Just when we thought the dust was settling after last weekend’s El Clásico and this week’s Balon d’Or discourse, we return to La Liga with a historic derby. Read on to find out our La Liga matchday 12 predictions for FC Barcelona v RCD Espanyol.
La Liga Matchday 12 Predictions – FC Barcelona Face City Rivals
No Rest From Important Games
Another week, another huge rival for FC Barcelona. After last weekend’s successful visit to Madrid, they’ve got their city rivals RCD Espanyol coming to visit this time out. On current form, there can only be one winner but Los Periquitos have a history of causing Barça trouble.
This is the first Derbi Barceloní since Barcelona clinched the 2022/23 La Liga title in Espanyol’s stadium so the visitors will want to use that as motivation for revenge. Hansi Flick’s team look even better than the one that won the league that year and will want to take another three points towards their title run this campaign.
LWOF Prediction: FC Barcelona 2-0 RCD Espanyol
Read More: Two Wins In Eight Matches – What Is Going On At Atlético Madrid
The region of Valencia has this week been hit by some of the worst floods that Western Europe has ever seen. Therefore, the match due to take place at Mestalla between Valencia CF and Real Madrid has been postponed until further notice.
Atlético Madrid appear to have a great chance to get back on track in La Liga as they play UD Las Palmas at home. However, under new boss Diego Martinez, the Canary Islanders have won their last two league games and will be looking to cause an upset at the Estadio Metropolitano. It may not be comfortable or easy on the eye, but Atleti should have enough to get the job done on Sunday lunchtime.
LWOF Prediction: Atlético Madrid 1-0 UD Las Palmas
Currently sat in third, Villarreal CF are enjoying good form and have a great opportunity to keep it up this weekend. Rayo Vallecano are the team off to the East Coast to try and stop the Yellow Submarine from making it seven wins in twelve La Liga matches. Whilst having impressed themselves at times this term, the team from Vallecas are likely to fall short in this one. Update: This match has now been postponed
LWOF Prediction: Villarreal CF 3-1 Rayo Vallecano.
European Race Heats Up
There are four teams on 18 points between the positions of fifth and eighth. Luckily for us, two of them face each other this weekend as Athletic Club host Real Betis. In what is always at least a visual spectacle for the eyes watching red and white face green and white stripes, both teams will be going at it trying to finish the weekend above the other. You’d be brave to boldly back either team, so a draw might just be the safest bet here.
LWOF Prediction: Athletic Club 1-1 Real Betis
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Deportivo Alavés have the fifth-worst home record in the league whilst RCD Mallorca have the fifth-best away form which draws an obvious conclusion for Friday’s meeting between the two. Alavés are risking getting themselves involved in a relegation scrap whereas Mallorca have one eye on Europe after their great start to the season. The Balearics will use this mentality shift to get one over their normally lower-half rivals this weekend.
LWOF Prediction: Deportivo Alavés 0-1 RCD Mallorca
CA Osasuna will also want to break the twenty-point mark this weekend as they host relegation favourites Real Valladolid in Pamplona. Los Rojillos have scored the same amount of goals as Atlético Madrid this season and have striker Ante Budimir in good form once again. Valladolid don’t appear to have too much in their favour to be able to produce an upset.
LWOF Prediction: CA Osasuna 3-0 Real Valladolid
Lower Half Opposition Face Off
Two of this season’s sleeping giants go head to head on Sunday afternoon when Sevilla FC and Real Sociedad play each other. Sevilla are on something of a resurgence under manager Francisco García Pimienta, who at the very least will want to avoid a relegation battle as they have been in the last couple of campaigns. They can use the momentum built in recent weeks to get another home result in La Liga.
LWOF Prediction: Sevilla FC 1-0 Real Sociedad
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It’s 13th vs 14th up in the far North East corner of Spain as Girona FC play CD Leganés. The latter recorded a remarkably unexpected 3-0 dismantling of RC Celta Vigo last weekend, giving them positional breathing space from the relegation zone – at least for this week. Girona, with added continental responsibilities, need to start racking up the points should they want to return to Europe again but have been struggling to put together any sort of decent form.
LWOF Prediction: Girona FC 0-0 CD Leganés
Monday night’s entertainment comes in the form of RC Celta Vigo hosting Getafe CF at Balaídos. One for the La Liga hardcore fans, this game has the possibility of being lost in the memory should Celta produce a performance like last week’s.
LWOF Prediction: RC Celta Vigo 1-1 Getafe CF
