La Liga Fixtures 2016: Schedule, Live Stream and Week 10 Predictions
La Liga leaders Real Madrid have the chance to heap pressure on rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid on Saturday, as they face Alaves in Week 10 of the campaign.
Los Blancos have an opportunity to notch three points before their rivals take to the field; Atletico Madrid host Malaga in the following fixture, before Barcelona welcome bottom club Granada to the Camp Nou for what should be a lopsided affair.
Real could be knocked off the top earlier in the day, though. That’s because Sevilla, in second place and two points behind the leaders, can scale the summit with three points at Sporting Gijon.
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Here is the fixture list for the weekend matches, the key viewing details for the clashes and a closer look at a couple of standout tussles.
| Friday, Oct. 28 | 7:45 p.m. | Leganes vs. Real Sociedad | 1-1 |
| Saturday, Oct. 29 | 12 p.m. | Sporting vs. Sevilla | 1-3 |
| Saturday, Oct. 29 | 3:15 p.m. | Alaves vs. Real Madrid | 0-3 |
| Saturday, Oct. 29 | 5:30 p.m. | Atletico Madrid vs. Malaga | 2-0 |
| Saturday, Oct. 29 | 7:45 p.m. | Barcelona vs. Granada | 4-0 |
| Sunday, Oct. 30 | 11 a.m. | Eibar vs. Villarreal | 1-2 |
| Sunday, Oct. 30 | 3:15 p.m. | Athletic Club vs. Osasuna | 2-1 |
| Sunday, Oct. 30 | 5:30 p.m. | Real Betis vs. Espanyol | 2-1 |
| Sunday, Oct. 30 | 7:45 p.m. | Las Palmas vs. Celta Vigo | 2-2 |
| Monday, Oct. 31 | 7:45 p.m. | Deportivo la Coruna vs. Valencia | 1-1 |
Matches can be streamed via Sky Go (UK) and beIN Sports Connect (U.S.).
Sporting vs. Sevilla
New Sevilla manager Jorge Sampaoli would have been forgiven had the team undergone a transitional phase under his guidance, especially given how much of a positive impact his predecessor Unai Emery had.
So it’s testament to the work the former Chile boss has done that at this stage of the season, they have a chance to go top of the table. Sampaoli has taken advantage of some excellent recruitment during the summer and has helped revitalise the fortunes of various members of the squad.
Per Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe, Samir Nasri, on loan from Manchester City, is one player who looks galvanised by Sampaoli's presence:
They’re in excellent form, too. Last weekend, the Andalucian side got the better of former league leaders Atletico, with Steven N’Zonzi netting the winner in a brilliant 1-0 win.
With a chance to go top and a different type of stylistic challenge on the cards against Gijon, Sampaoli’s players will need to retune for this one. The home side will surrender possession for long spells, too, meaning there’ll be an onus on the likes of Nasri, Franco Vazquez, Wissam Ben Yedder and Vitolo to find a way through.
As we can see here courtesy of OptaJose, the early stages of the season suggest they’re up to the challenge:
Sporting need the points themselves, as they enter the weekend in 18th position. However, the momentum this Sevilla team have built up in recent matches, not to mention the unrelenting intensity with which they operate, will see them through this clash and to the top of the table.
Prediction: Sporting 1-3 Sevilla
Alaves vs. Real Madrid
After Atletico suffered defeat, Real had the chance to go top again last weekend with a win over Athletic Club on Sunday. Eventually they got over the line 2-1, although they relied on a late winner from Alvaro Morata on his 24th birthday.
Manager Zinedine Zidane would have been concerned with some aspects of the display, although most worrying for him at the moment will be the lack of ruthlessness in front of goal from star striker Cristiano Ronaldo. Squawka Football summed up the slump that the Portuguese is enduring, at least by his own high standards:
Indeed, despite being the club’s all-time record goalscorer and a two-time UEFA Champions League winner with Madrid, sections of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd whistled Ronaldo during the game with Athletic.
With that in mind, the forward may be looking forward to this contest at Alaves, although the home side may prove tough to break down. Indeed, they’ve been defensively determined since promotion to the top flight, conceding just 11 goals—the fifth best in the division. They’re in 13th spot overall and have a win against Barcelona at the Camp Nou to their name, too.
Even so, Madrid will be big favourites to not only win, but win with a swagger, too. By the time the clash kicks off, Zidane’s side could be behind Sevilla in the standings; a win at Mendizorrotza, with Atletico and Barca to play later in the day, may trigger some subsequent nerves among their title rivals.
Prediction: Alaves 0-3 Real Madrid
