- Leaders Real Madrid travel to Real Valladolid
- Second-placed Atletico host Villarreal
- Barcelona host relegation-threatened Valencia

Things are hotting up in LaLiga as there are arguably four teams in with a shout of landing the title, with just seven points separating Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao at the summit.

It is just as tight at the other end, too, with just five points between 16th and 20th, making Matchday 21 an intriguing one in the Spanish top flight, with Atletico’s visit from Villarreal the standout fixture on a full schedule which gets underway on Friday. 

Las Palmas vs Osasuna (Friday, 8pm)

A miserable start to 2025 has seen Las Palmas concede 10 goals while losing their first three games of the year and things are unlikely to get better when Osasuna, who have lost just two of their last 11 away games, arrive in Gran Canaria. 

Score prediction: Las Palmas 1-2 Osasuna

Mallorca vs Real Betis (Saturday, 1pm) 

Both Mallorca and Real Betis have lost their last three matches and with just five points between the pair in the standings, there may be little to split the pair on Saturday. 

Score prediction: Mallorca 1-1 Real Betis 

Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal (Saturday, 3.15pm)

Atletico Madrid continued their excellent run by beating Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 on Tuesday, marking their 16th win in 17 games, and the title hopefuls should have too much for Villarreal. 

However, the Yellow Submarine have scored nine goals across their last three matches and they can net in defeat in the capital.

Score prediction: Atletico Madrid 3-1 Villarreal

Sevilla vs Espanyol (Saturday, 5.30pm)

While Sevilla are the form team coming into this clash, they have not won back-to-back LaLiga games since April, suggesting Espanyol, who have drawn three of their last five matches, may hold on for a point in Andalusia.

Score prediction: Sevilla 1-1 Espanyol

Real Valladolid vs Real Madrid (Saturday, 8pm) 

This weekend’s schedule has thrown up a bottom-vs-top clash and it is hard to have any faith in Real Valladolid stopping Carlo Ancelotti’s rampant Real Madrid on Saturday.

Los Blancos have scored nine goals while winning their last two games and, led by superstars Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, can run riot at the Jose Zorrilla Stadium.

Score prediction: Valldolid 0-4 Real Madrid

Rayo Vallecano vs Girona (Sunday, 1pm)

Girona’s mass exodus of players in the summer has led to a disappointing campaign and their woes may continue at Rayo Vallecano, who are chasing European football and have lost just one of their last nine games. 

Score prediction: Rayo Vallecano 1-0 Girona 

Real Sociedad vs Getafe (Sunday, 3.15pm)

Real Sociedad have kept four consecutive clean sheets at home in LaLiga and they can extend that run when beating the league’s joint-lowest scorers, Getafe, who have netted just 14 goals. 

Score prediction: Real Sociedad 2-0 Getafe

Athletic Bilbao vs Leganes (Sunday, 5.30pm)

Leganes landed a shock 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid last weekend and they will have another top-four side in their sights on Sunday. 

Athletic Bilbao have lost three of their last four games, being thrashed 4-1 by Besiktas on Wednesday, and they could be held by a scrappy Leganes. 

Score prediction: Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Leganes

Barcelona vs Valencia (Sunday, 8pm)

Barcelona edged a 5-4 thriller at Benfica on Tuesday and they could be set for another exciting win against Valencia. 

The visitors are in good form, losing just one of their last seven games, and can net in Catalonia, although any efforts may be in jest given Barca have netted 22 goals during a six-match unbeaten run. 

Score prediction: Barcelona 3-1 Valencia

Alaves vs Celta Vigo (Monday, 8pm)

Celta Vigo are four points better off than their hosts but home advantage could be enough to see Alaves, who have lost just one of their last five games, earn an important point. 

Score prediction: Alaves 1-1 Celta Vigo