LaLiga Matchday 9: Sunday and Monday Fixtures, Table and Talking Points
Matchday 9 of LaLiga continues on Sunday and Monday after a busy Saturday. Three games are already decided, and the table has shifted at the top. Barcelona stretched the perfect start to nine wins, Atletico Madrid snatched a late win at Espanyol, and Villarreal were held by Elche. Four games remain on Sunday, plus the Monday night derby between Getafe and Rayo Vallecano. Here is what to watch in the rest of the round.
The weekend still has plenty to decide. Real Madrid can keep pace at the top, Racing Santander can keep a remarkable season going, and Rayo Vallecano can put a hard week behind the club. Then the focus turns to the Clasico.
Saturday in Brief
Atletico Madrid opened the Saturday action with a 1-0 win at Espanyol. Alex Baena scored the winner in the 89th minute after Espanyol goalkeeper Angel Fortuno kept the visitors out for long spells. The result took Atletico to 22 points and kept the pressure on the leaders.
Villarreal and Elche played out a 0-0 draw at La Ceramica. The home side could not find a way through, and Elche left with a useful point in the fight at the bottom of the table. Barcelona then won 5-2 at Real Betis to make it nine wins from nine. Valencia hosted Athletic Bilbao in the late Saturday fixture.
Table Context
Barcelona lead the table with 27 points from nine games. Atletico Madrid sit second with 22 points. Real Betis stay third with 19 points after the defeat. Real Madrid are fourth with 18 points and can move to 21 with a win over Sevilla on Sunday.
Sevilla started the round in fifth place with 14 points. A win at the Bernabeu would keep the visitors in the hunt for the top four. At the other end, Malaga started the round at the foot of the table with four points, while Valencia started the round on five. Every point matters at both ends in the early weeks.
LaLiga Matchday 9: Sunday Fixtures
Four games fill the Sunday schedule. Osasuna host Racing Santander at 14:00 local time. Racing forward Yassir Zabiri, the September Under-23 Player of the Month, will aim to add to seven league goals. Osasuna and Racing started the round level on eight points, so the game carries weight in the middle of the table.
Celta Vigo host Alaves at 16:15 local time. Celta started the round on eight points, while Alaves started the round on 11. A home win would lift Celta into the top half, while Alaves can move further clear of the bottom places with a win on the road.
Malaga host Real Sociedad at 18:30 local time. Malaga need points fast after a slow start left the club at the foot of the table. Real Sociedad started the round in sixth place with 13 points and will see this game as a chance to stay in touch with the European places.
The day ends with Real Madrid against Sevilla at 21:00 at the Bernabeu. Sevilla started the round in fifth place and have scored on every away trip this season. Madrid must cope without Vinicius Junior, who serves a four-game ban. The home side need a win to stay within reach of Barcelona before the Clasico.
Monday Night in Madrid
The round closes on Monday evening with Getafe against Rayo Vallecano at the Coliseum, with kick-off at 21:00 local time. Getafe come into the game after a Thursday trip in Europe, while Rayo arrive amid off-field trouble.
The Spanish federation ordered a partial stadium closure and a 6,000-euro fine after fan protests forced the abandonment of the Rayo match against Athletic Club. That game was halted after 13 minutes when fans threw paper planes and rubber balls onto the pitch in protest against club owner Raul Martin Presa. Rayo must close the south stand for the home game against Elche on 24 October. The date for the rest of the Athletic game has not been announced.
On the pitch, Rayo started the weekend in 13th place with eight points. A win on Monday would lift the club into the top half and ease the pressure after a difficult week. Getafe, who started the round on eight points, have not beaten Rayo in the last 10 meetings between the sides.
The Big Talking Points
Two stories dominate the rest of the weekend. The first is the Vinicius ban. The Real Madrid forward received a four-game suspension after a red card against Villarreal, when a VAR review spotted him pulling the hair of Nathan Saliba. The ban covers the Sevilla game, the Clasico, and the trips to Racing Santander and Valencia. Madrid must find a way to win without one of the most dangerous attackers in the league.
The second is the Clasico itself, now one week away. Barcelona host Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday 25 October at 21:00 local time. The fixture has been classed as high risk by the authorities. Real Madrid will travel without Vinicius, while Barcelona will aim to protect a lead that could grow larger by then.
Key Facts
| Fixture | Day and time (local) |
|---|---|
| Osasuna vs Racing Santander | Sunday, 14:00 |
| Celta Vigo vs Alaves | Sunday, 16:15 |
| Malaga vs Real Sociedad | Sunday, 18:30 |
| Real Madrid vs Sevilla | Sunday, 21:00 |
| Getafe vs Rayo Vallecano | Monday, 21:00 |
| League leaders | Barcelona, 27 points from nine games |
| Second place | Atletico Madrid, 22 points |
| El Clasico | Sunday 25 October, Camp Nou, 21:00 |
Conclusion
The rest of Matchday 9 still has plenty to decide. Real Madrid can keep pace at the top, Racing can keep a remarkable season going, and Rayo can put a hard week behind the club. Then the focus turns to the Clasico, the biggest game of the season so far.
FAQs
Which Matchday 9 games are still to come?
Four games remain on Sunday: Osasuna against Racing Santander, Celta Vigo against Alaves, Malaga against Real Sociedad, and Real Madrid against Sevilla. Getafe against Rayo Vallecano closes the round on Monday.
Who leads LaLiga after the Saturday games?
Barcelona lead with 27 points from nine games. Atletico Madrid are second with 22 points, Real Betis third with 19, and Real Madrid fourth with 18 before the Sevilla game.
Why is Vinicius Junior suspended?
Vinicius Junior received a four-game ban after a red card against Villarreal. A VAR review spotted him pulling the hair of Nathan Saliba, and the ban also covered his protests after the sending off. He misses the Sevilla game, the Clasico, and the trips to Racing Santander and Valencia.
When is El Clasico?
El Clasico takes place on Sunday 25 October 2026 at Camp Nou, with kick-off at 21:00 local time. Barcelona host Real Madrid in the first league Clasico of the season.
