Spanish football is back for the new year, with Rayo Vallecano hosting Getafe in the first LaLiga match of 2026. There’s also a big Catalan derby to look forward to this weekend.
Here are our LaLiga predicted lineups for matchday 18. All kick-off times are based on the local time in Spain. Players in bold are those considered to have the highest chance of starting (80% or more).
LaLiga predicted lineups – Matchday 18
Friday 2nd January 2026
21:00 – Rayo Vallecano vs Getafe
Rayo Vallecano predicted lineup
Battle – QuarrelFelipe, Lejeune, Ratio – ValentinU. Lopez – A. GarciaDiaz, Palazon – Camel (4-2-3-1)
Getafe predicted lineup
Soria – Rico, DJENE, Duarte, IglesiasFemale – Martin, Arambarri, Milla – seedsSancris (5-3-2)
Saturday 3rd January 2026
14:00 – Celta Vigo vs Valencia
Celta Vigo predicted lineup
They work – Alonso, StarfeltM. Fernandez – Mingueza, Moriba, Beltran, Rueda – Zaragoza, Swedberg – Iglesias (3-4-2-1)
Valencia predicted lineup
With a certificate – GayaPompadour, Tarrega, Correia – Almeida, AshesGuerra, Rioja – Beltran, Stand (4-4-2)
16:15 – Osasuna vs Athletic Club
Osasuna predicted lineup
Herrera – Galan, Catena, Herrando, Rosier – Moncayola, Torro – Ruben Garcia, at all times, Muñoz – Budimir (4-2-3-1)
Athletic Club predicted lineup
Simon – Fog, Vivian, ParedesGorosabel – palace, Ruiz de Galarreta – N. WilliamsSancet, I. Williams – Gurzeta (4-2-3-1)
18:30 – Elche vs Villarreal
Elche predicted lineup
Peña – Rice, AffengruberChust – Valera, Febas, Watery, Nuñez, Josan – MirA. Rodriguez (3-5-2)
Villarreal predicted lineup
Junior – Cardona, MarinFoyth, Mouriño – Miller, grocery storeEven, Pepe – A. Perez, Mikautadze (4-4-2)
21:00 – Espanyol vs Barcelona
Espanyol predicted lineup
Dmitrovic – Romero, Cabrera, Calero, El Hilali – Lozano, Exhibit, Gonzalez de Zarate – Milla, R. Fernandez, Dolan (4-3-3)
Barcelona predicted lineup
J. Garcia – Bucket, Martin, Cube, Stuck – Pedri, E. Garcia – RaphinhaFermin, Yamal – Ferran (4-2-3-1)
Sunday 4th January 2026
14:00 – Sevilla vs Levante
Sevilla predicted lineup
Vlachodimos – Oso, Salas, Gudelj, Azpilicueta, Carmona – Agoume, Mendy, Sow – Alexis, Romero (5-3-2)
Levante predicted lineup
Ryan – Pampin, MorenoFrom the Source, The toljan – King, Victor, Arriaga – P. Martinez, Romero, C. Alvarez (4-3-3)
16:15 – Real Madrid vs Real Betis
Real Madrid predicted lineup
Courtois – RacingHuijsen, Rudiger, Valverde – Collar, Tchouameni – Vinicius, Bellingham, Rodrygo – G. Garcia (4-2-3-1)
Real Betis predicted lineup
Valles – Rodriguez, NATHAN, bartraBellerin- RocaDeossa – Ruibal, Fornals, Antony – C. Hernandez (4-2-3-1)
18:30 – Mallorca vs Girona
Mallorca predicted lineup
Roman – Mojica, Raillo, Valent, Maffeo – S. CostaMorlanes – VirgilDarder, Joseph – Muriqi (4-2-3-1)
Girona predicted lineup
Gazzaniga – Moreno, Blind, ReisFrances – Martin, Witsel, A. Martinez – Gil, Livid, Tsygankov (4-3-3)
18:30 – Alaves vs Real Oviedo
Alaves predicted lineup
severe – Youssef, Pacheco, Pincer, Jonny – Ibañez, Blanco – Rebbach, D. Suarez, Vicente – T. Martinez (4-2-3-1)
Real Oviedo predicted lineup
scandal – Alhassane, Bailly, CostasGodson – ColombattoSibo – Chaira, Reina, Brekalo – Viñas (4-2-3-1)
21:00 – Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid
Real Sociedad predicted lineup
Remira – Muñoz, MartinCaleta-Car, Aramburu – Soler, Turrientes – Guedes, B. Mendez, Kubo – Oyarzabal (4-2-3-1)
Atletico Madrid predicted lineup
A cloud – Ruggeri, HanckoPublius, Llorente – Brothers, Barrios, Soon, Simeone – Sorloth, Alvarez (4-4-2)
Mark is a freelance football writer based in Madrid, and the editor of LaLigaExpert.com. He has been covering LaLiga and European football since 2014.
Comments are closed.