Saturday's La Liga predictions including Real Betis vs. Barcelona

Las Palmas vs. Valladolid (Saturday, 1.00pm)

La Liga's basement side Real Valladolid will be bidding to record just their third league success of the 2024-25 campaign when they head to Las Palmas on Saturday afternoon.

Real Valladolid have only picked up nine points from 15 games this term to sit bottom of the La Liga table, while Las Palmas are 14th, having only managed 15 points from their opening 15 matches of the season.

We say: Las Palmas 2-1 Real Valladolid

Real Valladolid certainly have the players to make this a difficult match for Las Palmas, and we are expecting a close game in terms of the scoreline, but the hosts are in strong form and should have enough quality to secure all three points on Saturday afternoon.

Betis vs. Barcelona (Saturday, 3.15pm)

Division leaders Barcelona will be bidding to make it back-to-back victories in La Liga on Saturday afternoon, with Hansi Flick's side facing a trip to Seville to tackle an inconsistent Real Betis.

Barcelona are currently top of the La Liga table, four points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, who have a game in hand, while Real Betis sit in 10th position, having only picked up 20 points from 15 matches this term.

We say: Real Betis 1-2 Barcelona

There has not actually been a league draw between these two sides since January 2017; we were close to picking a stalemate here, but Barcelona have largely been excellent on their travels this term, and we are backing Flick's side to navigate their way to all three points in order to strengthen their spot at the summit.

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Valencia vs. Rayo Vallecano (Saturday, 5.30pm)

Valencia will be aiming to make it four wins from their last five matches in all competitions when they return to La Liga action on Saturday evening with a home fixture against Rayo Vallecano.

Both sides will enter the game off the back of Copa del Rey successes, with Valencia progressing to the third round courtesy of a 3-1 success over Ejea, while Rayo beat Unionistas de Salamanca 3-2 to advance to the next stage.

We say: Valencia 1-0 Rayo Vallecano

Valencia have not beaten Rayo at home in La Liga since November 2018, and it would not be a surprise to see a draw this weekend, but Los Che will enter this match in the better form, and we fancy the hosts to secure a narrow victory against Perez's team.

Girona vs. Real Madrid (Saturday, 8.00pm)

Real Madrid will be aiming to bounce back from a narrow defeat at Athletic Bilbao when they continue their La Liga campaign with a contest against Girona at Estadi Montilivi on Saturday night.

Los Blancos lost 2-1 to Athletic on Wednesday evening, with the result leaving them second in the La Liga table, four points behind leaders Barcelona but with a game in hand, while Girona occupy eighth position.

We say: Girona 1-2 Real Madrid

Real Madrid scored seven times and conceded zero in their two La Liga games against Girona last term; this is set to be a real challenge for Ancelotti's side, and it would not be a surprise to see the points shared, but we are backing the Spanish champions to navigate their way to all three points on Saturday night.

> Mbappe to start after penalty miss: Predicted Real Madrid XI vs. Girona

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> Vinicius, Camavinga updates: Real Madrid injury news vs. Girona

Written by

Ben Knapton