It’s been 49 days since LaLiga made way for the World Cup break, over 1000 hours since we saw Lucas Pérez score its last goal.
But finally, after a chaotic Copa Mundial, domestic football returns to Spanish shores. And we’re here, for anyone looking to tune in, to keep you right across the action.
If you prefer to listen to a whole-jornada analysis, make sure to check out our fresh preview podcast right here, courtesy of the brilliant Matt Clark and Ruairidh Barlow. Here, though, we’re going to take an in-depth look at today’s three fixtures.
16:00 GMT - Girona vs Rayo Vallecano
We begin in North East Catalonia, as newly-promoted Girona take on plucky Rayo, in what looks to be an exciting encounter between two expansive sides.
The hosts have impressed upon their return to the top flight, and can perhaps count themselves unfortunate not to find themselves in the top half, following a baffling run of seven games without a win in October, despite some thrilling attacking performances.
Míchel’s men fell 5-3 to Real Sociedad, lost narrowly to Real Betis and Atlético Madrid, missed a penalty and had a late equaliser chalked off at Almería, and took a point at the Santiago Bernabeu in that time, before finally getting overdue wins against Athletic Club and Elche before the break.
They did lose to fourth-tier Cacereño in the Copa del Rey last weekend, but expect to see a fired up Girona here, with that midfield trio of Aleix García, Yangel Herrera and Oriol Romeu pulling the strings, while marauding full-backs Miguel Gutiérrez and Arnau Martínez look to cause problems out wide.
Rayo, on the other hand, are overachieving yet again at the top table of Spanish football, sitting just two points off the top four, and on a run of six games without a defeat in LaLiga.
The side from Madrid held Atlético and beat Real before the World Cup, becoming the first side to defeat the defending champions this season, with an electric 3-2 win over Carlo Ancelotti’s men just before the break.
With the wonderful Isi Palazón, the lightning Álvaro García and the majestic Óscar Trejo, weaving their creative patterns in front of a tenacious double-pivot, Rayo’s off-the-ball intensity and on-the-ball inspiration makes for terrific viewing, with the imminent arrival of 17-goal striker Raúl de Tomás promising to add even more goals to an exciting mix.
An entertaining game in prospect to get us underway!
18:15 GMT - Real Betis vs Athletic Club
Fourth takes on sixth in an intriguing clash later this afternoon, as two sides locked on 24 points go head-to-head in a battle for Champions League qualification.
Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis have been imperious at home this campaign, winning their first five in front of their vociferous home support, although a disappointing defeat to Atlético Madrid and a dramatic draw to neighbours Sevilla, in a game marred by red cards, halted their progress at the Benito Villamarín.
A slightly concerning 3-0 defeat to Valencia before the break, along with 4-0 and 5-0 losses to South American opposition in winter friendly games, leaves Los Verdiblancos with some work to do in rediscovering their rhythm, although a fully-recovered Nabil Fekir could go a long way to reigniting the fiery spine of one of the most full-blooded teams that LaLiga has to offer.
Athletic Club, on the other hand, have won their last seven games in a row, including friendlies, with only three players heading to Qatar for the World Cup.
New coach Ernesto Valverde has injected goals into a talented side, with their tally of 24 only bettered by the runaway top two so far this campaign. Four-goal wins over Almería, Cádiz and Elche, as well as a 3-0 win over Real Valladolid in their latest LaLiga outing, have demonstrated a new ruthless streak in the way Los Leones attack.
Brothers Iñaki and Nico Williams have been electric, while everything Gorka Guruzeta touches turns continue to turn to gold, with five goals from just nine shots on target this season.
Nonetheless, tougher tests are to come for the Basque side, as they prepare to face four of the top seven in the first weeks of January. It feels as if, starting with a trip to Betis, that the real test of their top-four credentials is just getting started.
20:30 GMT - Atlético Madrid vs Elche
The third LaLiga side on 24 points, Atlético Madrid, will be hoping that inspiring World Cup performances from Antoine Griezmann and Rodrigo De Paul can help them kick on in 2023.
Both players were instrumental to their respective runs to the final, as the latter, along with Nahuel Molina and Ángel Correa, got their hands on the trophy after that famous final victory over the former’s France.
With those three given extra time off to celebrate, there may be an opportunity for 19-year-old Pablo Barrios in midfield, who impressed in a 3-1 Copa del Rey victory over CD Arenteiro, grabbing his first senior goal along the way.
Elsewhere, João Félix, Álvaro Morata and Marcos Llorente should all start, as Diego Simeone’s men look to get off to a flying start against struggling opposition, particularly after defeats to Cádiz and Mallorca, as well as a 1-1 draw to 10-man Espanyol, before the break.
Still without a win after 14 games of the LaLiga season, things are looking bleak for Elche, sitting on just four points after a dismal start to the campaign.
Los Ilicitanos have conceded a league-high 31 goals, five more than any other side, and were unable to pick up any points from their final three games before Qatar, winnable ties against Getafe, Girona and Espanyol.
However, since Machín’s arrival, Elche have had a solid winter break, beating West Bromwich Albion, before narrowly losing out to Leeds United and runaway Belgian league-leaders Genk in competitive friendlies. They also progressed convincingly in the Copa Del Rey, beating fourth-tier side Guadalajara by three goals to nil.
Up front, Pere Milla has scored three and assisted once, while Lucas Boyé continues to look dangerous alongside the talented Álex Collado, on loan from Barcelona. All that remains, is to sort out a leaky back-line.
It would be a big ask, but bottom-side Levante won at the Metropolitano last season, to record just their second victory in 32 LaLiga games. Elche’s dire winless streak isn’t quite as long, but their need for a victory is arguably even greater, as even tripling their current points total would only see them just about poke their heads out of the bottom three.
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We hope you enjoy the games today!