La Liga Matchweek 8 runs from Friday 9 October to Monday 12 October 2026, featuring 10 fixtures across four days of action. Barcelona lead the division with a perfect record after seven matches, while Atletico Madrid and Real Betis sit five points back in pursuit. Note that detailed model forecasts for the later fixtures in this round are published on each respective match page the day before kickoff.
The match of the round
Rayo Vallecano host Athletic Club on Saturday in a meeting between two teams locked on eight points in mid-table. Rayo have demonstrated sharp attacking output this term, finding the net 11 times with Sergio Camello in fine scoring rhythm, having registered seven goals across all competitions. However, their defensive record remains troubled: Rayo have yet to keep a clean sheet and have shipped 16 goals in seven matches. They must also manage injuries to goalkeeper Augusto Batalla and defender Luiz Felipe, alongside doubts over Iván Balliu.
Athletic Club travel south unbeaten in five fixtures and displaying stronger underlying chance creation in recent weeks. Their primary obstacle is personnel, with creative focal points Nico Williams and Oihan Sancet both ruled out through injury alongside Unai Eguiluz. Despite those absences, our forecasting model leans towards an Athletic Club win as the most likely outcome, though confidence is cautious given Rayo's attacking threat. The model also projects both teams to score with moderate confidence, while offering a tentative, low-confidence scoreline projection of a 1-0 away victory.
Friday's curtain-raiser between Malaga and Espanyol offers an equally sharp contrast in fortunes. Malaga sit 20th in the table, winless through seven matches with just three goals scored and 12 conceded. Compounding their difficulties, Aarón Ochoa, Diego Murillo, and Jens-Lys Cajuste remain sidelined through injury. Espanyol have endured defensive volatility of their own, conceding 10 and scoring 10, but Roberto Fernández has struck six goals across all competitions and the visitors have managed to score in every fixture this season. Our model projects an Espanyol victory with low confidence, expecting a low-scoring affair with fewer than 2.5 goals.
Saturday
Alaves welcome second-placed Atletico Madrid in Saturday's second match. Alaves sit sixth with 11 points but enter having failed to score in consecutive outings, while defenders Facundo Garcés, Mikel Rodríguez, and Ville Koski are ruled out. Atletico arrive with significant confidence following a 2-1 derby victory over Real Madrid, spearheaded by Álex Baena, who has four goals to his name.
League leaders Barcelona host 11th-placed Getafe later on Saturday afternoon. The Catalans have produced a blistering run of 21 points from seven matches with 31 goals scored, though top scorer Raphinha joins Andreas Christensen and Frenkie de Jong on the sidelines. Getafe snapped a three-match winless sequence by beating Malaga 1-0, though attackers Christantus Uche and Juanmi remain absent, leaving Enes Ünal to shoulder the primary goal threat.
Saturday concludes in the capital as Real Madrid face Villarreal. Real Madrid sit fourth on 15 points after suffering their first league defeat of the campaign against Atletico Madrid, and they will be without Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy, and Raúl Asencio. Kylian Mbappé remains in sharp form with eight goals this season. Villarreal arrive ninth after posting consecutive 3-1 victories over Malaga and Levante, with Pape Gueye scoring three times this term.
Sunday
Sunday begins with Elche hosting Celta Vigo. Elche secured their first win of the campaign last time out with a 3-1 victory away at Espanyol, led by Fernando Niño's five goals this season, though Federico Redondo misses out through suspension. Celta Vigo responded to a continental loss by thumping Racing Santander 5-0 in league play, but they travel without Carl Starfelt, Miguel Román, and Jones El-Abdellaoui.
Real Sociedad and Deportivo La Coruna meet level on 10 points each. Real Sociedad earned a 3-2 victory at Valencia in their previous league outing, though striker Orri Óskarsson serves a suspension and Álvaro Odriozola is injured. Deportivo have drawn two of their last three fixtures 1-1, but their forward line is depleted by an injury to leading scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has five goals this season.
Third-placed Real Betis host Osasuna looking to protect their position among the top three. Betis are unbeaten in three matches after a 1-1 draw at Deportivo, although Aitor Ruibal and Júnior Firpo remain out injured. Osasuna sit 13th and have collected only one point from their last three matches, leaning heavily on forward Ante Budimir, who has scored five goals this term.
Racing Santander host Valencia in an encounter between two sides struggling near the foot of the table. Racing sit 16th after leaking 12 goals across heavy defeats to Barcelona and Celta Vigo, despite Yassir Zabiri netting six times this season. Valencia sit 19th with four points and just four goals scored, hampered by defensive absences to Dimitri Foulquier and José Copete.
Monday
The round finishes on Monday evening as Levante take on Sevilla. Levante occupy 17th place with five points after consecutive losses to Barcelona and Villarreal, and they have doubts over forward Etta Eyong alongside Hugo Sotelo's confirmed absence. Sevilla sit fifth with 13 points, having won two of their past three matches prior to a 3-1 reverse against Barcelona, though defender Marcão and forward Lucas Stassin are ruled out.
By the close of Matchweek 8, the balance at both ends of La Liga could alter significantly. A victory for Barcelona would extend their flawless start, while any slip allows Atletico Madrid or Real Betis to trim the deficit. At the bottom, Malaga and Valencia face demanding fixtures to avoid being cut adrift in the opening quarter of the season.
