Getafe vs. Real Madrid (Sunday, 1.00pm)
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Real Madrid will be looking to strengthen their grip on first position in the La Liga table when they head to Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Sunday afternoon to take on Getafe.
Los Blancos are currently eight points clear of second-placed Sevilla at the top of the division, while Getafe occupy 16th spot, level on points with 18th-placed Alaves on the same number of games (18).
We say: Getafe 1-2 Real Madrid
Real Madrid will be looking to record their 15th La Liga victory of the season this weekend, and we are finding it difficult to back against the league leaders. Getafe have shown improvement in recent weeks, but the home side could come up just short against Ancelotti's side here.
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> How Real Madrid could line up against Getafe
> Real Madrid injury, suspension list vs. Getafe
Atletico vs. Rayo Vallecano (Sunday, 3.15pm)
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Atletico Madrid will be looking to avoid a fifth straight La Liga defeat when they take on high-flying Rayo Vallecano at Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday afternoon.
The reigning Spanish champions are currently fifth in the table, 17 points behind leaders Real Madrid, while Rayo have collected 30 points from their 18 matches this season to sit fourth.
We say: Atletico Madrid 2-0 Rayo Vallecano
Under normal circumstances, we would be backing Rayo to give Atletico an incredibly difficult match and might have tipped a score draw in this contest; the visitors will be missing a number of important players, though, so we are backing Atletico to pick up a much-needed three points.
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Elche vs. Granada (Sunday, 3.15pm)
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As La Liga emerges from its winter break, Elche start 2022 by welcoming Granada to Estadio Martinez Valero on Sunday.
While the home side were beaten by a late Barcelona strike last time out, their visitors paused for the festive season having posted back-to-back wins - the second coming against reigning champions Atletico Madrid.
We say: Elche 1-3 Granada
Another fixture impacted by illness in both squads will most likely go the way of the visiting side, who were picking up pace just before the break and apparently have fewer men missing from their first-choice lineup.
Granada can therefore secure a third win on the bounce, and distance themselves still further from an Elche outfit which is destined to continue its flirt with the drop.
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Alaves vs. Real Sociedad (Sunday, 5.30pm)
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Two Basque clubs at different ends of the Primera Division table get the second half of their La Liga campaign under way on Sunday, as Alaves host Real Sociedad at Mendizorroza.
While the hosts are set to continue their battle against the drop under new management, despite a pre-Christmas downturn La Real enter 2022 with ambitions of a return to the Champions League.
We say: Alaves 1-1 Real Sociedad
Events will be dictated by the visitors' ability to patch together a functioning team from their few available players, and Alaves will sense an opportunity to pick up three valuable points on Sunday.
However, the home side's shortcomings in front of goal could cost them a rare win in this Basque derby, and La Real might well hold on for a draw.
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Real Betis vs. Celta Vigo (Sunday, 5.30pm)
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Resuming their pursuit of a top-four place in La Liga after a fine first half of the season, Real Betis welcome Celta Vigo to the Benito Villamarin on Sunday.
Los Verdiblancos may have lost just before the winter break but harbour realistic Champions League ambitions, while their visitors hope to continue their recent improvement, as they linger a little too close to the drop zone.
We say: Real Betis 2-1 Celta Vigo
Though they have generally fared well away from home this term, Celta seem to have been more afflicted by their virus outbreak and already have a particularly thin squad.
Therefore, if they can get enough of their main men on the pitch on Sunday, then Betis can kick off the new year with another three-point haul at home - where they score at a rate of over two goals per game.
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Mallorca vs. Barcelona (Sunday, 8.00pm)
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Coronavirus-hit Barcelona will be looking to return to winning ways in La Liga when they head to Palma on Sunday night to take on Mallorca.
The visitors are currently seventh in the table, two points behind fourth-placed Rayo Vallecano, while Mallorca occupy 15th, five points clear of the relegation zone heading into the next set of fixtures.
We say: Mallorca 0-1 Barcelona
Barcelona will be missing a number of important players this weekend, but Mallorca will also be far from full strength, which makes it a fascinating contest; we are expecting it to be an incredibly close match but are backing the visitors to put an important three points on the board.
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> How Barcelona could line up against Mallorca
> Barcelona injury, suspension list vs. Mallorca
Barney Corkhill
