1 x 1
Deportivo La Coruna v LevanteFri, 16 Oct · 4:00pm46% home28% draw28% awayLa Liga — Matchday 9
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Round coverage10 of 10 matches20 of 20 clubs. The whole round is up.
The weekend that could reshape the top of La Liga
The round opens on Friday with a survival game: Deportivo La Coruña host Levante at the Riazor, and the result will bear directly on the relegation fight. Deportivo arrive in form — two straight wins have lifted them out of danger and into a mid-table spot that is starting to settle. Levante have no such cushion.
From Saturday, the round gets bigger. Real Betis host Barcelona at La Cartuja in a third-versus-first clash — a Betis win would shake up the top in a way La Liga hasn't seen since the start of the season. On Sunday, Real Madrid host Sevilla in a game that settles where each stands on this season's European map.
Standings, results and the fixtures to come are on the full La Liga table.
What the round is playing for
Real Betis vs Barcelona: third against first
Real Betis come into the round level on points with Atlético Madrid in second, but with a worse goal difference. Barcelona arrive top, with five straight wins and the best record in the league.
What it changes: A Betis win at La Cartuja opens a head-to-head fight for the top that will run for several rounds — and makes La Cartuja a decisive stage before October is even out.
The game that settles it: Real Betis x Barcelona
The race for the European places
Real Madrid are a point off second and can draw level with Atlético and Betis by beating Sevilla. Atlético face Espanyol away in a game that looks simpler than it is.
What it changes: If Real Madrid win and Atlético slip, the top four could look different by Monday — and the race for the Champions League places opens up even further.
The game that settles it: Real Madrid x Sevilla
Relegation zone: three clubs play back to back
Elche, Valencia and Malaga come into the round in the relegation zone, and all three play on Saturday — Villarreal host Elche, Valencia face Athletic Club, and Malaga are at home to Real Sociedad.
What it changes: A bad weekend for all three opens a gap to safety and leaves any recovery depending on their direct rivals also losing in the rounds that follow.
The match the round turns on
MATCH OF THE ROUNDvDeportivo La Coruna v LevanteFri, 16 Oct · 4:00pmHome46%Draw28%Away28%
vDeportivo La Coruna v LevanteFri, 16 Oct · 4:00pmHome46%Draw28%Away28%Friday has just one game, but it carries the weight of a survival fight. Deportivo La Coruña come in on two straight wins — out of danger and starting to look like a mid-table side. Levante arrive at the Riazor without that cushion: two points above the relegation zone, with results that leave no room to relax.
What the result changes: A Levante away win turns Friday into a turning point in the relegation fight — and puts urgency on every club in the bottom half before the weekend has even started. A Deportivo win, by contrast, establishes them as a solid mid-table side and deepens Levante's crisis before Saturday even arrives.
After the whistle: How the other clubs in the relegation zone respond to the result at the Riazor — and whether Levante can stay close to the safety line once the full weekend has been played.
Recent meetings: Deportivo La Coruna v Levante
- 2026-10-16 Deportivo La Coruna 1 x 1 Levante
- 2025-01-25 Deportivo La Coruna 1 x 2 Levante
- 2024-10-24 Levante 2 x 1 Deportivo La Coruna
- 2018-01-27 Deportivo La Coruna 2 x 2 Levante
- 2017-08-26 Levante 2 x 2 Deportivo La Coruna
Friday fixtures
1 x 1Deportivo La Coruna v LevanteFri, 16 Oct · 4:00pm46% home28% draw28% awayPrices updated 2026-10-20T09:03+00:00.
Strongest convictionReal Madrid 78%Real Madrid v Sevilla
Most open match6 ppGetafe v Rayo Vallecano
Matches covered10
Where these clubs stand
| # | Club | Pts | P | GD | Last 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barcelona | 27 | 9 | 30 | WWWWW |
| 2 | Atletico Madrid | 22 | 9 | 11 | WWWWW |
| 3 | Real Madrid | 21 | 9 | 14 | WWLWW |
| 4 | Real Betis | 19 | 9 | 2 | LWDWW |
| 5 | Real Sociedad | 16 | 9 | 0 | WWWLW |
| 6 | Sevilla | 14 | 9 | -2 | LDLWW |
| 7 | Alaves | 11 | 9 | 3 | LLDLL |
| 8 | Celta Vigo | 11 | 9 | 3 | WDWDD |
| 9 | Deportivo La Coruna | 11 | 9 | 1 | DLDLD |
| 10 | Osasuna | 11 | 9 | -8 | WLDLL |
| 11 | Athletic Club | 9 | 7 | 1 | DDDW |
| 12 | Villarreal | 9 | 9 | 0 | DLWWL |
| 13 | Rayo Vallecano | 9 | 8 | -5 | DDWL |
| 14 | Getafe | 9 | 9 | -6 | DLWLD |
| 15 | Espanyol | 8 | 9 | -1 | LDLLW |
| 16 | Racing Santander | 8 | 9 | -12 | LDLLW |
| 17 | Levante | 7 | 8 | -4 | DDLLD |
| 18 | Elche | 7 | 9 | -6 | DDWLD |
| 19 | Valencia | 6 | 9 | -9 | DDLWL |
| 20 | Malaga | 4 | 9 | -12 | LDLLD |
Friday: Deportivo and Levante open the round under table pressure
Friday's game is the only one in the round with an open market, and the context explains why it matters. Deportivo La Coruña come off two straight wins and have reached mid-table with a clearer identity than they had in the opening rounds. The Riazor adds a real factor: Levante arrive without the backing of results that would make home advantage less decisive.
For Levante, the picture is as bad as it gets: a negative result away from home, with a fixture list offering no immediate relief. An away win would be the most direct answer the club could give to doubts over its ability to stay up — and also the hardest, given where both teams are.
Friday: the readings
- Deportivo have home advantage and momentum Two straight wins have put Deportivo in a position of confidence that was hard to foresee after an uneven start to the season. The Riazor adds a pressure factor that struggling sides like Levante tend to feel — and the market available for this game reflects that reading.
- Levante need away points to escape the crisis Levante are two points above the relegation zone, in poor form and with a fixture list that will get harder before it gets easier. A win in Coruña would be one of the club's most important of the season — and also the most unlikely, given where both teams are right now.
What to watch on Friday
- Deportivo La Coruña: cementing a mid-table place Deportivo come into the round on two straight wins and are close to catching the side in 6th. A third straight win would take Deportivo comfortably out of danger and start a conversation about more reachable European places.
Trends and context
Trends we can see
- Deportivo La Coruna somou apenas 3 pontos nos últimos 5 jogos.
- Levante somou apenas 3 pontos nos últimos 5 jogos.
- Espanyol somou apenas 4 pontos nos últimos 5 jogos.
- Atletico Madrid venceu 5 dos últimos 5 jogos.
- Atletico Madrid tem 81% de aproveitamento na competição.
- Atletico Madrid está a 5 pontos do líder.
What the market is pricing
- Real Madrid is the round's strongest call: 78% in Real Madrid v Sevilla.
- Getafe v Rayo Vallecano is the most open game: 6 percentage points separate the three outcomes.
- In Espanyol v Atletico Madrid the market backs the visitor Atletico Madrid (58%).
- The draw in Getafe v Rayo Vallecano is priced at 32%, above what the rest of the round is showing.
Club context
- 1. Barcelona Promotion - Champions League (League phase)
- 2. Atletico Madrid Promotion - Champions League (League phase)
- 3. Real Madrid Promotion - Champions League (League phase)
- 4. Real Betis Promotion - Champions League (League phase)
- 5. Real Sociedad Promotion - Europa League (League phase)
- 6. Sevilla Promotion - Conference League (Qualification)
- 18. Elche Relegation - LaLiga2
- 19. Valencia Relegation - LaLiga2
- 20. Malaga Relegation - LaLiga2
What this opens up for the rest of the round: The result at the Riazor decides how urgently Levante approach the rest of the weekend — and shapes how the other relegation-zone clubs read their own situation before Saturday's games, when Elche and Valencia also take the field.
Friday results, and what they changed
- Deportivo La Coruna 1 x 1 Levante
Saturday, Sunday and Monday fixtures
0 x 1
Espanyol v Atletico MadridSat, 17 Oct · 9:00am18% home24% draw58% away
0 x 0
Villarreal v ElcheSat, 17 Oct · 11:15am70% home18% draw14% away
2 x 5
Real Betis v BarcelonaSat, 17 Oct · 1:30pm16% home16% draw66% away
0 x 0
Valencia v Athletic ClubSat, 17 Oct · 4:00pm30% home30% draw42% away
2 x 0
Osasuna v Racing SantanderSun, 18 Oct · 9:00am48% home26% draw26% away
2 x 1
Celta Vigo v AlavesSun, 18 Oct · 11:15am44% home30% draw26% away
2 x 5
Malaga v Real SociedadSun, 18 Oct · 1:30pm28% home28% draw46% away
4 x 1
Real Madrid v SevillaSun, 18 Oct · 4:00pm78% home14% draw8% away
1 x 1
Getafe v Rayo VallecanoMon, 19 Oct · 4:00pm30% home32% draw36% awayPrices updated 2026-10-20T09:03+00:00.
Saturday to Monday: the weekend that settles the top and the bottom
Real Betis host Barcelona at La Cartuja in the most loaded game of the weekend. Betis come in level on points with Atlético in second and are at home in a stadium that makes life hard for favourites. Barcelona arrive top on a winning run, but a slip here would open a title race La Liga hasn't really had since the start of the season.
On Sunday, Real Madrid host Sevilla in a game with direct European implications. Madrid can reach second with a win — the gap to Atlético and Betis is minimal. Sevilla can compete, but visiting the Bernabéu in inconsistent form is the kind of scenario that tends to favour the home side.
The weekend closes on Monday with Getafe and Rayo Vallecano in a mid-table meeting at the Coliseum. Getafe have home advantage and want out of the no-man's-land where they have been stuck for several rounds. Rayo come off an uneven run and need a result to stay on course for a climb before the round wraps up.
Saturday, Sunday and Monday: the readings
- Real Betis vs Barcelona: the one game that can change the leader Barcelona's unbeaten run will be tested at one of the toughest grounds in the league. La Cartuja has a history of tripping up favourites, and Betis have the quality to press at home. If Betis win, the round ends with talk of a title race La Liga hasn't had since the season kicked off.
- Real Madrid vs Sevilla: little separates second from fourth Real Madrid go into Sunday with a chance to move up to second — the gap to Atlético and Betis is real but small. Sevilla have a case for competing, but playing at the Bernabéu in patchy form is not a scenario that usually favours the visitors when the hosts are motivated by league position.
What to watch on Saturday, Sunday and Monday
- Elche, Valencia and Malaga: all three play on Saturday The three clubs in the relegation zone play back to back on Saturday, and the results could separate them early in the weekend. A bad Saturday for all three would set the bottom of the table in a way that makes recovery depend more on other results than on their own performances in the rounds that follow.
Who is unavailable
Deportivo La Coruna
- L. Amatucci Red Card
- P. Aubameyang Knee Injury
- M. Casado Collarbone injury
- Z. Eddahchouri Wrist Injury
- L. Amatucci Red Card
- P. Aubameyang Knee Injury
Levante
- K. Etta Eyong Muscle Injury
- A. Primo Shoulder Injury
- H. Sotelo Knee Injury
- K. Etta Eyong Muscle Injury
- A. Primo Shoulder Injury
- H. Sotelo Knee Injury
Espanyol
- K. Garcia Hamstring Injury
- Jofre Groin Injury
- K. Garcia Hamstring Injury
- Jofre Groin Injury
Atletico Madrid
- J. Cardoso Illness
- Koke Muscle Injury
- J. Cardoso Illness
- Koke Muscle Injury
Villarreal
- T. Buchanan Muscle Injury
- N. Pepe Eye injury
- T. Buchanan Muscle Injury
- N. Pepe Eye injury
Matchday 9 review
- Deportivo La Coruna 1 x 1 Levante
- Espanyol 0 x 1 Atletico Madrid
- Villarreal 0 x 0 Elche
- Real Betis 2 x 5 Barcelona
- Valencia 0 x 0 Athletic Club
- Osasuna 2 x 0 Racing Santander
- Celta Vigo 2 x 1 Alaves
- Malaga 2 x 5 Real Sociedad
- Real Madrid 4 x 1 Sevilla
- Getafe 1 x 1 Rayo Vallecano
What held
- Real Madrid, driven by the table, beat Sevilla at the Bernabéu. Madrid won comfortably and confirmed that home advantage outweighs the visitors' patchy form. Sevilla stayed 6th and remain well adrift of the Champions League group.
What did not
- Betis at home make life hard for Barcelona and could open up a title race. Barcelona left La Cartuja with a thrashing and stretched their lead at the top. Betis, who had come close to the summit, dropped to 4th, and the title-race talk never got going this Saturday.
- Real Madrid win, Atlético slip away from home and the top four changes shape. Half of it happened: Madrid did their part, but Atlético won at Espanyol and held on to 2nd. Madrid go into the next round 3rd, right behind Atlético, but without having caught them.
- With home advantage and two straight wins, Deportivo beat Levante and settle into mid-table. Friday ended level. The Riazor didn't turn into an advantage, Levante took a point away from home and Deportivo remain in the bunch of clubs level in mid-table, without having broken away.
- A bad Saturday for Elche, Valencia and Malaga sets the bottom of the table. Only Malaga lost, and badly, at home to Real Sociedad. Elche and Valencia took a point against Villarreal and Athletic Club, and Levante also drew: the relegation zone has tightened, and the only side truly cut adrift is bottom-placed Malaga.
Public market
| Market favourite | How close it is | |
|---|---|---|
| Deportivo La Coruna v Levante | Deportivo La Coruna 46% | Medium |
| Espanyol v Atletico Madrid | Atletico Madrid 58% | Low |
| Villarreal v Elche | Villarreal 70% | Low |
| Real Betis v Barcelona | Barcelona 66% | Low |
| Valencia v Athletic Club | Athletic Club 42% | High |
| Osasuna v Racing Santander | Osasuna 48% | Medium |
| Celta Vigo v Alaves | Celta Vigo 44% | Medium |
| Malaga v Real Sociedad | Real Sociedad 46% | Medium |
| Real Madrid v Sevilla | Real Madrid 78% | Low |
| Getafe v Rayo Vallecano | Rayo Vallecano 36% | High |
Prices updated 2026-10-20T09:03+00:00.
