Matchweek 16 of the 2025/26 LaLiga season, which takes place from December 12 to 15, promises another thrilling round of games all over Spain. Within the current set of La Liga predictions, fixtures like this are influenced by tactical approach, momentum, and squad availability.
The weekend kicks off on Friday with Real Sociedad going up against Girona, a matchup of two offensive teams looking to stay near the top of the standings. On Saturday, Atlético Madrid will battle Valencia in a strategic showdown, followed by Mallorca facing Elche in an important game for teams trying to avoid the lower ranks. Later that evening, Barcelona will host Osasuna, while Getafe will meet Espanyol in a closely contested match.
Sunday’s lineup begins with Sevilla taking on Oviedo, where Sevilla hopes to leverage their experience. Celta Vigo will challenge Athletic Bilbao in a tough match, and Levante will go against Villarreal in a local rivalry. The day wraps up with Alavés welcoming Real Madrid, as Madrid seeks to assert their strength.
Matchweek 16 wraps up on Monday night with Rayo Vallecano facing Betis, a game between two teams famous for their exciting, attacking style of play.
Table of Contents
:
:
vs 
Real Sociedad vs Girona
Real Sociedad is currently in 14th place with 16 points, and their form is quite inconsistent. However, the team still manages to control the game periodically through possession and structured attacks. At home, they have three wins, one draw, and three losses, with a goal difference of 11:11. This shows that they can be dangerous, especially when Oyarzabal, Barrenetxea, and Mendez create chances and quick attacks. Even though the results in the last few matches include several losses, they perform better at home and manage to set the pace of the game. The head-to-head matches also favor Sociedad, which gives them extra confidence in controlling the rhythm and minimizing risks.
Girona is struggling with their form, having only 12 points and sitting in 18th place, facing big issues in all areas. The team hasn’t won in their last three matches, with two losses, and their defense is the most critical problem, allowing 15 goals on away games. Even though Ounahi, Stuani, and Vanat can pose a threat, the team generally finds it hard to create chances and often relies on individual moments. Their away form is very weak, with no wins, three draws, and four losses in five matches, indicating instability and a poor response under pressure. Girona usually defends deep and rarely keeps the ball long enough to create a continuous attack.
Sociedad appears to be more consistent and of higher quality in their duels, while Girona enters with bad form and significant defensive weaknesses. The home team has a better structure, a stronger midfield, and a greater offensive threat, which should be decisive.
1 (Real Sociedad to Win)
Predicted CS: 2:0
:
:
vs 
Atl. Madrid vs Valencia
Atl. Madrid is currently at the top of the table with 31 points and is one of the most consistent home teams in La Liga. The team plays powerfully at home, achieving 7 wins and a draw with a goal difference of 20:6, showcasing their offensive sharpness and disciplined defense. Alvarez, Griezmann, and Sorloth pose the biggest threat, combining speed, finishing, and aggressive pressing. Their form is solid, even though their last two away games resulted in losses, but at home, Atletico seems almost unbeatable.
They are tactically stable, able to dictate the pace and punish the opponent’s mistakes. In the last two rounds, they suffered defeats from both Barcelona and Ath Bilbao. On Tuesday, in the group stage of the Champions League, they defeated PSV away with a score of 2:3.
Valencia is struggling again at the bottom of the table and currently has only 15 points, sitting in 16th place. The team is having creativity issues, and their goal difference of 14:23 highlights a weak defense and an attack that isn’t very effective. Duro, Danjuma, and Lopez show individual talent, but the team lacks cohesion. Their away form is particularly poor, with no wins in seven away games, only 4 goals scored and 16 conceded, along with three draws and four losses. The team often falls under high pressure, makes individual mistakes, and rarely manages to keep up the pace against stronger opponents.
The gap in quality, form, and psychological stability is significant. Atletico is dominant at home, plays with confidence, and has a much better balance between attack and defense. Valencia has too many defensive weaknesses, and their away results are disappointing.
1 (Atl. Madrid to Win)
Predicted CS: 2:0
:
:
vs 
Mallorca vs Elche
Mallorca is currently in 17th place with 14 points, and they are struggling with finishing and stability in their games. The team has only scored 7 goals, which shows their offensive weakness, and most of the pressure is on Muriqi, who has scored 8 goals and is their only consistent scorer. Defensively, Mallorca doesn’t look too bad, but they often lose control at crucial moments, allowing opponents to easily get back into the game. After playing 15 matches this season, they have only achieved three wins, drawn 5 times, and lost 7 times.
Their form is inconsistent, with a few draws and narrow losses, but a positive sign is that they have played 6 home games without a loss, showing they are more focused when playing at home.
Elche is in much better shape this season, sitting in 9th place with 19 points and showing a more complete performance in recent matches. The team has scored 18 goals and conceded 17, showing a solid balance between defense and attack. Mir and Silva pose a constant threat, while the midfield provides stability and good transitions. The team has entered a positive phase, and their play is gaining confidence, especially when they control possession and tempo.
The only issue is their away form, where results have been less stable, as they still haven’t won on the road, with three draws and four losses. However, they are playing more organized than Mallorca and creating more clear chances.
Mallorca will try to play tightly and not allow any space, while Elche will look for control through the midfield and quick transitions. The visitors seem to have more quality, consistency, and confidence in their decisions, giving them a slight edge, but a draw is also a very realistic outcome.
0-2 (Under 2.5)
Predicted CS: 1:1
:
:
vs 
Barcelona vs Osasuna
Barcelona continues to dominate La Liga and rightfully holds the top spot with 40 points after 16 matches. They have reclaimed first place and are 4 points ahead of Real Madrid. The team plays powerful attacking football, scoring 47 goals and showing excellent teamwork. At home, Barcelona is incredible, winning all eight matches with a goal difference of 26:5, rarely allowing opponents to cross midfield.
Ferran Torres, Lewandowski, and Lamine Yamal lead the attack with great energy, constantly creating many clear chances. Their form is steady, and they almost always control the matches. Right now, Barcelona seems like the best team in the league, especially because of their depth in rotation and the pace set by the midfield in all phases.
Osasuna is currently in 15th place with 15 points and is facing huge issues in their gameplay, especially when playing away where they have only managed to earn 2 points in eight matches, with two draws and six losses. The team has a negative goal difference of 13:22 and often struggles under pressure, losing their defensive structure. Budimir is the main offensive threat, but without support from the midfield, this is rarely enough to compete against top teams.
Their form is unstable with many losses, and the team is finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with opponents who play fast and direct. Besides occasional good moments, Osasuna usually has trouble with transitions and easily allows deep penetrations behind their last line. The history of their matches does not favor them, with Barcelona dominating almost all encounters in recent years.
We expect the home team to fully control the match with high possession, plenty of chances, and strong pressure right from the start. Osasuna will likely struggle to respond and will probably defend deeply, but with their current form and defensive weaknesses, the chances of an upset are minimal.
1 & 3+ (Barcelona to Win)
Predicted CS: 3:0
:
:
vs 
Getafe vs Espanyol
Getafe is in 8th place with 20 points and plays as a team that builds results through strong organization. After 15 matches, they have achieved 6 wins, 2 draws, and 7 losses. Besides their modest goal-scoring, the team relies on a solid defense and physical duels that slow down the opponent’s rhythm. At home, Getafe is tactically tough, allowing few goals and playing disciplined. However, their offensive side remains the biggest issue, as they create very few chances and depend on individual moments, mostly through Mayoral or Liso. Even though their stability at home is an advantage, their lack of creativity could be crucial against a team in better form.
Espanyol is in 5th place with 27 points and is entering the match with a much more consistent form than their rival. After playing 15 matches, they have achieved 8 wins, and recently, they have had three consecutive victories. The team plays balanced, with a solid defense and quick transitions that create danger even on the road. Their attack works great with Milla and Fernandez, who bring aggression, smart movement, and finishing skills. When Espanyol controls the pace, they become a tough opponent due to their collective intensity and discipline. Although Getafe has been a tougher opponent in the past, Espanyol currently looks more organized, with better balance and higher confidence, which could be crucial in a close match.
We expect a tight game with few chances, but Espanyol has better dynamics, a clearer offensive structure, and greater stability. Getafe will try to slow down the pace, but the visitors seem more concrete and of higher quality. We expect Espanyol to remain unbeaten.
X2 (Draw or Espanyol to Win)
Predicted CS: 0:1
:
:
vs 
Sevilla vs Oviedo
Sevilla is in 13th place with 17 points and continues to struggle with consistency in their results. They haven’t won in the last three matches, suffering two losses. Even though the team has some solid individual players, they often falter at crucial moments and allow easy goals. Their home form is unstable, with only two wins in seven matches and a goal difference of 10:12, which shows their defensive weaknesses. However, they can be dangerous when they speed up the game through the wings, where players like Vargas and Romero create the most chances. The team often controls parts of the match, but their unpredictable drops in performance and lack of efficiency cost them lost points.
Oviedo is currently in 19th place with 10 points and is one of the weakest teams in the league, mainly due to their limited attacking potential. The team has only scored 9 goals so far, and when playing away, they have one win and five losses with a goal difference of 5:12, which clearly shows issues in finishing and a lack of creativity. Players like Rondon and Carmo bring physical strength, but the team rarely creates clear chances and generally plays defensively, trying to stay in the game for as long as possible. There is a lack of a clear idea in transition, making them too predictable against organized opponents.
Expectations are that Sevilla will take the initiative and dominate possession, while Oviedo will focus on a compact defense and rare counterattacks. The quality and individual difference are clearly in favor of the home team.
1 (Sevilla to Win)
Predicted CS: 2:0
:
:
vs 
Celta Vigo vs Ath Bilbao
Celta Vigo is currently in 10th place with 19 points and is entering the match with inconsistent form. The team plays an attacking style, but their defense is their biggest weakness, having conceded 19 goals and making frequent individual mistakes that cost them points. At home, they have only earned five points and have yet to secure a win, which adds more pressure. Iglesias leads the attack with 5 goals, while Aspas and Jutgla are key in creating chances, but their finishing remains unreliable.
Their transition play often falls apart, making them vulnerable against physically stronger and faster teams. If Celta Vigo doesn’t stabilize their midfield play, it will be hard for them to control the pace of the match, especially against a well-organized opponent.
Ath Bilbao is currently in 7th place with 23 points and enters the match with a much more consistent form and a balanced approach in all areas. Even though their away results aren’t perfect, the team has the quality to be a threat to any opponent, led by Williams and Navarro, who together have a significant offensive impact. The defense is solid, but the real strength lies in the midfield, which controls the game with intensity and aggression.
The team takes advantage of the opponent’s mistakes and knows how to punish quickly, and the weak defensive structure of Celta Vigo is a place where they could have a serious advantage. Motivation is high because a new win would solidify their position in the upper part of the table. In the last round, they secured important three points by defeating Atl. Madrid.
Celta Vigo will try to use the advantage of playing at home, but Bilbao has greater discipline and a more quality finishing touch. We expect a dynamic match with at least three goals during the game.
3+ (Over 2.5)
Predicted CS: 1:2
:
:
vs 
Levante vs Villarreal
Levante is in last place with 9 points and is in terrible shape, especially in La Liga where their streak of 5 consecutive losses clearly shows the team’s decline. With only 10 goals scored and a whopping 28 goals conceded, their gameplay is disorganized, their defense is weak, and they lack creativity in attack. Eyong and Romero are trying to bring some energy, but the absence of consistency and support from the midfield leaves significant gaps. Even at home, Levante is struggling, with a series of losses where they find it hard to create clear chances. Every match is a fight to stay competitive, but their poor form pulls them down and makes the team vulnerable right from the start.
Villarreal is in 3rd place with 35 points and is entering the match in a much better condition and with strong gameplay. The team has scored 31 goals, led by Molero, Buchanan, and Moreno, who constantly create danger and utilize the team’s technical advantage. After playing 15 matches this season, they have achieved 11 victories and have only lost twice. When playing away, they have stable results and show great consistency in transition, while the defense is performing much better than in previous seasons.
The dynamics over the last rounds, including 6 consecutive wins and solid performances, indicate a team on the rise. Their control through the midfield and established routines allow them to dictate the pace and rarely let the opponent threaten.
Expectations are that Villarreal will dominate in all phases of the game and easily secure a victory against a team that is below every level.
2 (Villarreal to Win)
Predicted CS: 0:2
:
:
vs 
Alaves vs Real Madrid
Alaves, sitting in 11th place with 18 points, enters this match with a somewhat stable but inconsistent form. The team has a solid defensive setup, having conceded 15 goals, while their offense is limited with only 13 goals scored. At home, Alaves is much stronger, achieving 4 wins out of 8 matches played, which shows their discipline, compactness, and ability to play patiently against stronger teams. Boye, Vicente, and Martinez are key players in the attack, but the lack of consistent support from the midfield sometimes limits their offensive pressure. Despite this, the team plays in an organized manner, defends well in low blocks, and rarely allows big gaps, especially at home where they often control the pace of the game.
Real Madrid is in 2nd place with 36 points and is seen as a huge favorite because they have the strongest offense in the league. They have scored 32 goals, with Mbappe in amazing form, netting 16 goals, while Vinicius, Guler, and Bellingham add extra creativity and speed to the attack. The team dominates possession, is aggressive in pressing, and consistently creates chances, although they have seen a slight dip in form recently with a few draws that have slowed their scoring stability. Away from home, Real Madrid plays excellently, earning 18 points and scoring 18 goals. They sometimes face issues during transitions, but their individual talent often covers those moments.
Expectations are for a controlled game from the visitors and a win due to their offensive quality. However, considering the weaknesses that have emerged in the last few rounds, we can expect at least one goal from both sides.
GG (BTTS-Yes)
Predicted CS: 1:2
:
:
vs 
Rayo Vallecano vs Betis
Rayo Vallecano is currently in 12th place with 17 points and is entering this match with inconsistent form and results that lack stability. They haven’t won in their last 5 league matches, although they have played decently at home, with draws and a few narrow victories. The team struggles too much in finishing their attacks and scores very few goals. De Frutos, Garcia, and Chavarria create most of the threats, but Vallecano generally has trouble maintaining a high level of pressure and controlling the games. ecent performances show that the team easily collapses under the pressure from strong opponents, and the defense often allows easy goals. The loss to Espanyol and the unstable results add extra uncertainty before the match against Betis.
Betis is in 6th place with 24 points and seems to be much more consistent, especially in attack where Cucho Hernandez, Antony, and Fornals are in great form and create threats in every match. The team has a much better quality of play in transition and greater efficiency compared to their opponent today. They play calmly in crucial moments and know how to control the game, which brings them stability even in away games where they have already achieved several positive results.
Sometimes the defense can falter, but in recent rounds, Betis has shown maturity, discipline, and better physical rhythm. Their form and quality are on their side, and the team comes motivated to stay among the top 6 in the league.
Expectations are that Betis will dominate with more possession and clearer chances, while Vallecano will try to play defensively and wait for counter-attack opportunities. The quality difference favors Betis.
X2 (Draw or Betis to Win)
Predicted CS: 1:1
Published:
:
:
Context from La Liga Matchweek 15 predictions and upcoming coverage in La Liga Matchweek 17 predictions provides a clear timeline across matchweeks.