin, Comesana, Akhomach – Sorloth, Gerard Moreno (4-4-2)

Coach: Marcelino

Predicted Cadiz Lineup: Ledesma – Pires, Chust, Momo, Iza – Escalante, Kouame – Sobrino, Navarro, Alejo – Ramos (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Mauricio Pellegrino

16:15 – Osasuna vs Celta Vigo

Osasuna rotated heavily in midweek at Barcelona and we should see a host of changes again here, particularly in midfield while Sergio Herrera should return in goal. Unai Garcia is suspended after seeing red at the Estadi Olimpic.

Rafa Benitez went with a front three of Anastasios Douvikas, Iago Aspas and Jorgen Strand Larsen but they still fired blanks in defeat against Girona last time out. It’s likely that Douvikas will drop out of the team with another formation change possible this weekend.

Predicted Osasuna Lineup: Herrera – Cruz, David Garcia, Catena – Mojica, Ibañez, Muñoz, Moi Gomez, Areso – Raul Garcia, Budimir (3-5-2)

Coach: Jagoba Arrasate

Predicted Celta Vigo Lineup: Guaita – Manu Sanchez, Dominguez, Nuñez, Starfelt, Mingueza – De La Torre, Dotor, Tapia – Aspas, Larsen (5-3-2)

Coach: Rafa Benitez

18:30 – Real Betis vs Getafe

It was a busy end to the window at Betis with Borja Iglesias and Luiz Henrique among five departures while Chimy Avila joined from Osasuna with Cedric Bakambu another fresh attacking addition. Chimy is still carrying a knock so their starting eleven should still have a familiar feel to it this weekend with the big doubt being over Marc Roca’s participation as he recovers from a bout of pneumonia. Sergi Altimira could keep his place as a result, particularly after his winner last weekend.

Getafe played on Thursday against Real Madrid so Pepe Bordalas may opt for some light rotation here. They’ve let Enes Unal leave to join Bournemouth so Juanmi Latasa is perhaps the man most likely to partner joint La Liga top scorer Borja Mayoral up top.

Predicted Real Betis Lineup: Rui Silva – Abner, Sokratis, Pezzella, Bellerin – Altimira, Cardoso – Fekir, Isco, Assane – Willian Jose (4-2-3-1)

Coach: Manuel Pellegrini

Predicted Getafe Lineup: Soria – Rico, Gaston, Djene, Iglesias – Mata, Milla, Maksimovic, Greenwood – Latasa, Mayoral (4-4-2)

Coach: Jose Bordalas

21:00 – Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid changed their entire midfield in midweek and rested Rodrygo but the Brazilian should return despite Joselu’s brace at Getafe. Aurelien Tchouameni picked up a booking in that game so is suspended for the derby while worryingly for Madridistas, Antonio Rudiger also picked up a knock. Real Madrid may decide they simply have to take the risk and start the German here with precious few other options at centre-back.

Alvaro Morata is expected to shake off his injury to play against his old club but Jose Maria Gimenez is out. Reinildo’s impressive return from injury and AFCON duty leaves him competing with Mario Hermoso for a start on the left side of the back three. Meanwhile Marcos Llorente, Saul and Pablo Barrios are competing for one midfield role with Koke and Rodrigo De Paul sure to play.

Predicted Real Madrid Lineup: Lunin – Mendy, Nacho, Rudiger, Carvajal – Kroos, Camavinga, Valverde – Bellingham – Vinicius, Rodrygo (4-3-1-2)

Coach: Carlo Ancelotti

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

Coach: Diego Simeone

Monday 5th February 2024

21:00 – Rayo Vallecano vs Sevilla

	Rayo Vallecano	Sevilla
Win Probability	44%	26%

Rayo should be in a position to name their strongest eleven here with no significant transfer activity in Vallecas in January meaning it’s as you were for Francisco.

Sevilla by contrast have a host of absentees with Sergio Ramos and Suso suspended while Dodi Lukebakio, Erik Lamela, Nemanja Gudelj, Kike Salas and new signing Alejo Veliz are injured. They do have Youssef En-Nesyri back from AFCON duty but with Isaac Romero currently banging in the goals, the Moroccan could be used off the bench on Monday.

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

Coach: Francisco

Predicted Sevilla Lineup: Nyland – Pedrosa, Acuna, Marcao, Bade, Navas – Sow, Soumare, Oliver – Romero, Ocampos (5-3-2)

Coach: Quique Sanchez Flores

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LaLiga matchday 23 fixtures – Where to watch

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