I’ve treated Matchday 7 as the games beginning Saturday, September 19, 2026 CEST, so I’m excluding Espanyol 1–3 Elche, which was already played on Friday, September 18. The official LaLiga schedule confirms the remaining nine fixtures.
I’m weighting current 2026/27 results, goals for/against, home/away situation, recent form, injuries/suspensions, and available model projections. The latest table has Barcelona perfect at 18 points, Real Madrid and Betis on 15, Atlético and Sevilla on 13, and Alavés on 10.
La Liga Matchday 7 — My Predictions
# Date / CEST Match Predicted Score
1 Sep 19, 14:00 Osasuna vs Rayo Vallecano 1–1
2 Sep 19, 16:15 Athletic Club vs Alavés 2–1
3 Sep 19, 18:30 Celta Vigo vs Racing Santander 2–1
4 Sep 19, 21:00 Sevilla vs Barcelona 1–3
5 Sep 20, 14:00 Getafe vs Málaga 1–0
6 Sep 20, 16:15 Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid 1–2
7 Sep 20, 18:30 Deportivo La Coruña vs Real Betis 1–2
8 Sep 20, 18:30 Villarreal vs Levante 2–1
9 Sep 20, 21:00 Valencia vs Real Sociedad 1–1
1. Osasuna vs Rayo Vallecano
Prediction: Osasuna 1–1 Rayo Vallecano
This is one of the hardest games of the round.
Osasuna enter with 7 points from six matches, but their attack has produced only 5 goals, while they have conceded 12. Rayo also have 7 points and have scored 10 but conceded 15.
The contrast is interesting: Osasuna are the lower-volume attacking team, while Rayo are more willing to open games up. Rayo's latest league victory was a 2–1 win over Espanyol, while Osasuna were demolished 4–0 by Atlético in Matchday 6.
The latest injury information has Osasuna without Jorge Herrando, Moi Gómez and Aimar Oroz, with Valentín Rosier a doubt. Rayo have several questions around Luiz Felipe, Randy Nteka and Jozhua Vertrouwd, while Isi Palazón and Augusto Batalla are unavailable.
Why 1–1:
Rayo have enough attacking ability to score, but Osasuna's home advantage and the likelihood of a more conservative approach make a wide-open Rayo victory less attractive. LaLiga Expert also projects 1–1, with Osasuna at 1.2 projected goals and Rayo at 1.0.
Key prediction: 1–1
2. Athletic Club vs Alavés
Prediction: Athletic Club 2–1 Alavés
This is a very interesting Basque matchup.
Alavés have started strongly: 10 points from six matches, 11 goals scored and only six conceded. Athletic have seven points, but they have played only five league matches because their Levante fixture was postponed. Athletic's record is 7–6 in goals.
That makes Alavés' position particularly impressive, but San Mamés changes the calculation.
Athletic's home environment, stronger defensive structure and attacking options through Nico Williams and Iñaki Williams give them a significant route to victory. The projected Athletic lineup includes both Williams brothers, Sancet and Laporte. Alavés are expected to rely heavily on Lucas Boyé and Mariano Díaz.
Alavés also have defensive concerns, with Facundo Garcés and Mikel Rodríguez unavailable and Aitor Mañas listed as a doubt.
Why 2–1:
Alavés are good enough to score, but Athletic should generate more pressure at San Mamés. LaLiga Expert's projection is also 2–1, with Athletic carrying a 58% win probability and 1.7 projected goals.
Key prediction: 2–1
3. Celta Vigo vs Racing Santander
Prediction: Celta Vigo 2–1 Racing Santander
Celta have had an unusual beginning to the season: 0 wins, four draws and two losses, with only three goals scored and six conceded.
Their most recent league matches include draws against Real Sociedad, Getafe and Málaga. They are struggling to convert possession and chances into wins.
Racing have been much more dangerous going forward — 11 goals in six games — but their defensive record is problematic: 16 conceded, including the extraordinary 7–2 defeat at Barcelona in Matchday 6.
That 7–2 score shouldn't be interpreted as Racing suddenly becoming a terrible side; Barcelona simply overwhelmed them. But conceding 16 in six matches remains a major warning sign.
The available model data gives Celta a substantial home edge, with approximately 1.7 projected goals versus 1.0 for Racing. LaLiga Expert predicts 1–1, while another current model gives Celta a 54.4% win probability.
Why 2–1:
Celta's biggest problem is scoring, but Racing's defensive weakness gives them a better opportunity than their season numbers normally suggest.
Key prediction: 2–1
4. Sevilla vs Barcelona
Prediction: Sevilla 1–3 Barcelona
This is the biggest statistical mismatch of the Saturday schedule.
Barcelona are 6–0–0 with 28 goals scored and only six conceded. They have scored at least four goals in several matches and just destroyed Racing 7–2, with Raphinha scoring a hat-trick.
Sevilla are also having a strong campaign: 13 points from six matches, 9 goals scored and only six conceded. They are currently fifth.
So Sevilla aren't simply a weak opponent. Their defensive record is actually excellent relative to most of the league.
But Barcelona's attacking numbers are extraordinary. They are averaging 4.67 goals per league match, and the 7–2 Racing result pushed their goal difference to +22 after six games.
Barcelona also have some injury considerations, notably Frenkie de Jong, while Sevilla are missing Rubén Vargas and Lucas Stassin according to the latest squad report.
The current statistical models are heavily Barcelona-oriented: LaLiga Expert projects 2.8 Barcelona goals, an 80% Barcelona win probability and a 1–3 scoreline. Another model has Barcelona around 76% to win.
Why 1–3:
Sevilla's home advantage should help them create enough to score, but Barcelona's attacking ceiling is currently much higher.
Key prediction: 1–3
5. Getafe vs Málaga
Prediction: Getafe 1–0 Málaga
This is likely to be one of the lowest-scoring games of the round.
Getafe have scored only three goals in six matches, while Málaga have scored only three as well. Getafe have conceded seven; Málaga's defensive record is considerably worse at this stage.
Málaga's opening six matches include:
0–2 Atlético
1–1 Deportivo
0–4 Real Madrid
0–0 Levante
1–1 Celta
1–3 Villarreal
That tells the story quite well: they have had difficulty scoring consistently, and their best results have generally come from keeping games tight. Their latest defeat to Villarreal was 3–1.
The latest model projection has Getafe at 1.1 goals and Málaga at 0.7, with a 44% home-win probability and 47% Getafe clean-sheet probability. LaLiga Expert consequently predicts 1–0.
Why 1–0:
This feels like a game where one goal could decide everything.
Key prediction: 1–0
6. Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid
Prediction: Atlético Madrid 1–2 Real Madrid
This is the most difficult prediction of the entire round.
Atlético are fourth with 13 points, 14 goals scored and only six conceded. Real Madrid are second with 15 points, 17 goals scored and six conceded.
Both have excellent defensive numbers, so I don't expect this to resemble Barcelona's 7–2 demolition of Racing.
Atlético have just produced an impressive 4–0 victory over Osasuna, with Jonathan David, Lee Kang-In, Le Normand and Álex Baena scoring.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, survived a difficult away match at Elche, winning 3–2. That result showed their attacking strength but also some defensive vulnerability.
The latest projected lineups have Atlético using Jonathan David, Álex Baena and Kang-In Lee in advanced roles, while Real Madrid are expected to feature their main attacking group.
LaLiga Expert gives Real Madrid the higher projected scoring output — 1.7 vs 1.2 — but predicts 2–2.
I'm slightly more aggressive toward Real Madrid because of their superior six-game goal difference (+11 versus Atlético's +8) and the fact that Madrid have scored 17 while conceding only six.
Why 1–2:
Atlético should make this uncomfortable, but Real Madrid have enough attacking quality to produce the decisive goal.
Key prediction: 1–2
7. Deportivo La Coruña vs Real Betis
Prediction: Deportivo 1–2 Betis
Betis are quietly having an excellent start: 15 points from six matches, with five wins and only one defeat. They have scored eight and conceded six.
Their most recent result was a 1–0 victory over Getafe. It wasn't spectacular offensively, but it reinforced their ability to win close matches.
Deportivo have been competitive, sitting on nine points from six, with nine goals scored and seven conceded. Their only defeat before Matchday 6 was the 1–0 loss to Sevilla.
That makes Riazor a difficult place to visit.
Still, Betis have won five of six, and the available projection has Betis at 1.4 expected goals against Deportivo's 1.1, with a 43% away-win probability.
Why 1–2:
Deportivo should create enough to score, but Betis' consistency gives them the edge.
Key prediction: 1–2
8. Villarreal vs Levante
Prediction: Villarreal 2–1 Levante
Villarreal finally got a much-needed victory in Matchday 6, beating Málaga 3–1 away. That moved them to five points from six matches.
Their overall numbers are mixed: 10 goals scored and 11 conceded. They clearly have attacking ability but haven't been sufficiently reliable defensively.
Levante have five points from five matches, with seven goals scored and nine conceded. Their postponed match against Athletic means they have one fewer game than most of the league.
LaLiga Expert is much more bullish on Villarreal, projecting 2.0 goals, a 61% win probability and a 4–2 scoreline.
I think that projection is too high on total goals.
Why 2–1:
Villarreal's attacking quality at home should give them the advantage, but their defensive record makes a clean sheet difficult to trust.
Key prediction: 2–1
9. Valencia vs Real Sociedad
Prediction: Valencia 1–1 Real Sociedad
Valencia finally picked up their first victory in Matchday 6, beating Alavés 1–0 away. That ended an ugly start and moved them off the bottom.
However, their underlying scoring record remains poor: just two goals scored in six matches and ten conceded.
Real Sociedad have seven points and only six goals scored, with 11 conceded. Their Matchday 6 fixture was actually played on September 3 and ended 0–0 against Celta, because the matchday was split around the international-calendar scheduling.
This has the ingredients of a tight game.
LaLiga Expert has the teams almost perfectly balanced: 1.1 projected goals for Valencia and 1.2 for Real Sociedad, with win probabilities of 35% and 37%, respectively. Its predicted score is 1–1.
Why 1–1:
Neither side has shown enough attacking consistency for me to expect a high-scoring game.
Key prediction: 1–1
My final score sheet
Match My Score
Osasuna vs Rayo Vallecano 1–1
Athletic Club vs Alavés 2–1
Celta Vigo vs Racing Santander 2–1
Sevilla vs Barcelona 1–3
Getafe vs Málaga 1–0
Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid 1–2
Deportivo La Coruña vs Real Betis 1–2
Villarreal vs Levante 2–1
Valencia vs Real Sociedad 1–1
A few important statistical takeaways
Barcelona is the standout attacking team. Six wins from six, 28 goals and a +22 goal difference is an enormous early-season signal.
Real Madrid–Atlético is the round's biggest uncertainty. Both have conceded only six goals, and both are among the league's top four. The models themselves disagree between a Madrid win and a draw, which is why I've kept my margin to a single goal.
Osasuna–Rayo and Valencia–Real Sociedad look particularly draw-prone. Both pairings feature teams with relatively modest attacking production, and the available projections also lean toward 1–1 in both cases.
The biggest potential scoring game is Sevilla–Barcelona, but Sevilla's 9–6 record after six matches means I would not expect another Barcelona 7–2 type of result.