LaLiga Matchweek 28: what the stats say

Laliga Matchweek 28 has some mouthwatering matchups, here is what the Opta stats say ahead of an epic weekend of Spanish football on SuperSport.

Barcelona v Mallorca | Friday March 8

Barcelona have won 24 of their last 29 matches against Mallorca in LaLiga (D2 L3), scoring in each of these 29 games against the Bermellon side (77 goals). It is their second-longest ongoing scoring streak against a single opponent in the competition (Levante, 32).

Following their 2-2 draw at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix in the reverse fixture, Mallorca could avoid defeat in both with Barcelona in a LaLiga season for the first time since 2000/01 under Luis Aragones (W1 D1).

Barcelona have won 78 per cent of their matches against Mallorca in LaLiga in the 21st century (P32 W25 D4 L3), their highest win per centage against an opponent in the competition in this time (20+ meetings).

Barcelona have lost only two of their 11 games played on a Friday in LaLiga (W5 D4), including just one in their five home league games on this day (W3 D1), going down 1-4 against UD Salamanca in May 1998. Meanwhile, Mallorca have never won away from home on a Friday in the competition (D1 L6).

Barcelona failed to score in their last LaLiga match (0-0 v Athletic Club), after a run of 25 consecutive scoring games in the competition beforehand. They have not failed to score in back-to-back league games since April 2023 (two).

Mallorca have won two of their last four games in LaLiga (D1 L1), just one fewer than their first 23 matches in the competition this season beforehand (W3 D11 L9).

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has scored on five of the seven days of the week in LaLiga, failing to find the net only on Mondays (one game) and Fridays (one game). Only Samuel Eto'o (seven), Lionel Messi, and Xavi Hernández (six) have scored on more different days for the Azulgranas in the competition in the 21st century.

Mallorca’s Cyle Larin, who assisted his side's goal in their last LaLiga match against Girona, scored one goal and assisted another in his only start against Barcelona in the competition in May 2023 for Real Valladolid.

Barcelona’s Xavi Hernández has won four of his five LaLiga games as a manager against Mallorca (D1); only against Osasuna and Real Betis (five) has he earned more league wins as a manager.

Mallorca’s Javier Aguirre has not won any of his 14 away games against Barcelona as a manager in LaLiga (D3 L11), losing each of his last nine league visits to the Blaugrana's home ground in the division.

Valencia v Getafe CF | Saturday 9 March

Valencia have won just two of their last seven home games against Getafe in LaLiga (D4 L1), having won eight of their previous nine home games against the Blues in the competition prior to this (L1).

Getafe have won both of their last two meetings against Valencia in LaLiga, both at the Coliseum and both by a 1-0 scoreline. Getafe have never won three in a row against Valencia in the top-flight.

Valencia have failed to score in either of their last two matches against Getafe in LaLiga (L2), their worst run without scoring against the Blues in their history in the top-flight.

Valencia have not won any of their last three LaLiga matches (D2 L1), having won five of their previous six beforehand (L1), although they have drawn their last two – they have not drawn three in a row in the competition since November 2021.

Getafe have won just one of their last 15 away games in LaLiga (D8 L6), winning 3-0 against Sevilla in December 2023. Indeed, they have the most away draws in the competition in 2023/24 (7).

Valencia have gained just three points from losing positions in LaLiga this season, the joint-lowest tally by any team, along with Osasuna and Almería.

Getafe have scored the most headed goals in LaLiga in 2023/24 (15), and the most by a team after their first 27 games of a top-flight campaign since Real Madrid in 2016/17 (20).

Getafe's Jaime Mata has scored three goals in 10 meetings against Valencia in LaLiga; only against Celta Vigo (five goals) has he scored more goals in the competition (also three against Athletic Club and Real Sociedad).

Rubén Baraja has lost both of his matches as Valencia coach against Getafe in LaLiga, and in both of these, his side failed to score. They are the only opponent against whom he has suffered back-to-back defeats in the competition.

Getafe’s José Bordalás has five wins in nine managerial meetings with Valencia in LaLiga (D3 L1); versus no other side has he recorded more top-flight victories as Getafe boss (also five against Celta Vigo, Real Betis and Real Sociedad).

Cádiz v Atlético de Madrid | Saturday 9 March

Cádiz have lost six of their last seven league matches against Atlético de Madrid (W1), conceding at least three goals in five of those six defeats.

Atlético de Madrid lost 3-2 in their last visit to Cádiz in LaLiga in October 2022, having not lost any of their previous seven such trips beforehand (W4 D3), while only once have they lost two or more successive away games to Cádiz in the competition (their first four between 1978 and 1985).

Atlético de Madrid have won just one of their last six visits to Andalusian sides in LaLiga (D3 L2), winning 1-0 against Granada in January, this after having won each of their previous three away games against such sides.

Cádiz are winless in their last 23 LaLiga matches (D12 L11), their longest ever winless streak in the competition.

Atlético de Madrid have won just one of their last eight away games in LaLiga (D2 L5), winning 1-0 against Granada in January, this after having won three of their previous four such trips in the competition (L1).

Cádiz have scored the highest per centage of their goals in the first half of any side in LaLiga this season (67 per cent - 12/18).

Atlético’s Álvaro Morata has scored 14 goals in 24 LaLiga games in 2023/24; only in one previous campaign in the big-five European leagues has the Spanish striker scored more goals (15 goals in 26 games in 2016/17).

Cádiz's Chris Ramos has contested the most duels (464) in Europe's big-five leagues this season, reaching at least 10 duels in 25 of the 27 games he has played this season in LaLiga.

Atlético de Madrid's Ángel Correa has been involved in five goals in seven games against Cádiz in LaLiga (three goals and two assists), including a brace in the reverse fixture this season at the Civitas Metropolitano.

After not losing any of his first four managerial games against Atlético de Madrid in LaLiga (W1 D3), Cádiz coach Mauricio Pellegrino has lost both of the last two against the red-and-whites in the competition, while his side also failed to score in both.

Granada v Real Sociedad | Saturday 9

Granada have lost their last three games against Real Sociedad in LaLiga, this after having won two of their previous three against the San Sebastian team in the competition (L1).

Real Sociedad have won four of their last five visits to Granada in LaLiga (L1), which is twice as many victories as they managed in their previous 18 away games against the Granada team in the top-flight (W2 D4 L12).

Real Sociedad have only lost one of their last eight visits to Andalusian teams in LaLiga (W4 D3 L1), after losing five of the previous 14 beforehand (W5 L9), although they lost their most recent 2-3 against Sevilla.

Granada have not won any of their last seven LaLiga games (D3 L4), and have only kept a clean sheet in one of their last 26 games in the competition (W2 D8 L16), doing so in their 2-0 victory against Cádiz in January.

Real Sociedad have lost their last two games in LaLiga, conceding three goals in each of them, and have not lost more in a row in the competition since December 2021 (L4).

Only Real Madrid (77) have faced fewer shots on target in LaLiga this season than Real Sociedad (98), while only Villarreal (158) and Almería (139) have faced more than Granada (137).

Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino could become the second player to win 200 duels in LaLiga in 2023/24 (199), after Cádiz’s Chris Ramos (202).

Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal has been involved in 10 goals in 10 games against Granada in LaLiga (five goals and five assists), his highest tally against a single opponent in the competition, scoring and/or assisting in eight of those 10 matches.

Granada’s José Callejón has scored in two of his last four LaLiga games against Real Sociedad, a goal with Espanyol in February 2011 and another with Real Madrid in May 2013.

Real Sociedad’s Imanol Alguacil has managed seven games against Granada in all competitions without drawing any (W5 L2), while only against Espanyol has he taken charge of more without a draw (P9 W7 L2).

Girona FC - CA Osasuna | Saturday 9 March

Girona and Osasuna have a balanced record in their three LaLiga encounters, with one win each and one draw, and both teams scoring at least one goal in each of these three games.

Girona have won just one of their last four home games in all competitions against Osasuna (D2 L1), winning 1-0 in the Copa del Rey in January 2022, this after having won three of their previous four at home against the Navarrese (L1).

Girona have lost three of their last four LaLiga games (W1), this after having lost just one of their first 23 games in the competition this season (W17 D5 L1).

Osasuna have not lost any of their last four games in LaLiga (W3 D1), and have not gone five or more without defeat in the competition since October 2021 (P5 W3 D2).

Girona have not lost any of their last nine home games in LaLiga (W7 D2), keeping clean sheets in both of their last two. This is their best ever unbeaten run at home in the top-flight.

Girona have gained 22 points from losing positions in LaLiga in 2023/24, while only Liverpool (also 22) have recovered as many this season in Europe's big-five leagues.

Osasuna have scored the most goals from set-pieces in LaLiga this season (14), and have also scored the highest per centage of their goals from set-pieces in the competition this term (45 per cent - 14/31).

Girona's Artem Dovbyk was involved in three goals in his only LaLiga clash against Osasuna (one goal and two assists), while they are the only opponent against whom he has registered more than one assist in the competition.

Osasuna's Ante Budimir has scored a brace in both of his two LaLiga games against Girona, and could become the fifth different player to score three consecutive braces against an opponent in the competition in the 21st century, after Lionel Messi (vs Elche, Levante and Rayo Vallecano), Gonzalo Higuaín (vs Getafe), Luis Suárez (vs Espanyol), and Antoine Griezmann (vs Real Valladolid).

Girona’s Míchel Sánchez has won just two of his seven managerial meetings in all competitions against Osasuna (D3 L2), although one of those wins came in LaLiga, winning 4-2 in the reverse fixture this season.

Deportivo Alavés v Rayo Vallecano | Saturday 9 March

Alavés have won just two of their last nine meetings with Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga (D2 L5), having won three of their first four top-flight clashes beforehand (L1).

Rayo Vallecano have avoided defeat in four of their six away games against Alavés in LaLiga, winning more (three) than they have lost (two) in those six visits in the competition (D1).

Following their 2-0 win at Vallecas in the reverse fixture this season, Rayo Vallecano could achieve a LaLiga double over Alavés for only the second time in their history, having previously achieved this in 2001/02.

Alavés have failed to win their last five LaLiga matches (D3 L2), having won each of the previous three beforehand, and have also won just one of their last six at home in the competition (D2 L3).

After winning three of their first five games in LaLiga in 2023/24 (L2), Rayo Vallecano have since won just two of their last 22 matches in the competition (D11 L9).

Rayo Vallecano are the only team in big-five European leagues yet to score a headed goal this season, and are the first team to fail to score a headed goal after their first 27 games of a LaLiga campaign on record (since 2003/04).

In the last LaLiga match against Cádiz, Miguel Crespo won 12 duels, equalling the highest such tally by a Rayo Vallecano player in a LaLiga match this season (also 12 by Óscar Valentín against Real Madrid in November 2023).

Alavés’ last three LaLiga goals have all come via headers, with two of them scored by Samu Omorodion and assisted by Álex Sola. This is as many headed goals as they had in their first 19 goals in the competition this campaign (excluding own goals).

Rayo Vallecano striker Raúl de Tomás has scored four goals in six meetings with Deportivo Alavés in LaLiga, more than against any other opponent in the competition.

Alavés’ Luis García Plaza has lost each of his seven managerial meetings with Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga; only Jagoba Arrasate against Atlético de Madrid (11) and Antonio Fernández Benítez against Barcelona (10) have faced an opponent more as a manager without ever avoiding defeat in the history of the competition (also seven for Mauricio Pochettino against Real Madrid).

Las Palmas v Athletic Club | Sunday 10 March

UD Las Palmas have won just two of their last 10 matches against Athletic Club in LaLiga (D5 L3), failing to score in their last two (D1 L1), their worst run without scoring against the Bilbao side in the competition.

Following their win at San Mames on MD18, Athletic Club can win both of their matches against UD Las Palmas in the same LaLiga season for the sixth time in history and the first time since their three wins in the 1986/87 campaign when league ended with a playoff final.

UD Las Palmas have not lost any of their last six LaLiga home games against Athletic Club (W3 D3) - only against Cádiz (G7 W5 D2) do the Canaries have a better unbeaten home run of any of their current opponents in the competition.

Las Palmas have lost just three of their 13 home games in LaLiga in 2023/24 (W6 D4), scoring at least one goal in each of their last eight at home - they haven’t scored in nine or more home games in a row in the top-flight since March 1986 (G17 W8 D4 L5).

Athletic Club have taken 50 points after 27 games in LaLiga in 2023/24 (W14 D8 L5), their most at this stage of the competition since the 2013/14 campaign (51 points - W15 D6 L6), which is the last time the Bilbao side finished in the top four (4th).

Athletic Club have scored 16 goals in the first 30 minutes of matches this season in LaLiga, more than any other team in this time frame, and are also the side to have scored the most goals in the first 30 minutes away from home (eight).

Three of Athletic’s last four LaLiga away goals have been headers, after failing to score a header via any of their previous 41 away goals in the competition (excluding own goals).

UD Las Palmas striker Munir El Haddadi has scored five goals in 15 LaLiga games against Athletic Club, more than against any other opponent in the competition.

Athletic Club striker Iñaki Williams has scored five goals in 11 away games in LaLiga this season, his best away goalscoring record in a single campaign in the competition since 2018/19 (six goals in 19 games).

Athletic Club coach Ernesto Valverde has lost just one of his seven matches against UD Las Palmas in LaLiga (W3 D3) but has not won any of his three league visits to Gran Canaria (D2 L1).

Real Madrid v Celta de Vigo | Sunday 10 March

Real Madrid have not lost any of their last 19 matches against Celta de Vigo in LaLiga (W17 D2), winning each of the last seven, their longest winning streak against the Galicians in the top-flight.

After consecutive home defeats to Celta Vigo in LaLiga in 2005 and 2006, Real Madrid have not lost any of their last 11 LaLiga home games against the Galicians (W10 D1), scoring an average of 3.3 goals in them.

Celta de Vigo have not won any of their last eight visits to teams from the Madrid region in LaLiga (D3 L5), failing to score in six of them, dating back to a 3-0 win over Getafe in October 2021.

Real Madrid have not lost any of their last 21 LaLiga games (W16 D5), their best unbeaten run in a single campaign in the competition since the last 23 games of 2011/12 under José Mourinho (W20 D3).

Celta de Vigo have lost in just two of their last seven LaLiga trips (W1 D4), having lost in each of their previous four away games in the competition.

Real Madrid have picked up 20 points from losing positions in LaLiga in 2023/24, a figure only bettered by Girona (22) in the competition this campaign.

Real Madrid have made the most counter attacks in LaLiga 2023/24 (30) and scored the most goals by these plays (six, as Atlético Madrid), followed by Celta Vigo (five, as Villarreal).

Óscar Mingueza has been involved in four goals in 27 appearances for Celta Vigo in LaLiga this season (two goals and two assists), just one fewer than in his previous three campaigns in the competition combined (five, two goals and three assists, in 67 games).

Real Madrid's Toni Kroos has scored six goals in 15 games against Celta Vigo in LaLiga, as well as providing four assists, at least twice as many goals as he’s scored against any other opponent in the competition (three against Athletic).

After losing his first four visits to Real Madrid in LaLiga, between 1996 and 2003, Celta Vigo coach Rafa Benítez avoided defeat in his last away game against Los Blancos in the top-flight, a 1-1 draw with Valencia in February 2004.

Real Betis v Villarreal | Sunday 10 March

Real Betis have not lost any of their last three games against Villarreal in LaLiga (W2 D1), their longest unbeaten run against the Yellows in the competition since January 2016 (G5 W2 D3).

At home, Real Betis have lost two of their last four LaLiga games against Villarreal (W1 D1), having lost just one of their previous seven at home to the Yellows in the top-flight (W4 D2).

Villarreal have lost on four of their last eight visits to Andalusian sides in LaLiga (W2 D2), having lost on just two of their previous 10 away games against these sides in the competition (W6 D2).

Real Betis lost their last LaLiga game, 1-2 to Atlético Madrid, and have not lost two in a row in the top-flight since April 2023 (L2), the first of that run also coming against Atlético Madrid.

Villarreal have not lost any of their last seven LaLiga games (W3 D4), having lost four of their previous five (W1), and have not gone eight or more without defeat in the competition since December 2020 (G12 W5 D7).

No player has been involved in more goals than Villarreal's Alexander Sørloth (eight, six goals and two assists) in LaLiga in 2024 (level with Vinícius Júnior, eight, five goals and three assists).

Real Betis's Willian José has scored six goals in 15 games against Villarreal in LaLiga (also six in 16 against Celta de Vigo); only against Espanyol has he scored more in the competition (eight in 14 games).

Villarreal's José Luis Morales has scored six goals in 15 games against Real Betis in LaLiga, his highest tally against a single opponent in the top-flight (also six in nine games against Osasuna and in 12 against Eibar).

Real Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini has lost just one of his five LaLiga home games against Villarreal (W3 D1), including a win the last time his side scored six goals in a match in the competition, 6-2 with Real Madrid in February 2010.

Villarreal coach Marcelino García Toral has lost just two of his 16 games against Real Betis in LaLiga (W6 D8) and they are the side against whom he has recorded the most draws in the top-flight.

Almería v Sevilla | Monday 11 March

Almeria have lost 11 of their 15 meetings with Sevilla in LaLiga (W4) - they are the team they have faced the most times in the top-flight without a draw.

Sevilla lost on their last visit to Almería in LaLiga, 1-2 in August 2022, having won in each of the previous five, and could drop points in two successive away games against the Almeria side for the first time in the competition.

Almeria have not won any of their last 10 derbies against Andalusian teams in LaLiga (D6 L4), although they have drawn the last three, while Sevilla have not lost any of their last nine Andalusian derbies in the competition (W5 D4).

Almería have not won any of their 27 matches in LaLiga 2023/24 (D9 L18), becoming the first team in the competition's history to fail to win after their first 27 games of a season.

Sevilla have lost just one of their last six LaLiga games (W3 D2), 0-1 to Real Madrid last February, having lost six of their previous seven in the competition (W1).

Sevilla have kept just two clean sheets in their 14 home games in LaLiga 2023/24, their lowest home tally at this stage of a campaign in the competition since 1996/97 (also two).

Only Athletic (278) have made more high turnovers this season than Sevilla (229) and only Barcelona (46) have attempted more shots from high turnovers than Almería (40) in LaLiga this season.

Sevilla's Youssef En-Nesyri has scored nine goals in 22 games in LaLiga 2023/24, equalling his second-highest tally in a single campaign in the competition (nine for Leganés in 2018/19) after 18 in 2020/21.

Almería's Adri Embarba has had more shots on target without scoring than any other player in LaLiga 2023/24 (13).

Sevilla coach Quique Sánchez Flores has won just two of his nine meetings with Almería in all competitions (D3 L4), losing each of the last three.