Sunday's La Liga predictions including Real Madrid vs. Sevilla

Valencia vs. Alaves (Sunday, 1.00pm)

Valencia will attempt to claim their third league when they welcome relegation rivals Alaves to Mestalla for Sunday's crucial La Liga encounter.

The hosts are languishing at the foot of the table with just 12 points to their name, leaving them five points adrift of their Basque opponents, who sit just outside the drop zone in 17th position.

We say: Valencia 1-1 Alaves

Alaves have struggled to pick up points on the road this season, having lost six of their previous seven away league matches.

Although that may make for concerning reading, Coudet managed to end a run of six consecutive away league defeats with a draw in his first La Liga game in charge, and we think Alaves will pick up another point against a Valencia side that are low on confidence following a number of poor results.

Real Madrid vs. Sevilla (Sunday, 3.15pm)

Real Madrid will be bidding to return to winning ways in La Liga when they welcome Sevilla to Bernabeu on Sunday afternoon.

Los Blancos, who are third in the La Liga table, won the FIFA Intercontinental Cup on Wednesday courtesy of a 3-0 success over Pachuca, while Sevilla recorded a 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo in their last fixture.

We say: Real Madrid 2-1 Sevilla

Sevilla have not travelled particularly well this season, but they are still capable of making this a very tricky match for a Real Madrid side that would not have had long to prepare for the clash; we are expecting a close scoreline, but Real Madrid have more than enough quality to secure all three points on Sunday afternoon.

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Leganes vs. Villarreal (Sunday, 5.30pm)

Villarreal will be aiming to end their six-game winless run in all competitions when they head to Leganes in La Liga on Sunday evening.

The visitors are currently fifth in the La Liga table, six points behind fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao with a game in hand, while Leganes are 15th and will enter the contest off the back of an incredible 1-0 success over Barcelona.

We say: Leganes 1-2 Villarreal

Leganes deserve huge credit for their performance against Barcelona, but Villarreal are very much due a win, and with the visitors set to be boosted by the returns of some key players, we can see them edging a close match on Sunday.

Las Palmas vs. Espanyol (Sunday, 5.30pm)

Las Palmas will be aiming to stretch their unbeaten run in all competitions to five matches when they host Espanyol on Sunday.

Diego Martinez's side are currently 14th in the La Liga table, boasting 19 points from their opening 17 matches of the campaign, while Espanyol are 18th, with the Catalan team on 15 points from their first 17 games.

We say: Las Palmas 2-1 Espanyol

Las Palmas' form since changing managers at the start of October has been terrific, and they will fancy their chances of overcoming an Espanyol side that have lost their last six league games on their travels; we are expecting it to be close in terms of the scoreline, but Las Palmas should have enough to secure all three points.

Betis vs. Rayo Vallecano (Sunday, 8.00pm)

Real Betis will be aiming to make it four straight wins in all competitions when they welcome Rayo Vallecano to Seville on Sunday night.

Manuel Pellegrini's side are currently ninth in the La Liga table, picking up 24 points from their opening 17 matches of the campaign, while Rayo are 12th, with the capital outfit collecting 21 points from their 17 games.

We say: Real Betis 2-1 Rayo Vallecano

This is a really tough match to call, and it would not be a surprise to see the points shared on Sunday; Real Betis were 1-0 winners in the corresponding game last season, though, and we can see another narrow success for the hosts on this occasion.

Written by

Ben Knapton