La Liga 2024/25 predictions: Gameweek 18
How will Barcelona react after last weekend’s shock 1-0 home defeat to Leganes? The Catalans won just once in their last five league matches, and their poor form has given the likes of Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid the chance to close in, as Barca are only one point ahead of both Madrid clubs.
Real Madrid settled for a 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano, while Atletico Madrid dug deep to secure a tight 1-0 win over Getafe on Sunday afternoon.
This week’s La Liga gameweek 18 predictions were made based on current form, expert knowledge, and data.
La Liga 2024/25 Gameweek 18 Predictions: 20/12/24 - 22/12/2
Girona to bounce back to winning ways after three winless run: Girona vs Real Valladolid
- Date: 20/12/2024
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Real Valladolid may have secured a rare win over the weekend, but we doubt they can build on that against Girona as visitors.
Girona are struggling to replicate last season’s form, but they have shown some improvement in recent weeks. They won two and drew one in their last five matches, although they are winless in their last three matches. Real Valladolid sit at the bottom of the standings and rarely put in a good shift as visitors. We expect the hosts to control and dominate the game.
Girona vs Real Valladolid prediction 20/12/2024: Home team to win
Getafe and Mallorca to struggle in the final third: Getafe vs Mallorca
- Date: 21/12/2024
- Kick-off: 14:00
- Matches involving either team rarely produce many goals, and we doubt if the upcoming game will be any different.
Getafe averaged 1.47 goals per game in 17 league matches, while Mallorca averaged 2.16 goals per game in 18 league matches. There’s no doubt that matches involving either team rarely produce over 2.5 goals, and we think the upcoming game that will take place in Madrid will follow suit.
Getafe vs Mallorca prediction 21/12/2024: Under 2.5 goals
Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad to struggle to create many clear-cut chances: Celta Vigo vs Real Sociedad
- Date: 21/12/2024
- Kick-off: 16:15
- Matches involving Real Sociedad don’t produce many goals, and Celta Vigo may struggle to change that.
Surprisingly, at least three goals are scored in matches involving Celta Vigo, and that’s mainly due to their poor defense line. However, the upcoming match against Real Sociedad may not produce as many goals, thanks to the visitors’ rigid defense line and blunt attack (16 goals scored and 11 goals conceded in 17 league games). Expecting less than three goals from this encounter shouldn’t be an issue.
Celta Vigo vs Real Sociedad prediction 21/12/2024: Under 2.5 goals
Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao to exchange goals: Osasuna vs Athletic Bilbao
- Date: 21/12/2024
- Kick-off: 18:30
- Athletic Bilbao may be in fine form, but there are concerns that they may not keep a clean slate against Osasuna.
Despite losing their last five La Liga matches, Osasuna managed to score goals. They have scored 22 goals and conceded 25 goals in 17 La Liga matches, and because Athletic Bilbao conceded 16 goals in 18 matches, there are ideas that the hosts may get at least one goal before the final whistle. Plus, the visitors conceded against Alaves last weekend.
Osasuna vs Athletic Bilbao prediction 21/12/2024: Both teams to score - yes
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid to delight fans with goals: Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid
- Date: 21/12/2024
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Barcelona have struggled in recent weeks, unlike Atletico Madrid, who are on a winning spree. This suggests both teams will want to play on the front foot and get on the scoresheet.
Barcelona only secured one win in their last five league matches following last weekend’s 1-0 home defeat to Leganes. The Catalans need a response, as their position at the top of the standings is being threatened by both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid - their next opponent. Diego Simeone’s side may have one of the best defense lines in the country, but there are doubts if they can stop Barca from getting on the scoresheet, plus the Catalans somehow play well against top sides, just as we witnessed them thrash Real Madrid 3-0.
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid prediction 21/12/2024: Both teams to score - yes
Valencia and Alaves to produce a low-scoring game: Valencia vs Alaves
- Date: 22/12/2024
- Kick-off: 14:00
- Both teams struggle to score more than one goal per match, and we expect their struggles to continue in the upcoming match.
Valencia averaged 1.73 goals per game in 15 La Liga matches, and that doesn’t come as a surprise because the hosts rarely score goals and don’t let their opponents score for fun. Alaves scored 19 goals in 17 league matches and averaged 2.76 goals per game, thanks to their weak defense line. The visitors may have many question marks about their defense line, but the hosts are unlikely to score more than two goals.
Valencia vs Alaves prediction 22/12/2024: Under 2.5 goals
Real Madrid to bounce back to winning ways after last weekend’s setback: Real Madrid vs Sevilla
- Date: 22/12/2024
- Kick-off: 16:15
- Sevilla are too inconsistent to pull off a shock result in Madrid, as Real Madrid will only think about bouncing back to winning ways after last weekend’s setback.
Real Madrid dropped two points on the road following their 3-3 draw against Rayo Vallecano. The draw means they are only one point behind Barcelona at the top of the standings and they can go top of the table against Sevilla, who are inconsistent in the last few weeks. The Whites are in better form, having only lost twice in 17 league matches, and rarely drop points in front of their fans.
Real Madrid vs Sevilla prediction 22/12/2024: Home team to win
Las Palmas and Espanyol to produce at least two goals: Las Palmas vs Espanyol
- Date: 22/12/2024
- Kick-off: 18:30
- Matches involving either team commonly produce at least two goals, and we think this encounter won’t be any different.
Espanyol averaged 2.68 goals per game in 16 La Liga matches, while Las Palmas averaged 2.88 goals per game in 17 league matches. We can see that the majority of their previous La Liga matches ended with over 2.5 goals, but we settled for at least two goals to be scored.
Las Palmas vs Espanyol prediction 22/12/2024: Over 1.5 goals
Leganes and Villarreal to exchange goals: Leganes vs Villarreal
- Date: 22/12/2024
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Leganes may be fighting against relegation, but they can get on the scoreboard against struggling Villarreal.
Leganes secured a big 1-0 win over Barcelona away from home, and it is only natural to expect them to build on that in the next game. They may not have sufficient quality in their squad to beat Villarreal, but the win over Barca suggest they can beat any opponent, and with Villarreal’s current poor form, one can argue that the hosts can get a win. However, we resisted the temptation to go for a home win and settled for both teams to score, as the Yellow Submarines aren’t in great form, and the hosts scored in three of their last five home matches.
Leganes vs Villarreal prediction 22/12/2024 : Both teams to score - yes
Real Betis to avoid a defeat in a low-scoring match: Real Betis vs Rayo Vallecano
- Date: 22/12/2024
- Kick-off: 21:00
- Both teams are not in perfect shape, but we think Real Betis can avoid a defeat in a low-scoring match.
Rayo Vallecano may have avoided a defeat in a six-goal thriller against Real Madrid last time out, but their upcoming game against Real Betis will not be as fun because the hosts don’t concede that many goals. The Greens may have just one win in their last five league games, but they are unlikely to lose the game because the visitors aren’t better in form, and the expected total goals shouldn’t exceed three.
Real Betis vs Rayo Vallecano prediction 22/12/2024: Home team to win or draw & under 3.5 goals
