With 19 rounds of the 2023/24 LALIGA EA SPORTS season completed, we're at the halfway stage of the competition and it could not be tighter at the top, with Real Madrid and Girona FC tied on 48 points and with FC Barcelona lurking behind them. It's now time for the second half of the campaign, which begins this weekend.
The Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán will host the first fixture of Matchday 20, when Sevilla FC meet Deportivo Alavés on Friday night. Given that their first meeting of this season was a dramatic 4-3 victory for the Basque side, this rematch promises goals and should be a fun way to commence the weekend's action.
Four fixtures will be held throughout Saturday, the first of which is UD Las Palmas vs Villarreal CF. Both teams finished the first half of the campaign with a defeat before suffering Copa del Rey exits last weekend, so they'll each be determined to put their best foot forward at the Estadio de Gran Canaria.
RCD Mallorca vs RC Celta follows and this is a big game in the relegation battle, even at this midway point of the season. Rafa Benítez's side have just moved out of the bottom three for the first time since September and could even leapfrog RCD Mallorca with a win on the island on Saturday.
At 18:30 CET, all eyes will be on San Mamés in Bilbao, for this season's second Basque Derby between Athletic Club and Real Sociedad. La Real won the first meeting by a convincing 3-0 scoreline, so Athletic Club are desperate for revenge and they also feel confident that they can take the three points. That's because Ernesto Valverde's side are in excellent form and finished the first half of the campaign in fourth position, six points ahead of sixth-placed Real Sociedad. It should be a fiercely competitive duel between two old foes, who each have a good chance of qualifying for next year's Champions League.
An Andalusian derby follows on Saturday night, when Real Betis meet Granada CF. Considering they haven't won any of their past five in LALIGA EA SPORTS, Los Verdiblancos will be determined to make a statement. But, it won't be easy against Granada CF, who have been improving under new coach Alexander Medina and who have been very busy in the January transfer market.
On Sunday, there are just two league fixtures, given that the Spanish Super Cup final is taking place that night, but there is a very important game to kick off the day's proceedings as surprise title challengers Girona FC pay a visit to UD Almería. Although the Andalusian side are winless and bottom of the table, anything is possible in LALIGA EA SPORTS and Girona FC coach Míchel won't be taking the three points for granted.
The other of Sunday's league matches is also taking place in Andalusia, as Cádiz CF and Valencia CF meet for a battle of two teams trending in opposite directions. Whereas Valencia CF have won their past two league contests, Cádiz CF have now gone 15 matches without a win in the competition and will be hoping to change that in front of their home fans.
The other three fixtures of Matchday 20 are FC Barcelona vs CA Osasuna, Atlético de Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano and Getafe CF vs Real Madrid, but these won't take place for another few weeks given that the Spanish Super Cup is being held this week. In the meantime, the first seven fixtures of the round promise great drama and entertainment, with the Basque Derby on Saturday and with second-placed Girona FC looking to make a statement on Sunday.
