LaLiga Preview: Club football returns with a weekend of derbies
Following the March international break, club football returns this weekend with Matchday 29 of LaLiga EA Sports. It’s a matchday packed with big games and derbies, including the latest edition of Elgranderbi between Real Betis and Sevilla FC.
The first game of the matchday is the Saturday afternoon clash between Real Sociedad and Real Valladolid, two clubs who are experiencing disappointing seasons and who desperately need the three points if they are to achieve their respective objectives of qualifying for Europe and avoiding relegation.
Then, at 4:15pm CET on Saturday, Atlético de Madrid are back in action, away at RCD Espanyol, and looking to reignite their title challenge. Considering they’ve lost two matches in a row, against Getafe CF and FC Barcelona, and considering they held the lead late in both of those games, Los Colchoneros are in need of a positive result.
Deportivo Alavés v Rayo Vallecano is the next match on the schedule, and the home crowd at Mendizorroza will be fired up for what is a huge game for the Basque club. Although Deportivo Alavés are currently outside the relegation zone, they’re level on points with 18th-placed CD Leganés and need every point they can muster.
At 9pm CET on Saturday night, there is a Madrid derby at the Bernabéu when CD Leganés make the short trip across the capital city to take on Real Madrid. These teams have met twice already this season, in LaLiga EA Sports and the Copa del Rey, and Carlo Ancelotti’s men won both times, 3-0 and 3-2. Lega will hope it’s third time lucky this weekend.
The action remains in Spain’s capital for the first of Sunday’s games, as Getafe CF take on Villarreal CF at the Coliseum. This is a meeting of two clubs chasing European qualification, but they come into this game in quite different form, as Geta have won their past two matches whereas El Submarino Amarillo have lost their past two.
A Catalan derby between FC Barcelona and Girona FC follows, and this fixture has produced some thrilling matchups in recent times. Across their past three meetings, a total of 17 goals have been scored, working out at 5.67 goals per game. More goals are expected at the Estadi Olímpic this Sunday.
There are two games taking place simultaneously at 18:30 CET on Sunday: Athletic Club v CA Osasuna and Valencia CF v RCD Mallorca. While neither of these is a regional derby per se, these are two duels between clubs from similar parts of the country.
Every clash between northern neighbours Athletic Club and CA Osasuna is a true footballing battle, while Valencia CF and RCD Mallorca both share the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and both share a need for points.
Then, at 9pm CET on Sunday night, one of world football’s most passionate derbies takes place at the Estadio Benito Villamarín, as Real Betis and Sevilla FC face off in the latest edition of Elgranderbi. For Real Betis, who are on a five-game winning run in LaLiga EA Sports, they’ll feel this is the perfect night to win a league derby for the first time since 2018, but Sevilla FC got the better of their rivals earlier this season and are in decent form too. It’s all set up to be another fascinating showdown between these two historic rivals.
Monday brings up the final game of Matchday 29, as UD Las Palmas make the long trip to Vigo to take on RC Celta. It was a memorable game when these sides met earlier this term, as RC Celta managed to win 1-0 despite playing the final 35 minutes with just nine men. The Canary Islanders will hope for a different outcome this time around.
© LaLiga
