Following Barcelona’s thumping win in El Clasico, the Spanish top flight returns for matchday 12 with the Catalans six points clear at the top. There’s a derby at the Estadi Olimpic this Sunday, while Sevilla host Real Sociedad and Athletic take on Betis. Here are our LaLiga predicted lineups for matchday 12, featuring all the clubs in action.
Note, that due to the devastating floods in the Valencian Community, Valencia-Real Madrid and Villarreal-Rayo have both been postponed and will be played at a later date.
LaLiga predicted lineups – Matchday 12
Friday 1st November 2024
21:00 – Alaves vs Mallorca
It’s five straight league defeats for Alaves now and they weren’t much better in the Copa del Rey in midweek as they edged past fourth tier Compostela 1-0 thanks to an own goal. Hugo Novoa is their only injury absentee, but with so few players making a strong case to be in the starting eleven right now, Luis Garcia could go in any number of ways here with lots of places up for grabs in this side. Antonio Sivera, Abdel Abqar, Nahuel Tenaglia and Carlos Vicente are perhaps the only ones who look virtually assured of a starting role.
Alaves predicted lineup: Sivera – Sanchez, Mouriño, Abqar, Tenaglia – Blanco, Guevara – Conechny, Guridi, Vicente – Toni Martinez (4-2-3-1)
Mallorca were reduced to 10 men after just 23 minutes on Monday night, but still battled on for a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Athletic. Samu Costa, the recipient of that red card, is absent here as a result with Omar Mascarell his most likely replacement. Jagoba Arrasate could stick with the same players otherwise, unless he thinks he needs fresh legs four days on from that game. Dani Rodriguez and Toni Lato are pushing for recalls if so, while there’s an outside chance that Leo Roman could rotate in between the sticks given the quick turnaround.
Mallorca predicted lineup: Greif – Mojica, Raillo, Valjent, Maffeo – Darder, Mascarell, Morlanes, Navarro – Muriqi, Larin (4-4-2)
Saturday 2nd November 2024
14:00 – Osasuna vs Real Valladolid
Osasuna are having a good season and they picked up a cracking result last weekend, winning 2-0 at Real Sociedad. With a full squad to pick from, Vicente Moreno isn’t likely to change much from that eleven, although we could see Abel Bretones return at left-back. Ruben Peña and Ruben Garcia are also slogging it out for one place on the right flank.
Osasuna predicted lineup: Herrera – Bretones, Boyomo, Catena, Areso – Torro, Moncayola – Bryan Zaragoza, Oroz, Ruben Peña – Budimir (4-2-3-1)
It was a surprise win for Real Valladolid just up the road in Vitoria against Alaves in their most recent LaLiga away game, and while they were deservedly beaten by Villarreal last weekend, we should see a similar eleven to the one that has started the last two games. The greatest uncertainty may be in central defence where Juma Bah and David Torres are in a close fight for one place.
Real Valladolid predicted lineup: Hein – Rosa, Torres, Sanchez, L. Perez – Anuar, Martin, Comert, Amallah – Sylla, Moro (4-4-2)
16:15 – Girona vs Leganes
Michel is probably not sleeping too well right now, with a growing injury crisis doing damage to his plans to rejuvenate this Girona team after a summer of major departures. He could be missing as many as 12 senior players here, although Viktor Tsygankov, Arnaut Danjuma, Oriol Romeu and Gabriel Misehouy are not far from fitness and could feature if they progress well over the next 36 hours. Daley Blind is fit again and should play having started in the Copa del Rey in midweek. The same goes for Bryan Gil, while Bojan Miovski should continue up top having scored twice in the cup.
Girona predicted lineup: Gazzaniga – Blind, Krejci, David Lopez – Miguel, Van de Beek, Herrera, Arnau Martinez – Gil, Stuani, Miovski (3-4-3)
Leganes were second best for just shy of an hour last weekend against Celta, creating virtually nothing, before they unexpectedly sprung into life and claimed an unlikely 3-0 win. Two of their goals came via substitutes and the eleven this Saturday may be closer to the one that finished that game, as opposed to the one that started it. A number of injury doubts complicate matters further and that includes goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic. It’s unclear whether he’ll be passed fit in time, so Juan Soriano may return in goal.
Leganes predicted lineup: Soriano – Sergio Gonzalez, Tapia, Nastasic – Franquesa, Brasanac, Neyou, Cisse, Altimira – De la Fuente, Cruz (3-5-2)
Sunday 3rd November 2024
14:00 – Atletico Madrid vs Las Palmas
Atletico Madrid are in the midst of a really poor run with plenty of problems that Diego Simeone is struggling to fix. Robin Le Normand is a huge miss at the back, but they’re not firing in attack either, failing to score at Betis last weekend, while they couldn’t find a breakthrough until an 81st minute penalty against sixth tier minnows UE Vic in the Copa del Rey in midweek. A number of seniors should return to the eleven this weekend, but some changes are expected from the side that lost at the Benito Villamarin. Julian Alvarez should get the nod alongside Antoine Griezmann in attack, after coming off the bench to score both goals in the 2-0 cup win.
Atletico Madrid predicted lineup: Oblak – Galan, Gimenez, Lenglet – Lino, Riquelme, Coke, De Paul, Molina – Griezmann, Alvarez (3-5-2)
After a winless run that stretched back to February, it’s suddenly three wins from three for Las Palmas under their new boss Diego Martinez. They rotated heavily in the Copa del Rey in midweek, but are likely to revert back to the eleven that defeated Girona last time out in LaLiga here. Oli McBurnie is perhaps the closest of the other players to breaking into the team, but Martinez may opt for continuity.
Las Palmas predicted lineup: Cillessen – Alex Muñoz, McKenna, Suarez, Rozada – Campaña, Essugo – Moleiro, Kirian, Fuster – Fabio Silva (4-2-3-1)
16:15 – Barcelona vs Espanyol
Having beaten Bayern 4-1 and Real Madrid 4-0 in their last two games, there is no reason for Hansi Flick to do anything radically different heading into the derby against Espanyol. With no fresh selection issues, no changes are expected at the back or up top. There is more competition in midfield though. Pedri looks a certain starter, while Marc Casado’s impressive performances in the last two games may see the youngster retain his place. Frenkie de Jong replaced Fermin Lopez at the break at the Bernabeu and was on the pitch for all four goals which may help seal his place here, although Dani Olmo is a strong alternative option should Flick decide Pedri is better utilised in a deeper role.
Barcelona predicted lineup: Peña – Balde, Martinez, Cubarsi, Kounde – De Jong, Casado – Raphinha, Pedri, Lamine Yamal – Lewandowski (4-2-3-1)
This feels like mission impossible for Espanyol as they cross the Catalan capital for a daunting challenge at a stadium they used to call their own. A midweek hat-trick from Alejo Veliz in the Copa del Rey may just be enough to earn him a start alongside, or just ahead of, Javi Puado in attack. They are likely to operate very defensively though and could go with a back five here and a midfield trio, assuming Jose Gragera can shake off an injury in time to start.
Espanyol predicted lineup: Joan Garcia – Romero, Olivan, Cabrera, Kumbulla, El Hilali – Kral, Aguado, Gragera – Puado, Veliz (5-3-2)
18:30 – Sevilla vs Real Sociedad
Two fine finishes from Dodi Lukebakio sealed a win for Sevilla last time out at Espanyol. They were also 3-0 winners in the Copa del Rey, but it has been a less positive week on the injury front, with goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, as well as defenders Tanguy Nianzou and Loic Bade now sidelined and expected to be missing for a few weeks. There’ll be at least three changes to their last league eleven as a result with Alvaro Fernandez set to start in goal, while Kike Salas and Marcao ought to start in central defence.
Sevilla predicted lineup: Fernandez – Pedrosa, Salas, Marcao, Carmona – Gudelj, Lokonga, Juanlu – Idumbo, Romero, Lukebakio (4-3-3)
It was a setback for La Real as they surprisingly lost at home last weekend, but the overall trend has been one of improvement and Imanol isn’t likely to make wholesale changes in reaction to that defeat. He could tweak a couple of things though. Sergio Gomez could push into midfield to allow Javi Lopez to return at left-back, while Take Kubo was the most notable exclusion last time out and he also stands a good chance of returning, with Mikel Oyarzabal potentially moving into the number nine role.
Real Sociedad predicted lineup: Remiro – Javi Lopez, Aguerd, Zubeldia, Aramburu – Brais Mendez, Zubimendi, Sergio Gomez – Barrenetxea, Oyarzabal, Kubo (4-3-3)
21:00 – Athletic Club vs Real Betis
Ernesto Valverde rested a couple of his defenders, but named an otherwise strong eleven at Mallorca on Monday, but Athletic couldn’t find a breakthrough against 10 men in a goalless draw. He’s likely to have everyone with the exception of goalkeeper Unai Simon fit here and with no midweek game, it should be a strong team again. Dani Vivian and Oscar De Marcos are likely to return at the back. It’s also possible that Alex Berenguer could return, either for Iñaki Williams who hasn’t trained fully this week, Oihan Sancet or Gorka Guruzeta.
Athletic Club predicted lineup: Agirrezabala – Yuri, Paredes, Vivian, De Marcos – Jauregizar, Ruiz de Galarreta – Nico Williams, Sancet, Iñaki Williams – Cruzeta (4-2-3-1)
Betis played well in an impressive win over Atletico Madrid last weekend in LaLiga. Faced with another tough game here, Manuel Pellegrini will want as much continuity as possible, but he’ll need a fresh solution at right-back given Aitor Ruibal’s injury. Hector Bellerin should come in, but only if he can shake a problem of his own. Otherwise it could be the same team again.
Real Betis predicted lineup: Silva – Perraud, Bartra, Llorente, Bellerin – Abde, Cardoso, Altimira, Fornals – Avila, Roque (4-4-2)
Monday 4th November 2024
21:00 – Celta Vigo vs Getafe
You never quite know what you’re going to get from Celta Vigo, with their young side blowing hot and cold, with boss Claudio Giraldez frequently shuffling his pack from week to week. After a 3-0 loss at Leganes, the worst defeat of his reign to date, Giraldez should mix things up. Javi Rodriguez is pushing for a start in defence, while Fran Beltran and Williot Swedberg may also return to the starting eleven.
Celta Vigo predicted lineup: Guaita – Alonso, Starfelt, Javi Rodriguez – Alvarez, Beltran, Ilaix, Mingueza – Swedberg, Aspas – Iglesias (3-4-2-1)
By contrast, you do have a pretty good idea what to expect from Getafe, with defensive football the norm under Pepe Bordalas. His methods are getting results though with Getafe unbeaten in four heading into this. There was just one surprise last weekend, with Alvaro Rodriguez preferred to Chrisantus Uche against bottom club Valencia, but we could see those two switch around in what is a tougher fixture where a fourth straight draw would certainly please the Getafe boss.
Getafe predicted lineup: Soria – Rico, Alderete, Djene, Iglesias – Sola, Arambarri, Milla, Perez – Uche – Yildirim (4-4-1-1)
Comments are closed.