September 19, 2024
La Liga matchday 2 had begun as Celta Vigo edged Valencia 3-1, courtesy of Oscar Mingueza, Iago Aspas, and Fran Betran’s goals to cancel Diego Lopez’s opener.
So far in La Liga, there have been three home wins, three away wins and six draws, with a total of 33 goals recorded in 12 games.
Sevilla also played on Friday night, losing at home to Villareal 1-2, to make it one point from two games after playing a draw against Las Palmas on matchday one. Sevilla will hope to bounce back to finish better than the 14th place they ended last season.
The two Friday winners will face off on matchday three as Celta Vigo travels to Castelon on August 26.
Barcelona will be hosting Athletic Bilbao, the top fixture for Matchday 2 of the 2024–25 La Liga, as the Catalan hosts look to implement and perfect the high-pressing strategy favoured by coach Hansi Flick.
Nico Williams will be traveling with Bilbao to face Barcelona, which spent all summer trying to sign him. He is, however, expected to face jeering Barcelona fans and perhaps loud cheers from the Athletic fans should he get on the scoring sheet.
Barcelona will also be hoping to give their new signing, Dani Olmo, his debut after the Euro winner missed the first game as the Catalans were unable to register him.
Athletic Bilbao, however, will be facing a tough test away at Barcelona but will be hoping to get a good result as Ernesto Valverde returns to face his former team.
The departure of Mikel Merino to Arsenal means Real Sociedad has lost two Spain internationals over the summer, with Le Normand joining Atletico, causing the team’s lack of experience in midfield and defense.
They will be facing a newly promoted side, Espanyol, and will be looking to get their first point, after surprisingly losing at home to Rayo Vallecano last weekend.
The Madrid derby between Getafe CF and Rayo Vallecano will be a tough battle for both teams, who fought hard in the league opener to gain a point and three points, respectively.
Nigerian Chrisantus Uche had a great debut for Getafe as he got his side’s only goal to secure a point against Athletic Bilbao and would be hoping to get an impressive run, following an appraisal from the head coach.
Rayo Vallecano would also be expected to gather momentum from their win against Real Sociedad to make it two wins in two games.
La Liga champions Real Madrid will be in action late on Sunday afternoon, as they welcome Real Valladolid to the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid will be without Jude Bellingham, who is out for a month due to a Plantaris muscle injury.
However, Carlo Ancelotti’s boys will be hoping to find their balance after slipping to a 1-1 draw to Mallorca in the La Liga opener. The combination of Vinicius, Mbappe, and Rodrygo is expected to bolster a massive attack for the Los Blancos.
Kylian Mbappe will also be pushing hard to open his league goal account for Real Madrid after failing to find the back of the net against Mallorca.
Real Valladolid coach, Paulo Pezzolano, has spoken of his team’s need to improve their concentration as they are facing a team with the class and potency, pointing out that a minute of lack of concentration could cost his team a hard way.
Matchday two will kick off on Sunday night with Atletico Madrid hosting Girona at the Metropolitano Stadium. Diego Simone’s Madrid played well in the start of their 2-2 draw away to Villarreal, before conceding two goals and losing two points due to defensive errors.
Simone has added Conor Gallagher, Julian Alvarez, Alexander Sorloth, and Robin le Normand to the squad, and all four could play as Atletico takes on Girona.
Girona, however, has lost several key players from their impressive last season squad but showed a glimpse of not cooling off as they battled Real Betis last weekend. Now they are facing another tough test as they hope to avoid an away loss to Diego Simone’s side, just like last season.
Friday, August 23
Celta Vigo 3 vs 1 Valencia
Sevilla 1 vs 2 Villarreal
Saturday, August 24
– 17:00: Osasuna v Mallorca
– 19:00: Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao
– 21:30: Getafe v Rayo Vallecano
– 21:30: Espanyol v Real Sociedad
– 17:00: Real Madrid v Real Valladolid
– 19:00: Deportivo Alaves v Real Betis
– 19:00: Leganes v Las Palmas
– 21:30: Atletico Madrid v Girona
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