Matchday 6 preview

Matchday 6 of the new LALIGA EA SPORTS season promises to be one of the most fascinating yet, with league leaders FC Barcelona paying a visit to high-flying Villarreal CF on Sunday. There are several other standout games too, including a pair of Madrid derbies and a crucial home game for Valencia CF.

The very first fixture of the matchday is in the Basque Country, where Deportivo Alavés will take on Sevilla FC on Friday night. If this game is anything like it was last year, when the Basque side won 4-3 at Mendizorroza, then we’re in for a treat. 

Four matches follow on Saturday, starting with Real Valladolid vs Real Sociedad. Although they’ve lost all three away games since their promotion, Los Blanquivioletas have collected four points from two matches at home so far so will feel confident going into this duel at the Estadio José Zorilla.

CA Osasuna vs UD Las Palmas is next up and the pressure is on the islanders as they continue to seek their first victory of the season. Valencia CF are feeling similar pressure as they’ll enter this matchday on just one point and bottom of the table, making their home game against Girona FC a hugely important one, even at this early stage of the season. 

The Saturday night game this matchday takes place at the Bernabéu, where Real Madrid will take on RCD Espanyol keen to maintain their excellent home record against Los Blanquiazules. The Catalan team haven’t won away against Real Madrid since 1996 and have lost each of their past 10 away games against the capital city side. 

The first match of Sunday is a southern Madrid derby between Getafe CF and CD Leganés, a hugely important fixture for both clubs and one that hasn’t taken place since 2020. In total, these neighbours have met six times in Spanish football’s top tier, with Getafe CF winning three times, CD Leganés once and with two draws. It’ll be a big day at the Coliseum as these two old foes resume their rivalry. 

The action then moves to Bilbao, where Athletic Club will host RC Celta. This is another fixture that finished 4-3 to the home side when it took place last season, as a 98th-minute Álex Berenguer penalty decided that duel. With Athletic Club keen to climb up the table, they’ll hope to take the three points once again. 

Then, all eyes will be on Villarreal CF vs FC Barcelona at 18:30 CEST on Sunday, as Hansi Flick’s league leaders face their toughest test yet when they go on the road to take on the team currently sitting fourth in the standings. Not only is this a clash between two in-form teams, but these are also two sides who play attacking football and whose direct duels usually produce goals. That was certainly the case last season when Barça won 4-3 at the Estadio de la Cerámica and when Villarreal CF won 5-3 in Montjuïc. 

After that blockbuster showdown, there is another Madrid derby, this time between Rayo Vallecano and Atlético de Madrid. After the euphoria of their come-from-behind win over CA Osasuna on Monday night, when James Rodríguez made his Rayo Vallecano debut, Los Franjirrojos will be excited for kick-off in this one and determined to avenge the 7-0 home loss they suffered in this fixture last season.

The final game of this matchday is the Real Betis vs RCD Mallorca game on Monday night. There is no club that RCD Mallorca have faced more often in official matches than Los Verdiblancos, however the islanders have lost their past five meetings and will hope to change that in this final fixture of Matchday 6.