LaLiga returns this week for its 15th round of matches. Following an extended break for the World Cup and also the Christmas holidays, top-flight football is back in Spain with three fixtures scheduled for Thursday, four on Friday and three more on Saturday to close out 2022.
By Ben Hayward, LaLiga expert
Atlético seeking return to top four
Atlético Madrid are one of six teams in action on Thursday and the Rojiblancos will be looking for a win to end the year inside the top four. Diego Simeone’s side are currently down in fifth, level on points with Athletic Club (fourth) and Real Betis (sixth). They are at home to Elche on Thursday and will be expected to win against a team that has picked up only four points in LaLiga this season.
Portugal winger João Félix has been strongly linked with a loan move this January, but will feature against Elche. “If he transmits what we saw in the World Cup, he will be really important for us,” Simeone said. Meanwhile, Atlético are keen to bring in a striker following Matheus Cunha’s move to Wolves, with Betis’ Borja Iglesias a top target.
The two other clubs on 24 points also meet on Thursday as Real Betis host Athletic Club at the Benito Villamarín. Girona (13th) and Rayo Vallecano (eighth) meet in the day’s other match.
Real Madrid welcome back Benzema
Madrid’s 3-2 defeat at nearby Rayo Vallecano on November 7th saw Los Blancos lose their LaLiga lead and the defending champions went into the World Cup break two points behind rivals Barcelona. Carlo Ancelotti’s side travel to Real Valladolid on Friday as their campaign resumes and they will be boosted by the return of striker Karim Benzema from injury. The French forward played no part in Les Bleus’ run to the World Cup final after he was ruled out ahead of the tournament, but will have a point to prove after he was reportedly snubbed for the knockout stages despite a return to fitness. The 35-year-old is expected to start at the Jose Zorrilla.
Midfielders Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Luka Modrić will all be back with the squad on Thursday after their participation in the latter stages of the World Cup, but are not expected to feature against Valladolid.
Also on Friday, struggling Sevilla will hope to climb out of the relegation zone. The Andalusians are down in 18th place ahead of their trip to Celta Vigo (in 17th), having failed to revert their situation since the sacking of Julen Lopetegui and the arrival of Jorge Sampaoli in early October.
Getafe (15th) face Mallorca (11th) and Cadíz (19th) host Almería (14th) in Friday’s other fixtures.
Barcelona host Espanyol in Catalan Derby
The Catalan derby is the pick of the games on Saturday as LaLiga leaders Barcelona host city rivals Espanyol. Barça have won 12 of their 14 games so far in LaLiga this season and lost just once. Espanyol, by contrast, have found life much more difficult with only two victories to their name in 2022-23. The Pericos are down in 16th ahead of this match, which will be officiated by controversial Spanish World Cup referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz. You might remember him from the Argentina-Netherlands game in Qatar.
“Winning the derby is key for us to get into a good dynamic,” Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen said this week. And Espanyol coach Diego Martínez told Marca: “It would be amazing to win it.”
Barça boss Xavi has welcomed back Jules Koundé to training following his World Cup exploits with France, but striker Robert Lewandowski sits out the first game of a three-match ban after he was sent off against Osasuna prior to the break. Forward Memphis Depay is expected to be made available for transfer in January and could be playing in his last game for Barcelona on Saturday.
Third-placed Real Sociedad are at home to Osasuna (seventh and just three points back) in an all-northern affair later in the day, with another regional derby bringing the matchday – and the year – to a close as Villarreal (ninth) welcome Valencia (10th) on Saturday evening.
(Images from IMAGO)
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