La Liga Round 9 Preview, October 16-19

Round 8 seemed determined to make up for the three-week break all at once. There were 31 goals in nine matches, a wild 5:2 in Seville, a 3:3 in Valencia and another Barcelona victory. The Catalans are eight wins from eight with a 34:7 goal difference, but the chase behind them is tight: Atletico and Betis have 19 points each, while Real Madrid have 18.

European competition is now added to the domestic schedule. Atletico beat Manchester United 2:0 in midweek, Barcelona defeated Galatasaray 4:1, Villarreal beat Napoli 3:1, while Celta lost 2:1 to Juventus just three days before the next league round. With a calendar like this, even an obvious advantage in quality no longer guarantees a comfortable evening.

Deportivo – Levante

Deportivo have lost two of their last three rounds, but their matches have not become any less entertaining. In San Sebastian, the Galicians lost 3:2 to Real Sociedad after recovering two goals from 0:3 down. After eight games, the promoted side have scored 12 and conceded 11 — respectable numbers for a team that has only just returned to La Liga.

Levante went even further. Against Sevilla, they rescued a 3:3 draw in the 100th minute. Over the last five rounds, the Valencia side have scored 11 goals but kept only one clean sheet. Deportivo have a similar attacking bias, so it would be surprising if either side finished without scoring.

Match link:

Deportivo – Levante

Espanyol – Atletico

Espanyol have been remarkably consistent in one respect — they scored in all eight rounds. Even in Malaga, the Catalans opened the scoring, although they eventually had to settle for a 1:1 draw. They have 11 goals in total. Against the current Atletico side, this approach may suit them.

Atletico have accelerated to five straight wins in all competitions and beat Manchester United 2:0 in midweek. In the league, they have scored 18 and conceded eight. At the same time, Atletico's last two visits to Espanyol ended in a defeat and a draw. This match may again come down to both teams finding one goal.

Match link:

Espanyol – Atletico

Villarreal – Elche

The 1:0 defeat to Real Madrid was disappointing, but Villarreal switched focus quickly and beat Napoli 3:1 in the Champions League. Their attack had already come alive a month earlier — before the trip to Madrid, they had won two straight matches while scoring three goals in each.

Elche slowed down after an entertaining September and drew 0:0 with Celta. However, the promoted side have been bolder away than expected, scoring seven goals in four road matches. Villarreal also rarely settle for a single goal at home — they have scored at least twice in 10 of their last 11 La Liga home games.

Match link:

Villarreal – Elche

Betis – Barcelona

Betis produced the loudest result of the previous round, crushing Osasuna 5:2 and staying among Barcelona's closest pursuers. The Seville side have been especially strong at home: four wins from four, eight goals scored and only two conceded. Barcelona face one of their toughest tests since the start of the season.

Even so, it is difficult to scare this Barcelona team. After beating Getafe 3:0, they went to Istanbul and defeated Galatasaray 4:1. In eight La Liga rounds, the Catalans have scored 34 goals, including 17 away from home. When an attack like that visits a team that has won every home league match, a long quiet spell is unlikely.

Match link:

Betis – Barcelona

Valencia – Athletic

Javier Aguirre's first full weeks in charge have brought a little more life to Valencia. After losing 3:2 to Real Sociedad, the team drew 2:2 with Racing. They have scored four goals in those two matches, after managing only two across the previous six rounds.

Athletic arrive with a very different rhythm. Their match with Rayo was suspended, so their last complete league game was almost a month ago, a 0:0 draw with Alaves. They should have freshness, but may lack competitive rhythm. Valencia, meanwhile, have been drawn into open football in two straight rounds, and the visitors' long pause may add even more unpredictability.

Match link:

Valencia – Athletic

Osasuna – Racing

If Osasuna hoped to use the break to repair their defence, the first test ended disastrously. Betis beat them 5:2, taking Osasuna to 18 goals conceded after eight rounds. At the start of September they looked like one of the pleasant surprises of the season, but now they are only a few steps from the relegation zone.

Racing have roughly the same chaos, only on an even bigger scale. After drawing 2:2 with Valencia, the promoted side have a 13:23 goal difference — an average of 4.5 goals per match. The Santander team keep scoring, but still have not learned how to defend. For an Osasuna side in crisis, this opponent is both a gift and a trap.

Match link:

Osasuna – Racing

Celta – Alaves

After thrashing Racing before the break, Celta returned to more familiar numbers with a 0:0 draw against Elche. Across eight rounds, the Galicians have scored eight and conceded only six. The schedule now matters as well. In midweek, they lost 2:1 to Juventus, while five players missed the European squad through injury.

Alaves are not generous with goals either — after eight matches, their record is 12:8. Even an Atletico side in excellent form beat the Basques only 2:1. Celta have scored seven and conceded five in four home games, so they usually find their moment. But given the reliability of both teams, the match may not go much beyond 1:1.

Match link:

Celta – Alaves

Malaga – Real Sociedad

Malaga remain the only La Liga team without a victory, although at least they scored after the break. Against Espanyol, the hosts rescued a 1:1 draw in stoppage time. They have scored only three times in four home matches, but only Real Madrid have left La Rosaleda without conceding.

Real Sociedad have suddenly switched into entertainment mode. The Basques won two straight league matches 3:2, first against Valencia and then Deportivo. They have conceded 15 goals in total, more than any other team in the top half. Malaga are rarely given that much space, and the visitors are unlikely to abandon their current tempo voluntarily.

Match link:

Malaga – Real Sociedad

Real Madrid – Sevilla

Real Madrid returned to winning ways after the derby, although not without difficulty, beating Villarreal 1:0 at home. At the Bernabeu, Madrid have been perfect: four wins from four with a 13:2 goal difference. Mbappe has already scored seven, while the gap to Barcelona is six points. They simply cannot afford to let another home match slip.

Sevilla, meanwhile, played one of the wildest matches of the season, throwing away the lead against Levante and drawing 3:3. Interestingly, the Andalusians remain unbeaten away: two wins, two draws and an 8:5 goal difference. They have scored in all four trips. Real Madrid will need not only to break down the visitors' defence, but also remember that Sevilla regularly answer back.

Match link:

Real Madrid – Sevilla

Getafe – Rayo Vallecano

Getafe suffered the expected three-goal defeat to Barcelona, losing 0:3, but returning to the Coliseum usually changes the picture. All four of their home games have produced no more than two goals. The Madrid side have scored only four times in eight rounds, the lowest total in the league.

Rayo, by contrast, have scored in all seven La Liga matches they have played. Even away to Real Madrid and Barcelona, they found a goal, although they regularly paid for it at the other end. At Getafe, that amount of space will almost certainly disappear. An exchange of goals is possible, but the hosts will try to stop the match from opening up any further.

Match link:

Getafe – Rayo Vallecano

Round 9 Summary

After 31 goals in the previous round, the schedule seems to have deliberately produced several more pairings capable of keeping the show going. Villarreal and Elche do not look like teams built for cautious football, Osasuna and Racing have conceded 41 goals between them, and Real Madrid host a Sevilla side that have scored on every away trip.

But the biggest test belongs to Barcelona. Eight wins from eight is not just a good start, it is championship pace. The leaders now visit Betis, who have won all four home league matches and share second place with Atletico. If Hansi Flick's team negotiate the Benito Villamarin calmly as well, the title race may start to look less open. Our bookmaker rankings can help you choose a reliable operator and assess the teams' chances in these matches: https://scores24.live/en/sportbooks-es