Valladolid vs. Osasuna (Sunday, 1.00pm)
© Imago
Real Valladolid will be bidding to give their incredibly-slim La Liga survival hopes a boost when they continue their campaign with a home fixture against Osasuna on Sunday afternoon.
The White and Violets are rock bottom of the La Liga table, some 14 points behind 17th-placed Alaves with only seven games left to play, while Osasuna are 12th, five points off eighth-placed Mallorca in the battle for a European spot.
We say: Real Valladolid 1-2 Osasuna
This is far from a certain away win considering Osasuna's struggles on the road this season, but Real Valladolid are an incredibly difficult team to back at the moment, so we are expecting the visitors to navigate their way to all three points.
> La Liga preview: Valladolid vs Osasuna
Villarreal vs. Real Sociedad (Sunday, 3.15pm)
![Villarreal manager Marcelino Garcia Toral during the pre-season friendly match at the City Ground, Nottingham on August 2, 2024 [on August 5, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/marcelino-garcia-toral.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Villarreal manager Marcelino Garcia Toral during the pre-season friendly match at the City Ground, Nottingham on August 2, 2024 [on August 5, 2024]")
© Imago
Villarreal will be aiming to make it successive wins in La Liga when they continue their campaign with a home fixture against Real Sociedad on Sunday afternoon.
The Yellow Submarine are currently fifth in the La Liga table, which is now a Champions League spot in Spain's top flight, while Real Sociedad are ninth, two points behind eighth-placed Mallorca in the battle for Europe.
We say: Villarreal 1-1 Real Sociedad
Both teams are set to be missing some important players on Sunday, and we are expecting it to be a close match; Villarreal's best work in La Liga this season has come on their travels, and the Yellow Submarine may have to settle for a point here.
> La Liga preview: Villarreal vs Real Sociedad
Sevilla vs. Alaves (Sunday, 5.30pm)
© Imago
Sevilla will be bidding to avoid a fifth straight defeat in La Liga when they continue their campaign with a clash against Basque outfit Alaves at Estadio Ramon on Sunday night.
Los Nervionenses are 14th in the La Liga table, seven points ahead of the relegation zone, while Alaves sit 17th, only one point above 18th-placed Las Palmas in the battle to remain in Spain's top flight.
We say: Sevilla 1-1 Alaves
Alaves have won their last two league games against Sevilla, and it is difficult to back the hosts with any real confidence at the moment due to their recent problems. As a result, we have had to settle on a low-scoring draw at Estadio Ramon.
> La Liga preview: Sevilla vs Alaves
Real Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao (Sunday, 8.00pm)
© Imago
Fresh from their elimination in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, Spanish champions Real Madrid will resume their La Liga campaign with a home fixture against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday night.
Los Blancos were beaten 2-1 by Arsenal in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday, which saw them eliminated 5-1 on aggregate, but Athletic managed to book their spot in the semi-finals of the Europa League with a 2-0 home success over Rangers in the second leg of their last-eight affair on Thursday.
We say: Real Madrid 2-2 Athletic Bilbao
Athletic have only lost three of their 15 away league matches this season, while Real Madrid's recent performance level has been disappointing, so it is not straightforward to back a home success here, and we have ultimately had to settle on a 2-2 draw, which would leave Real Madrid in a tough spot in terms of the title race.
> La Liga preview: Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao
> Who replaces Mbappe? How Real Madrid could line up against Athletic
> Mbappe, Carvajal, Militao, Mendy latest: Real Madrid injury, suspension news vs. Athletic
Ben Knapton
