Espanyol just spanked Rayo Vallecano 4-0 on Friday night to kick off Matchday 30 of the 2024/25 LaLiga season. Here are predictions for the rest of the games, including big bouts for Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid.
Girona vs. Alaves
Girona have only won two games in 2025 and one in the last two months, whereas Alaves have been terrible themselves and sit 17th in the league with the threat of relegation very much a reality for them again.
Something’s got to give on Saturday, and that something is Viktor Tsygankov, who was supposed to break out as Girona’s new star this season after the sale of Savinho to Girona’s parent club Manchester City.
It’s time for the 27-year-old to be the hero this weekend and guide Girona to a scrappy 1-0 win.
Real Madrid vs. Valencia
There are always fireworks whenever Real Madrid and Valencia do battle, and while this one isn’t at the Mestalla, Real Madrid will still have to be careful that they don’t suffer defeat, even against one of the bottom five sides in Spanish football.
I have Real Madrid grinding out a 2-1 win that is, as per their usual, closer than they would have liked with Arda Guler stepping up and being the unlikely hero. Guler has improved significantly all-around since he started feeling the pressure from the fanbase. That’s what the great ones do.
Mallorca vs. Celta Vigo
Mallorca have been consistently one of LaLiga’s better sides over the past couple of seasons, with the acquisition of striker Vedat Muriqi perhaps being the catalyst for that rise.
For years, Celta Vigo were that team, and after nearly getting relegated, Celta are as good as ever and, in fact, on the cusp of returning to European football in seventh even with Iago Aspas taking a backseat.
But trips to Mallorca are among the toughest in LaLiga, and I think these two teams play out a bitter 0-0 stalemate.
Barcelona vs. Real Betis
Real Betis have been one of the best teams in LaLiga since acquiring Antony on loan from Manchester United, but, well, so are Barcelona, because the Blaugrana are literally the best team in the league right now and just sealed a trip to the Copa del Rey Final after dispatching of Atletico Madrid (again).
Barcelona are winning this one at home, and I think Hansi Flick makes a statement out of this one by decimating the hottest team in LaLiga. Pau Cubarsi suffocates Isco while Raphinha and Lamine Yamal run riot in a 4-1 win that sends shockwaves to the capital.
Las Palmas vs. Real Sociedad
Las Palmas may like to party, but they haven’t been partying in front of goal much at all this season. Meanwhile, Real Sociedad have one of the better squads in teh league and just put four past Real Madrid in a heartbreaking barnburner. La Real gets vengeance with a 2-0 win on the road.
Sevilla vs. Atletico Madrid
Sevilla were downright dreadful against Real Betis in El Gran Derbi last weekend, and their embarrassing, petulant fouling tactics won’t work against Atletico Madrid, the masters of the dark arts.
Atletico Madrid will send Sevilla into a tailspin at the Sanchez Pizjuan, exposing Sevilla as a team very lucky to be in 11th with a 5-0 win.
Real Valladolid vs. Getafe
Trust me, you’d rather gouge your eyes out and feed them to Jose Bordalas himself than watch this game. Real Valladolid are a disaster and Getafe are peak banter. 1-0 Getafe.
Villarreal vs. Athletic Club
You can make a legitimate argument that Villarreal vs. Athletic Club will be the best match of LaLiga’s Matchday 30, and it will be the most important from a table perspective with both teams competing for fourth.
Athletic Club are currently the ones in fourth by a margin of six points, but Villarreal have a game in hand. I think home-field advantage will play enough of a role in this one to give the Yellow Submarine a point to maintain the gap, because, honestly, Athletic Club have a significantly better squad.
Leganes vs. Osasuna
Leganes nearly upset Real Madrid last weekend, but Kylian Mbappe was too good to deny. Osasuna don’t have an Mbappe in their ranks, but they do have one of the other top-scoring players in LaLiga in striker Ante Budimir, who has been a solid LaLiga striker for years.
Osasuna are on the road against the Cucumber Growers, who are extra motivated to get the heck out of the relegation zone. Both teams have better players than being in 14th and 17th would have you think, and I have both sides sharing the spoils in a 3-3 classic that steals the show and sends home LaLiga fans from Matchday 30 with an exclamation point.
Joe Soriano covers West Ham for Green Street Hammers and writes about Real Madrid for The Real Champs. He has extensive experience covering world football since 2014. Joe is an editor for The Trivela Effect, where he covers the biggest clubs in European football. He has watched professional sports regularly since 2002 and can be found playing the same sports he covers with his friends.