Barcelona return to the Estadi Olímpic looking to get back on track

Following a dramatic Matchday 14, it’s time for Matchday 15 of LALIGA EA SPORTS and there are several intriguing fixtures on the schedule. After playing two league games in a row on the road, and failing to win either of them, league leaders FC Barcelona return home to take on UD Las Palmas.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid are also at home this weekend, squaring off against Getafe CF, while there is a key duel in the Champions League race between Villarreal CF and Girona FC.

The very first game of the weekend is RCD Mallorca v Valencia CF, a meeting of two teams who earned impressive victories last matchday. Both sides will be looking to make it two wins in a row when they meet in the Balearic Islands.

The first of Saturday’s four fixtures takes place at the Estadi Olímpic, where FC Barcelona host UD Las Palmas. Having played their last two LALIGA EA SPORTS fixtures away from home and having failed to win either of them, against Real Sociedad and RC Celta, Los Azulgrana need to make a statement and pick up all three points against the Canary Islanders.

The next game of the day takes place in the Basque Country, where Deportivo Alavés and CD Leganés will come head to head. These two clubs are very evenly matched in the current standings, with the Basque side 16th on 13 points and Los Pepineros 14th on 14 points. As such, it promises to be a very even contest at the Estadio Mendizorroza.

RCD Espanyol v RC Celta follows, a duel of Galician coaches as Manolo González and Claudio Giráldez face off. The home coach is under major pressure, given that Los Pericos have lost their past four league games while conceding 13 goals, so he desperately need a strong defensive performance in this one.

The Saturday night game features another coach in trouble, as Paulo Pezzolano’s bottom-placed Real Valladolid are in action against Atlético de Madrid. It’ll be a tough game for Los Blanquivioletas, given that Atleti are starting to show some form, with three LALIGA EA SPORTS wins in a row. As Diego Simeone returns to the stadium where Los Colchoneros secured their last league title, he’ll hope to leave celebrating yet another victory.

Sunday begins with a huge game in the race to qualify for the Champions League, with Villarreal CF taking on Girona FC. The Catalans finished inside the top four last season and, as a reward, visited Austrian side Sturm Graz in midweek, and they hope to return to the Champions League next season too. However, it’s Villarreal CF who currently sit fourth, four points ahead of Girona FC. This is a very significant game, then, and the perfect way to kick off Sunday’s slate of four fixtures.

The next of those fixtures takes place at the Bernabéu, where defending champions Real Madrid will hope to make it three LALIGA EA SPORTS wins in a row against Getafe CF. Los Blancos have responded well to their defeat in ELCLASICO, thrashing CA Osasuna 4-0 and CD Leganés 3-0 since then, and they’ll hope to put Los Azulones to the sword next.

The action remains in Madrid for a meeting between Rayo Vallecano and Athletic Club in Vallecas. After winning in the BASQUE DERBY last weekend, the Basques will target another three-point haul and they’ll look to Nico Williams to lead them, especially after he scored in both of his appearances against Rayo Vallecano last season.

Real Sociedad and Real Betis bring Sunday to a close at the Reale Arena, with both these clubs hoping to qualify for continental football yet again but currently sitting outside the European positions, in 10th and ninth respectively. Furthermore, both these teams lost last weekend, so they’ll enter this matchday with hunger.

The final game of the round comes on Monday night, when Sevilla FC welcome CA Osasuna to the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. The Andalusian side haven’t managed to defeat CA Osasuna in any of

their past six meetings, with the Pamplona outfit winning three times in addition to three draws, so it certainly won’t be easy for Los Nervionenses in this Matchday 15 duel.

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