Welcome to the Weekly Clásico, a weekly column that predicts and previews the key matches for the upcoming La Liga and Liga MX matchweeks.
La Liga: Villarreal vs. Real Betis
The match between third-place Villarreal and fourth-place Real Betis will headline La Liga this weekend.
Real Betis are on a three-match win streak, conceding only one goal during the stretch. Striker Cucho Hernández has been the key to Los Verdiblancos’ success thus far, and the Colombian international has registered four goals and one assist in eight league matches.
Villarreal, meanwhile, managed to string together wins through late goal production, despite being without their two main forwards, Ayoze Perez and Gerard Moreno, at the start of the season. Moreno is the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, with 120 goals in 298 appearances. The Spanish side went four matches unbeaten until dropping points to Real Madrid right before the break.
Villarreal has an impressive 2.33 expected goals per game when playing at home this season, though this number is inflated due to a 5-0 win against bottom-of-the-table Girona. Since then, Villarreal have yet to score more than two goals in a match. Real Betis is a solid bet on the road, having a 1.61 expected goals per game when playing away.
Given their goalscoring output when traveling, Real Betis will likely put the game out of reach before Villarreal can pull off any of their usual late-game heroics, and they will continue to be without their two star forwards.
Prediction: Real Betis 2, Villareal 1
La Liga: Real Madrid vs. Getafe
The international break was not kind to Real Madrid. Their young star centerback, Dean Huijsen, picked up a muscle injury while on international duty and is sidelined for the near future.
Los Blancos have lost several players to start the season, and Huijsen now joins four other defenders on the injured list. This leaves the club with no depth amongst their backline, and manager Xabi Alonso has been forced to play certain players out of position.
In league play, Real Madrid was able to bounce back from their first loss of the season with a 3-1 win against Villarreal right before the break.
As for Getafe, they are a mid-table side that have been winless in their last four matches. They have lacked offensive output so far this season, and have yet to score more than two goals in a match. Real Madrid, on the other hand, is averaging 3.5 goals per game in league play.
Expect Real Madrid’s offensive production to offset their never-ending injury list against Getafe. Getafe will likely be able to sneak in a goal with Los Blancos’ top defenders being out.
Prediction: Real Madrid 3, Getafe 1
Liga MX: Cruz Azul vs. Club América
Second-place Club América is set to take on fourth-place Cruz Azul in a match to watch in Liga MX this weekend.
América has been in top form recently and is riding a three-game winning streak, scoring eight goals and only conceding once. Cruz Azul, on the other hand, is winless in its last three league matches, conceding five goals and picking up two red cards in the process.
With the match being at Cruz Azul’s Estadio Olímpico Universitario, the club will likely have no issue producing opportunities on offense, given their 2.46 expected goals per game when playing at home. However, América’s form before the international break will make this a difficult match for Cruz Azul.
Prediction: Cruz Azul 2, Club América 2
Liga MX: Monterrey vs. Pumas
In what is shaping up to be a trap game, third-place Monterrey will take on mid-table Pumas.
Monterrey is currently led by forward Germán Berterame, who is in the mix for the 2025 Apertura Golden Boot award with eight goals in 12 matches. Monterrey has been inconsistent lately, with two wins, two draws and one loss in its last five league matches. Their loss came against first-place Toluca, who put six goals past Monterrey.
Pumas have lost three straight league matches, recording a goal differential of minus six throughout the stretch. When playing on the road, the Mexican side has an expected goal per match of less than one, suggesting they desperately need to bring in an offensive spark in the upcoming winter transfer window.
Anticipate Berterame to have a field day on his own stomping grounds, while Pumas struggles to create many chances at Estadio BBVA.
Prediction: Monterrey 3, Pumas 0
