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Thursday's La Liga predictions including Real Madrid vs. Villarreal

Sports Mole provides score predictions for all of Thursday's La Liga action, including title-chasing Real Madrid vs. Villarreal.


Eibar vs. Real Valladolid (Thursday, 5.30pm)

Atletico Madrid's Hector Herrera in action with Real Valladolid's Mohammed Salisu in La Liga on October 6, 2019© Reuters

Two sides with nothing but pride to play for in the Spanish top flight will lock horns on Thursday evening as Eibar play host to Real Valladolid in the penultimate gameweek of the season.

Both clubs have amassed 39 points from 36 games this term, with Valladolid currently one spot higher in the table owing to a slightly better goal difference.

We say: Eibar 1-1 Real Valladolid


With both clubs having already guaranteed their safety in La Liga, there is little to nothing riding on this fixture for the two managers. As a result, we are expecting the two sides to play out a draw and remain neck-and-neck in the table heading into the final weekend of the season.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match


Athletic Bilbao vs. Leganes (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Athletic Bilbao's Inaki Williams celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on February 6, 2020© Reuters

Athletic Bilbao and Leganes are in desperate need of victory for different reasons as they face off at San Mames on Thursday in the penultimate round of La Liga fixtures.

Both teams picked up wins at the weekend to keep their league season alive, with Athletic aiming to qualify for Europe and Leganes looking to avoid relegation.

We say: Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Leganes


Leganes have surely left it too late to pull off the great escape. At the very least they require a victory at San Mames on Thursday, but they have lost three of their last four meetings with Athletic and we expect that run to continue here, bringing an end to their spell in the top flight.


> Click here to read our full preview for this match


Barcelona vs. Osasuna (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his 700th goal in their match against Atletico Madrid on June 30, 2020© Reuters

Barcelona will welcome Osasuna to Camp Nou on Thursday hoping that a victory will be enough to keep their hopes of retaining the La Liga title alive.

The Spanish champions are currently second in the table, four points behind leaders Real Madrid, who will win the title if they manage to beat Villarreal on the same night.

We say: Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna


Osasuna are certainly capable of making it a very uncomfortable evening for Barca, but we are finding it difficult to look past the champions, who have to win and hope that Real Madrid slip up. We cannot see anything other than a routine home victory for Setien's side.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

> How Barcelona could line up against Osasuna

> Barcelona injury, suspension list vs. Osasuna


Real Betis vs. Alaves (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Real Betis players complain to the referee during their match against Sevilla on June 11, 2020© Reuters

Alaves head to Real Betis on Thursday evening seeking the victory that they need to guarantee La Liga survival.

The visitors have picked up one point from the last 21 and are four points above the dropzone with two games to go, while Betis are merely jostling for position in mid-table.

We say: Real Betis 1-0 Alaves


Alaves will be looking to put at least another point on the board here, but they have lost their last five away matches without scoring and it is difficult to see that run ending at the Estadio Benito Villamarin, where Betis are unbeaten in nine against Basque opposition.


> Click here to read our full preview for this match


Celta Vigo vs. Levante (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Levante head coach Paco Lopez pictured in April 2019© Reuters

Celta Vigo are still not assured of La Liga safety as they prepare for the visit of mid-table Levante on Thursday evening.

The Celts are winless in five matches and have a four-point buffer on the dropzone with two games to go, while Levante are without a win in four and have slipped to 12th.

We say: Celta Vigo 3-2 Levante


The last three La Liga meetings between Celta and Levante have seen a total of 18 goals - six per game - so this could be an entertaining contest. Celta have far more riding on this game than Levante and we can see them picking up the win needed to make certain of survival.


> Click here to read our full preview for this match


Getafe vs. Atletico (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone pictured in March 2020© Reuters

Getafe welcome local rivals Atletico Madrid to the Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Thursday evening for the penultimate match of their respective La Liga campaigns.

Both capital outfits have been pushing for European qualification throughout the season, but vastly contrasting form since the restart has seen Getafe fall away and Atletico secure their top-four spot already.

We say: Getafe 1-1 Atletico Madrid


These two teams have drawn 17 matches between them this season, and we can see them adding to that tally here. Atletico are in much better form heading into the contest, but Getafe are at home and need the points more than their visitors so we are expecting the two teams to cancel each other out.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match


Mallorca vs. Granada (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Lago Junior is mobbed by Mallorca teammates after scoring against Real Madrid on October 19, 2019© Reuters

Mallorca welcome Granada to the Visit Mallorca Stadium on Thursday evening knowing that only a win will do if they are to keep any hope of La Liga survival alive.

Meanwhile, Granada lie smack bang in the middle of the table and realistically have little to play for as they head into their penultimate game of the season.

We say: Mallorca 1-1 Granada


Even if Mallorca do manage to record their 10th triumph of the season in this game, the result may pale into insignificance depending on the outcome of Alaves' game. Granada have also enjoyed an impressive recent set of results on the road to complement Mallorca's respectable home form, but we cannot separate the two sides for this one.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match


Real Madrid vs. Villarreal (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema celebrates with teammates after scoring against Alaves on July 10, 2020© Reuters

Real Madrid will welcome Villarreal to the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium on Thursday night knowing that a win would see them win the 2019-20 La Liga title.

Los Blancos are currently four points clear of second-placed Barcelona in the table with two games left, but it will not be an easy task against a Villarreal side that have been in impressive form since returning to action.

We say: Real Madrid 2-1 Villarreal


Villarreal will be boosted by the return of some key players for this match, and the visitors are certainly capable of securing a positive result. Madrid's form is stunning, though, and we expect Zidane's side to pick up the victory that they need to secure the title with one game to spare.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

> How Real Madrid could line up against Villarreal

> Real Madrid injury, suspension list vs. Villarreal


Real Sociedad vs. Sevilla (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Sevilla's Fernando celebrates scoring their second goal against Real Betis on June 11, 2020© Reuters

Real Sociedad take on Sevilla at Anoeta Stadium on Thursday evening in their penultimate La Liga fixture of the season, aiming to join their opponents in securing European football.

The White and Blues have struggled for form since returning to action last month and are holding onto seventh place, while Sevilla are already assured of a top-four finish.

We say: Real Sociedad 1-1 Sevilla


There is no doubt that Sociedad have dropped off the pace since last month's restart, losing five and drawing two of their last nine matches. Sevilla have won just one of their last eight La Liga games in San Sebastian, however, so we can see this one ending all square.


> Click here to read our full preview for this match


Valencia vs. Espanyol (Thursday, 8.00pm)

Espanyol midfielder Marc Roca pictured in January 2020© Reuters

Valencia will be aiming to keep their slim hopes of a top-seven finish alive when they welcome already-relegated Espanyol to the Mestalla Stadium in their penultimate game of the season.

Both teams suffered defeats in their most recent outings, with Valencia beaten by a struggling Leganes outfit while Espanyol's losing streak continued against Eibar.

We say: Valencia 2-0 Espanyol


Valencia will be aware that this is a must-win game if they are to stand any chance of qualifying for next season's Europa League. The result may not matter if Sociedad also triumph in midweek, but given Espanyol's abysmal recent record, we are going for a comfortable home victory.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

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Sevilla's Fernando celebrates scoring their second goal against Real Betis on June 11, 2020
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Sunday's La Liga predictions including Sevilla vs. Mallorca
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Olympic medal table header
CountryGold medalSilver MedalBronze MedalT
ChinaChina32221670
United StatesUnited States25312379
JapanJapan2171240
Great BritainGreat Britain15181548
AustraliaAustralia1541736
Today's Olympic highlights header

Thursday's key events


ATHLETICS
· The women's heptathlon continues with the long jump, javelin and 800m, with Katarina Johnson-Thompson now out of contention following an injury (1.10am-1.40pm)
· Andrew Pozzi pursues his dream of an Olympic medal in the men's 110m hurdles final (3.55am)
· Tom Bosworth and Callum Wilkinson are among the British hopes in the men's 20km race walk (8.30am)
· Holly Bradshaw aims to improve on fifth in Rio to challenge Greece's Katerina Stefanidi and Anzhelika Sidorova of Russia for an unlikely medal in the women's pole vault (11am)
· London 2012 champion Kirani James goes up against current world champion Steven Gardiner in the men's 400m final (1pm)

MARATHON SWIMMING
· One of the toughest Olympic events takes place in Tokyo Bay as GB's Hector Pardoe takes on the men's 20km marathon swim (10.30pm Wed)

BOXING
· Galal Yafai takes on takes on Kazakhstan's Saken Bibossinov for a spot in the gold medal bout of the fly (48kg-52kg) class (6.48am)

DIVING
· Lois Toulson and Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix (daughter of First Dates' Fred Sirieix) line up for the women's 10m platform (semi-final 2am; final 7am)

HOCKEY
· Australia face Belgium in the men's final (11am)

> Today's schedule in full
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Athletic Bilbao00000000
2Atletico MadridAtletico00000000
3Barcelona00000000
4CadizCadiz00000000
5Celta Vigo00000000
6AlavesAlaves00000000
7ElcheElche00000000
8Espanyol00000000
9Getafe00000000
10Granada00000000
11Levante00000000
12Mallorca00000000
13Osasuna00000000
14Rayo Vallecano00000000
15Real Betis00000000
16Real Madrid00000000
17Real Sociedad00000000
18Sevilla00000000
19Valencia00000000
20Villarreal00000000

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