Sunday's La Liga Fixtures: A Defining Early-Season Test
As the 2026-27 La Liga season moves into its second round of fixtures, three matches on Sunday offer an early measure of the campaigns ahead. Atletico Madrid host Villarreal in a clash of European ambitions, Getafe look to regroup after a difficult start, and Elche face the daunting task of hosting defending champions Barcelona.
Atletico Madrid vs. Villarreal
Atletico Madrid will aim for successive wins when they welcome Villarreal to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Sunday afternoon, according to both Heavy and Sports Mole. The hosts opened their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Malaga, a result that has set expectations for another strong season under Diego Simeone.
Villarreal, however, arrive with their own confidence. The Yellow Submarine drew 2-2 at Racing Santander in their opener, clawing back from a two-goal deficit to earn a point — a result that highlighted their resilience. Their comeback was described as impressive by Sports Mole, and the visitors are expected to pose a stiff challenge.
Atletico are not without their concerns. As reported by Heavy, Alexander Sørloth is sidelined with a muscle contracture, leaving Ademola Lookman to lead the line up front. The club is still short at centre-forward, a factor that could make for a tightly contested match.
Despite that, predictions favor the hosts, with both outlets projecting a 2-1 scoreline. Sports Mole suggests it is difficult to imagine the outcome going away from Simeone's side, expecting that the home advantage will settle a close contest.
Getafe vs. Racing Santander
Getafe and Racing Santander meet at the Estadio Coliseum on Sunday evening, with the two clubs having contrasting openers. Getafe were comprehensively beaten 3-0 away at Alaves. As detailed by Heavy, they played much of that match with ten men after Kiko Femenia was sent off before halftime.
Racing Santander, by contrast, produced an eye-catching opener: they held a 2-0 lead over Villarreal before settling for a 2-2 draw. That result, described as impressive by Sports Mole, suggests the newly-promoted side are unafraid of the top flight.
Team news is expected to be a significant factor. Getafe's home crowds often prove a crucial advantage, and José Bordalás's typically stubborn setup could be decisive. The predictions, shared by both outlets, point to a 1-1 final score, as Racing Santander's confidence and away from may force a share of the spoils.
Where to Watch
All three fixtures take place on Sunday, with kickoff times at 4pm for the early game in the capital, 6.30pm for the clash in Getafe, and 9.30pm for Barcelona's trip to Elche, according to Sports Mole.
Perspectives
The two outlets, while both offering score predictions, place their emphasis differently. Heavy anchors its predictions in the squad fitness issues, giving substantial weight to Atletico's injury-crisis at centre-forward and the disciplinary blow that Getafe endured. That outlet's framing suggests both fixtures are decided by stamina and tactical caution, with no clear delineation of form from it.
Sports Mole, in contrast, leans more prominently on the history and league status of the sides, highlighting Barcelona's pursuit of a second consecutive title and Real Madrid's perennial challenge. Their three scorelines—2-1, 1-1, and 1-3—reflect a sensibility that the higher-ranked teams will hold purchases, though the tight takes for Getafe-Racing suggest they view the match as a genuine toss-up.
Both sources, in their separate ways, acknowledge the difficulty of away fixtures and the quality of the promoted side, but they diverge slightly on how decisive home advantage will be. For those differences, the reader is left with a sense of the range of likely outcomes on a Sunday where all three clubs will be hoping to impose their identity on the early season.