LaLiga matchday 28 preview & predicted lineups

Real Madrid take a seven point advantage at the top of La Liga into this weekend. Barcelona can close that deficit on Friday when they host Mallorca while Girona host Osasuna on Saturday before Los Blancos take to the field against Celta on Sunday. Here’s our full 2023/24 LaLiga matchday 28 preview with predicted lineups for all the clubs and win probabilities for every game.

LaLiga matchday 28 preview – Predicted lineups

Friday 8th March 2024

21:00 – Barcelona vs Mallorca

Barcelona lost Frenkie de Jong and Pedri to injuries in Bilbao with neither expected back until after the international break. Ronaldo Araujo is also suspended here and with two huge games next week, Xavi would ideally like to rest one if not both of Ilkay Gundogan and Robert Lewandowski, the two players to have played the most minutes in LaLiga this term for Barca and also the two oldest members of the squad. Vitor Roque could get a rare start if the home boss opts to rest the Polish striker but Gundogan may be needed given all the midfield injuries.

Mallorca upset Girona last weekend and are in good spirits with a Cup Final on the horizon. They’ll have to do without Omar Mascarell due to suspension while they have a couple of defensive injuries.

Possible Lineups

Barcelona: Ter Stegen – Cancelo, Martinez, Cubarsi, Roberto – Gundogan, Romeu, Fermin – Felix, Roque, Lamine Yamal (4-3-3)

Mallorca: Rajkovic – Nastasic, Raillo, Giovanni – Costa, Darder, Samu, Antonio, Vidal – Dani Rodriguez – Muriqi (3-5-1-1)

Saturday 9th March 2024

14:00 – Valencia vs Getafe

Valencia have lost Mouctar Diakhaby to an absolutely horrible knee injury which is likely to rule the defender out until 2025. Otherwise they should be at full strength here.

Getafe have also been rocked by an injury blow with top scorer Borja Mayoral potentially missing the rest of the season. They’re also without the suspended Mason Greenwood here.

Possible Lineups

Valencia: Mamardashvili – Gaya, Ozkacar, Mosquera, Foulquier – Canos, Guerra, Pepelu, Fran Perez – Duro, Diego Lopez (4-4-2)

Getafe: Soria – Rico, Alderete, Djene, Iglesias – Moriba, Milla, Maksimovic – Martin, Latasa, Mata (4-3-3)

16:15 – Cadiz vs Atletico Madrid

Cadiz have recorded back-to-back draws to offer a glimmer of hope in their relegation battle. They’re still missing Luis Hernandez, Roger Marti and Fede San Emeterio to injury.

Atleti are still sweating over the fitness of Antoine Griezmann and are unlikely to take any risks a few days before the crunch Champions League 2nd Leg against Inter. Jose Maria Gimenez remains out injured.

Possible Lineups

Cadiz: Ledesma – Javi Hernandez, Chust, Mere, Iza – Navarro, Alcaraz, Kouame, Sobrino – Maxi Gomez, Juanmi (4-4-2)

Atletico Madrid: Oblak – Reinildo, Witsel, Gabriel Paulista – Lino, Saul, Koke, Da Paul, Llorente – Morata, Depay (3-5-2)

18:30 – Granada vs Real Sociedad

Granada are in deep, deep trouble with a 5-1 defeat at Villarreal last weekend their latest setback. They can’t blame injuries for their problems with an almost fully fit squad and we could see some changes here.

Real Sociedad meanwhile were outgunned by Kylian Mbappe on Tuesday as they exited the Champions League. With no cup distractions left, Imanol can finally prioritise the league and they should field a strong eleven this weekend.

Possible Lineups

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

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

21:00 – Girona vs Osasuna

It’s three defeats in four for Girona with their title dreams fading. Daley Blind was only on the bench on his return from injury last weekend in Mallorca but he could return to the eleven here with David Lopez also a contender to come back in as a holding midfielder.

Osasuna are missing key defender David Garcia and could switch to a back three and potentially two strikers with Raul Garcia and Ante Budimir both expected to be available this weekend. There’s really bad news for Kike Barja though with an ACL tear likely to rule him out until the autumn.

Possible Lineups

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

Osasuna: Herrera – Cruz, Unai Garcia, Catena – Mojica, Torro, Moncayola, Oroz, Areso – Budimir, Raul Garcia (3-5-2)

Sunday 10th March 2024

14:00 – Alaves vs Rayo Vallecano

Alaves are still only dealing with the long-term absence of Aleksandar Sedlar. They could opt to make one or two changes after a five game winless run with Carlos Vicente an option on the right flank.

It’s two points from three games so far for Rayo under new boss Iñigo Perez. They weren’t great against Cadiz last weekend but the wintery conditions made life tough for both sides. We’re unlikely to see any radical changes from the visitors in Vitoria.

Possible Lineups

Alaves: Sivera – Javi Lopez, Abqar, Marin, Gorosabel – Blanco, Guevara – Rioja, Guridi, Vicente – Omorodion (4-2-3-1)

Rayo Vallecano: Dimitrievski – Espino, Lejeune, Aridane, Balliu – Crespo, Valentin – Alvaro Garcia, Unai Lopez, Isi – De Tomas (4-2-3-1)

16:15 – Las Palmas vs Athletic Club

Las Palmas are another team in really good shape with all of their regulars expected to be available for this game.

Athletic made seven changes last weekend following on from their Copa del Rey Semi-Final but still held Barcelona to a draw. Nico Williams returns from a ban this Sunday and Ernesto Valverde may be able to field his best eleven with back-up Ander Herrera their only expected absentee.

Possible Lineups

Las Palmas: Valles – Cardona, Marmol, Coco, Araujo – Kirian, Perrone, Muñoz – Moleiro, Sandro, Munir (4-3-3)

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

18:30 – Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo

Real Madrid are appealing Jude Bellingham’s two game ban for his protests at the final whistle in Valencia last weekend and they’ve a decent shot of at least reducing it. Otherwise, Los Blancos are only likely to be missing their three long-term absentees but Carlo Ancelotti could freshen things up with some changes after an unconvincing showing against RB Leipzig.

Celta picked up a key win over Almeria to ease their relegation worries last time out and they have Iago Aspas available again this weekend. Rafa Benitez could switch to three centre backs given the difficult challenge that awaits them in Madrid.

Possible Lineups

Real Madrid: Lunin – Mendy, Tchouameni, Rudiger, Carvajal – Modric, Camavinga, Valverde – Brahim – Vinicius, Rodrygo (4-3-1-2)

Celta Vigo: Guaita – Manu Sanchez, Dominguez, Nuñez, Starfelt, Manquillo – De La Torre, Beltran, Mingueza – Larsen, Aspas (5-3-2)

21:00 – Real Betis vs Villarreal

Betis feel a bit like a new team in construction with January signings Johnny Cardoso, Chimy Avila and Pablo Fornals all starting the 2-1 defeat to Atleti last weekend and all likely to keep their places here. Nabil Fekir should also be fit to return to the eleven.

Villarreal hammered Granada 5-1 last weekend to continue their impressive recent progress under Marcelino with Dani Parejo returning to the team and creating three of the goals. They crashed to a 4-0 loss at Marseille in the Europa League on Thursday though and it’s likely we’ll see a number of changes from the trip to France with Parejo and Alexander Sorloth among those who could return.

Possible Lineups

Real Betis: Rui Silva – Miranda, Riad, Sokratis, Sabaly – Roca, Cardoso – Avila, Fekir, Fornals – Willian Jose (4-2-3-1)

Villarreal: Jorgensen – Moreno, Mandi, Bailly, Femenia – Baena, Parejo, Capoue, Bertrand Traore – Sorloth, Gerard Moreno (4-4-2)

Monday 11th March 2024

21:00 – Almeria vs Sevilla

Almeria still haven’t won a game and they didn’t even have a shot on target in Vigo last time out. Fresh options are limited here though for Gaizka Garitano who’s missing Bruno Langa to suspension while Leo Baptistao remains an injury doubt.

Sevilla have found some form at last and their injury woes are easing too. Mariano, Lucien Agoume and Jesus Navas will all be monitored over the weekend with Joan Jordan the only visiting player who’s definitely ruled out of this game at this point.

Possible Lineups

Almeria: Maximiano – Centelles, Radovanovic, Edgar, Pubill – Baba, Robertone – Arribas, Viera, Romero – Lozano (4-2-3-1)

Sevilla: Nyland – Salas, Ramos, Bade – Pedrosa, Soumare, Sow, Oliver, Ocampos – Romero, En-Nesyri (3-5-2)