After Atleti’s impressive Madrid derby win rounded off the weekend action, we head straight into a midweek matchday. It’s now a Catalan one-two at the top with Barcelona and Girona tied on 16 points with both sides on the road over the next few days. Here’s our full 2023/24 LaLiga matchday 7 preview, complete with predicted lineups for every team.
LaLiga Matchday 7 Preview & Predicted Lineups
Tuesday 26th September 2023
19:00 – Sevilla vs Almeria
| Sevilla | Almeria | |
| Win Probability | 60% | 18% |
It’s 17th vs 20th in an all Andalusian basement battle at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan. Almeria are not playing terribly and are creating chances with Sergio Arribas looking like a great signing but that elusive first win continues to elude them. They may struggle to get it here against a Sevilla side that rested a host of players at Osasuna last time out but should field something closer to their best eleven here.
Predicted Home Lineup: Nyland – Pedrosa, Ramos, Bade, Juanlu – Fernando, Sow – Lamela, Suso, Ocampos – En Nesyri (4-2-3-1)
Predicted Away Lineup: Maximiano – Akieme, Montes, Edgar, Chumi – Baba, Lopy – Ramazani, Arribas, Baptistao – Kone (4-2-3-1)
21:30 – Mallorca vs Barcelona
| Mallorca | Barcelona | |
| Win Probability | 15% | 64% |
Barcelona scored three times in the final ten minutes to salvage a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Celta Vigo at the weekend. Some rotation is to be expected here but Xavi could again decide he can’t cope without Robert Lewandowski whose late brace saw off the Galicians. Mallorca conceded five at Girona in their last match and don’t look at all convincing yet with Javier Aguirre still searching for his best eleven.
Predicted Home Lineup: Rajkovic – Nastacic, Valjent, Giovanni – Costa, Darder, Samu, Maffeo – Amath, Larin – Muriqi (3-4-2-1)
Predicted Away Lineup: Ter Stegen – Balde, Araujo, Martinez, Cancelo – Gundogan, Romeu, Gavi – Felix, Lewandowski, Raphinha (4-3-3)
Wednesday 27th September 2023
19:00 – Athletic Club vs Getafe
| Athletic Club | Getafe | |
| Win Probability | 58% | 17% |
Athletic’s strong start continued with victory in Vitoria and they’re strong favourites to win again here. They are missing Nico Williams once more and may rotate in a number of positions, including in goal with Julen Agirrezabala expected to get his first start of the season. They face a Getafe side that have been unlikely entertainers of late with their last 2 matches producing 12 goals in total (6 scored and 6 conceded).
Predicted Home Lineup: Agirrezabala – Imanol, Yeray, Vivian, Lekue – Dani Garcia, Vesga – Muniain, Sancet, Iñaki Williams – Villalibre (4-2-3-1)
Predicted Away Lineup: Soria – Rico, Duarte, Mitrovic, Damian Suarez – Alena, Djene, Maksimovic, Carmona – Mayoral, Latasa (4-4-2)
19:00 – Real Madrid vs Las Palmas
| Real Madrid | Las Palmas | |
| Win Probability | 80% | 7% |
Carlo Ancelotti went with five midfielders including both Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the derby, but the plan backfired and we could see a return to the more youthful quartet in this match with Joselu likely to return up front. Vini Junior may also feature at some point against a Las Palmas side who scored in the 92nd minute to claim their first win of the season at the weekend. The visitors normally try to dominate possession wherever they go, so it’ll be interesting to see how they approach this game.
Predicted Home Lineup: Kepa – Mendy, Alaba, Rudiger, Nacho – Camavinga, Tchouameni, Valverde – Bellingham – Joselu, Rodrygo (4-3-1-2)
Predicted Away Lineup: Valles – Cardona, Coco, Alex Suarez, Araujo – Kirian Rodriguez, Loiodice, Perrone – Viera, Munir, Pejino (4-3-3)
19:00 – Villarreal vs Girona
| Villarreal | Girona | |
| Win Probability | 41% | 33% |
This might just be the game of the matchday featuring two open, entertaining sides with defensive flaws but lots of goal threats. Villarreal have injury doubts over Alex Baena and Gerard Moreno though which is a real boost for the in-form visitors. Girona have rattled in 16 goals in 6 games so far, the joint best tally in the league. Don’t rule Michel’s men out of causing another upset here with Villarreal not looking particularly convincing since Pacheta’s appointment.
Predicted Home Lineup: Jorgensen – Pedraza, Gabbia, Albiol, Femenia – Capoue, Parejo – Yeremi Pino, Trigueros, Brereton – Sorloth (4-2-3-1)
Predicted Away Lineup: Gazzaniga – Miguel Gutierrez, Blind, Eric Garcia, Arnau Martinez – David Garcia, Aleix Garcia – Savio, Tsygankov, Portu – Dovbyk (4-2-3-1)
21:30 – Valencia vs Real Sociedad
| Valencia | Real Sociedad | |
| Win Probability | 36% | 34% |
Valencia are back at Mestalla where they thumped Atletico Madrid 3-0 last time out. They’ll fancy this too against a Real Sociedad side that may prioritise this weekend’s Basque derby and next Tuesday’s trip to Salzburg in the Champions League in terms of team selection. They’ve been heavily reliant on the brilliance of Take Kubo so far this term but Imanol could decide he simply has to rest the Japanese international here.
Predicted Home Lineup: Mamardashvili – Gaya, Mosquera, Diakhaby, Correia – Almeida, Pepelu, Guerra – Amallah, Duro, Fran Perez (4-3-3)
Predicted Away Lineup: Remiro – Tierney, Le Normand, Pacheco, Odriozola – Merino, Zubimendi, Brais Mendez – Cho, Carlos Fernandez, Oyarzabal (4-3-3)
21:30 – Cadiz vs Rayo Vallecano
| Cadiz | Rayo Vallecano | |
| Win Probability | 38% | 32% |
This is a very difficult game to call between two teams who will expect to be in the bottom half this season but currently find themselves above halfway. Cadiz look very limited at times, yet they always seem to get a result just when it looks like they’re starting to slide. They may fancy this with the likes of Darwin Machis and Luis Hernandez likely to be fit enough to return to the starting eleven. Rayo Vallecano may rest Isi Palazon and rotate their strikers after a weekend draw with Villarreal.
Predicted Home Lineup: Ledesma – Javi Hernandez, Luis Hernandez, Fali, Iza – Machis, Alcaraz, Escalante, Alex Fernandez – Ramos, Roger (4-4-2)
Predicted Away Lineup: Dimitrievski – Espino, Aridane, Lejeune, Balliu – Valentin, Ciss – Alvaro Garcia, Trejo, De Frutos – Camello (4-2-3-1)
Thursday 28th September 2023
19:00 – Celta Vigo vs Alaves
| Celta Vigo | Alaves | |
| Win Probability | 57% | 17% |
Celta Vigo’s performance levels have warranted more than their 4 point haul so far but Rafa Benitez has been around long enough to know that he needs results and fast with his team currently in the drop-zone. They really need to win this against newly promoted Alaves who may well rotate their team and bring in some fresh legs and new options after successive 2-0 defeats where they looked very much like the relegation candidates that they unquestionably are.
Predicted Home Lineup: Guaita – Dominguez, Nuñez, Starfelt – Manu Sanchez, De la Torre, Beltran, Mingueza – Bamba, Aspas – Douvikas (3-4-2-1)
Predicted Away Lineup: Sivera – Javi Lopez, Abqar, Rafa Marin, Tenaglia – Hagi, Guevara – Rioja, Guridi, Sola – Omorodion (4-2-3-1)
19:00 – Granada vs Real Betis
| Granada | Real Betis | |
| Win Probability | 32% | 40% |
Betis played well and should have beaten Cadiz at the weekend but they’ve already suffered two defensive collapses away. Anything could happen here against newly promoted Granada who have scored as many goals as anyone outside the top eight, but also have the league’s worst defensive record. Expect the visitors to rotate in attack with the likes of Abde Ez, Luiz Henrique, Aitor Ruibal and Borja Iglesias pushing for starts.
Predicted Home Lineup: Ferreira – Neva, Miquel, Torrente, Ricard – Bryan, Gumbau, Ruiz, Callejon – Uzuni, Boye (4-4-2)
Predicted Away Lineup: Bravo – Abner, Pezzella, Bartra, Bellerin – Guido Rodriguez, Roca – Luiz Henrique, Isco, Abde Ez – Iglesias (4-2-3-1)
21:30 – Osasuna vs Atletico Madrid
| Osasuna | Atletico Madrid | |
| Win Probability | 28% | 44% |
Atletico enjoyed one of their best Madrid derbies in recent years with a fine win over Real on Sunday and you’d imagine Diego Simeone will look to build on that with a similar eleven here. The returns of Jose Maria Gimenez and Koke were key factors in their performance against Los Blancos and both should play again. They face an Osasuna side that hasn’t been particularly impressive so far this season with an early European exit and just 7 points from 6 league games.
Predicted Home Lineup: Aitor – Cruz, David Garcia, Catena, Pena – Torro, Munoz, Oroz – Moi Gomez, Budimir, Chimy (4-3-3)
Predicted Away Lineup: Oblak – Hermoso, Gimenez, Savic – Lino, Saul, Koke, Llorente, Molina – Morata, Griezmann (3-5-2)
LaLiga Matchday 7 Fantasy Picks
Sorare Cap Picks via @SorareLALIGA
Finding safe starters will be key to success in the cap modes this week as the rotation risk is great, even for many goalkeepers. That makes Giorgi Mamardashvili, who is highly unlikely to be rested, appeal with a low L15 average while the same could be said of Rayo’s most important defender Florian Lejeune.
The impressive Aleix Garcia’s L15 is still below 50 so we’re going with him again in midfield for free scoring Girona. Youssef En-Nesyri is widely expected to rotate back in to lead the line for Sevilla against a weak Almeria defence while Celta’s Iago Aspas will fancy his chances of a decisive in a favourable home game against Alaves.
If you’re not on Sorare, sign up here to get a free Limited card after your 5th purchase on the primary market. You can also simply play for free by entering the LaLiga Amateur competition each week.
Full Team Stack (L15): Kepa (49) – Rudiger (42) – Bellingham (71) – Tchouaméni (57) – Rodrygo (53)
Real Madrid are massive favourites at home to newly promoted Las Palmas and will be keen to respond quickly to derby disappointment. The challenge will be finding five starters with rotation expected.
There is no suggestion currently that Kepa will be rested but we could see changes at full-back, with Antionio Rudiger perhaps the safest Real Madrid defender pick. In midfield, Aurelien Tchouameni will surely return after he was left out of the derby while Jude Bellingham surely has to play on current form.
Vini’s return to fitness makes the forward pick tougher and Carlo Ancelotti could go with any two of his three strikers if the young Brazilian is considered ready to start which is far from guaranteed.
LaLiga Monthly October Private League
You can join the October private league here which starts this Friday! September winners and prizes for October will be announced on Twitter later this week.
