After beating Girona 3-0 and watching Barcelona drop points to Real Betis, Real Madrid have a game in hand and are within three points of the top spot in LaLiga, completing a furious comeback after an embarrassing 4-0 loss to the Blaugrana in El Clasico.
This weekend, local rivals Rayo Vallecano beckon with Real Madrid riding high offensively after putting up three goals against Serie A leaders Atalanta in Vinicius Junior’s return from injury.
Real Madrid lost Kylian Mbappe to injury along the way, but they should still like their chances of nabbing all three points on the road at the Vallecas, though we all know how tough Rayo can be.
Rivals Barcelona are up against lowly Leganes to end the weekend and are also favored to land all three points, while Atletico Madrid are up against yet another pesky Madrid-based side in Getafe, whom they should also be able to beat.
Elsewhere, Villarreal vs. Real Betis will be another LaLiga matchup of interest to Real Madrid fans. So with that in mind, let’s take a quick preview and predict the scores of every LaLiga battle on Matchday 17.
Real Valladolid vs. Valencia
Real Valladolid vs. Valencia is set up as a relegation six-pointer on paper between the worst and second-worst teams in the Spanish top flight, but it is vital remember that the Bats have only played 14 games, which is the fewest of any team in LaLiga and actually three fewer than a couple of clubs in the top flight.
As such, Valencia are the favorites to win on Friday night and should be expected to squeak out a narrow victory on the road.
Prediction: Real Valladolid 0-1 Valencia
Espanyol vs. Osasuna
Espanyol are currently in the relegation places while Osasuna are seventh and stand a legitimate chance at making it to European football next season, which they showed back when they upset Barcelona to hand the Blaugrana their first loss of the 2024/25 season.
Osasuna are led by a free-scoring Ante Budimir at striker with 10 goals, as well as Bayern Munich man Bryan Zaragoza, who has been stellar on loan from the Bundesliga giants with 5 assists upon his LaLiga return.
Even on the road, expect the Pamplona-based side to bring some fireworks to Barcelona, with Budimir grabbing a brace.
Prediction: Espanyol 1-3 Osasuna
Mallorca vs. Girona
Mallorca have been one of the most exciting teams in LaLiga over the past couple of seasons since their return to the top flight, and the same goes for Girona, who were title contenders last season and have been slowly bouncing back from a slow start to the season.
That slow start was expected for Girona after they lost key talent this summer, specifically winger Savinho to Manchester City and star striker Artem Dovbyk – the Pichichi winner – to Roma.
Girona were humbled by Real Madrid (again), and in one of the toughest road environments in Spain, expect them to slide a little bit more with a draw to Mallorca, who are just ahead of Girona in the table (8th vs. 9th).
Prediction: Mallorca 2-2 Girona
Sevilla vs. Celta Vigo
Sevilla were in the relegation places for much of the season but have recovered lately, and they are a wounded animal heading into Matchday 17 after Dodi Lukebakio and Co. fell victim to an epic Atletico Madrid comeback, led by none other than Antoine Griezmann.
Celta Vigo have been dangerous themselves lately, too, recently coming from behind to nick a point off Barcelona 2-2. Iago Aspas has nine goal contributions this season and has his side 10th in the table, and he will be central to Celta stealing a point from Sevilla at the Sanchez Pizjuan.
Prediction: Sevilla 2-2 Celta Vigo
Rayo Vallecano vs. Real Madrid
Rayo Vallecano vs. Real Madrid should be one of the most entertaining games of the week, and I’d expect this match to be closer on the pitch than what the scoreline will say, since the scoreline will favor Madrid due to the ruthless efficiency of the Champions League-winning superstar duo of Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr.
The environment at the Vallecas is always captivating with the low-set stadium, the raucous crowd, the neighboring apartment complexes, and the pure vitriol fired by the “everyman club” at the giants of Europe.
Vinicius Jr. thrives in these matches, and he will be the one to force the issue with a key role in each of Madrid’s three goals. Rayo no longer have the attacking firepower to take full advantage of Real’s defensive vulnerabilities, but they will make the Merengues sweat for an hour before Vini Jr. and Co. pull it together in the game’s second stanza.
Prediction: Rayo Vallecano 1-3 Real Madrid
Atletico Madrid vs. Getafe
Atletico Madrid are quietly just one point back of Real Madrid and three behind Barcelona, so as much as LaLiga has been positioned as a two-team title race between Barca and Madrid with the Blaugrana the apple of everyone’s eye after the Hansi Flick appointment, the Spanish top flight is very much a three-team battle again – perhaps for the first time since Atleti won it in 2020/21.
Los Rojiblancos are even more dangerous in 2024/25 offensively, so the Julian Alvarez signing is paying off. But more central to their success has been the breakout of Diego Simeone’s son Giuliano, who adds to an attack that is legitimately one of the deepest in Europe right now.
This game will be about the midfield, though, as Getafe will sit back and try to make things as ugly as possible on the road at the Wanda, with Griezmann, once again, providing the decisive moment of magic on 90 minutes with playmaking brilliance to send a gleeful Alexander Sorloth through on goal.
Prediction: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Getafe
Deportivo Alaves vs. Athletic Club
Athletic Club are a clear fourth and winners of six straight. Few teams in European football are in as good form as the Lions, who beat Real Madrid at San Mames 2-1 recently and have only lost one game since Sept. 15 – that was a 2-1 loss to Girona all the way back on Oct. 6!
So while Alaves can be stingy and are outside the relegation spots right now, they don’t stand much of a chance against a very solid and well-rounded Athletic Club squad – not even at home at the Mendizorozza.
Prediction: Alaves 1-2 Athletic Club
Villarreal vs. Real Betis
For my money, Villarreal vs. Real Betis is the game of the week in LaLiga, and while Betis are in the bottom half of the table, they should still come roaring back to the European places by the time April rolls around.
Betis took a point off the league leaders last weekend and have one of the best overall players in LaLiga right now in Giovani Lo Celso, whose return to Seville from North London has gone swimmingly well.
The Rojiblancos have the playmaking talent, but Villarreal’s attacking juice is even better, with the homefield advantage proving to be just enough to help will the Yellow Submarine to a signature, late-game victory.
Prediction: Villarreal 3-2 Real Betis
Real Sociedad vs. Las Palmas
Real Sociedad and Las Palmas are both fresh off wins over Barcelona, and while neither team has been quite at their best this season, La Real are slowly climbing back up to the Champions League conversation and are in sixth place.
The win over Barcelona has been quite the motivator for La Real, but they will suffer a setback on Sunday with a 3-3 draw to Las Palmas, exposing some of the defensive vulnerabilities that remain after losing Robin Le Normand this summer.
From a Las Palmas perspective, one key player to watch is the 29-year-old Sandro Ramirez, who has six goals and two assists in LaLiga this season and recently had a big game against the big club that produced him, Barcelona.
Prediction: Real Sociedad 3-3 Las Palmas
Barcelona vs. Leganes
Speaking of Barcelona, they should have no trouble against their opponents on Sunday, because Leganes are 17th and have very little going for them right now. In fact, it would be a surprise if they were to stay up.
As exciting as it would be to see Leganes pull off an upset, this game has “Robert Lewandowski” monsterclass written all over it. And after four dismal showings in LaLiga with dropped points to let Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid back into the title race, the Blaugrana really do need a blowout win this weekend on Matchday 17.
Prediction: Barcelona 4-0 Leganes
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He covered Real Madrid from 2019-2022 for The Real Champs as a site manager. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.