If you've been watching the Spanish table lately, you know things are getting weird. It's not just the usual two-horse race anymore. People keep acting like the league is settled because Real Madrid has Kylian Mbappé scoring for fun, but honestly? The schedule for la liga next games suggests we’re about to hit a massive speed bump that could flip the script entirely.
January is where title charges usually go to die in the mud of a rainy Basque away day.
Right now, everyone is looking at the top of the leaderboard and seeing Mbappé with 18 goals. He's been a force, no doubt. But if you look closely at the upcoming fixtures, the "easy" wins are disappearing. We’re moving into Matchday 20, and the pressure is mounting. Teams like Real Sociedad and Villarreal are no longer just making up the numbers; they are actively ruining weekends for the giants.
The Big Ones: La Liga Next Games to Circle
This weekend is a minefield.
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On Saturday, January 17, Real Madrid hosts Levante at the Bernabéu. On paper? A stroll. In reality? Real Madrid has been known to sleepwalk through these 1:00 PM kickoffs. Levante is back in the top flight and they’ve got nothing to lose.
But the real drama happens on Sunday.
Real Sociedad vs. Barcelona. That’s the one. Hansi Flick has Barça playing some of the most aggressive, high-line football we’ve seen in years. They’ve won 11 straight in all competitions. But Anoeta is a cursed ground for many, and Sociedad just brought in Pellegrino Matarazzo to steady the ship. Flick is expected to rotate, potentially bringing back Pedri and Frenkie de Jong to the starting XI after their midweek Copa del Rey win against Racing Santander.
If Barça drops points in San Sebastián, the gap at the top vanishes.
Key Matchday 20 Fixtures (Jan 17-18)
- Real Madrid vs. Levante: Saturday at 1:00 PM. Expect Mbappé to hunt for his 19th.
- RCD Mallorca vs. Athletic Club: Saturday at 3:15 PM. Pure defensive grit meets Nico Williams' pace.
- Real Betis vs. Villarreal: Saturday night lights at 8:00 PM. A battle for European spots.
- Atletico Madrid vs. Alavés: Sunday at 3:15 PM. Simeone needs a win to keep pace with the top two.
- Real Sociedad vs. Barcelona: Sunday at 8:00 PM. The game of the week.
Why the Table is Deceiving Right Now
You’ve probably seen the stats. Lamine Yamal is leading the league in assists with 7, and he’s basically a human highlight reel at this point. But Barça is thin. They’re missing Gavi and Andreas Christensen to long-term knee injuries. They’re essentially one or two more injuries away from a crisis.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid is lurking.
They play Alavés this Sunday, and while they’ve been inconsistent, Julian Alvarez is starting to find his feet in Madrid. They have a relatively "clean" schedule compared to the others, at least until the Champions League returns later this month.
People forget about the bottom half, too. Real Oviedo and Levante are fighting for their lives. In la liga next games, these are the teams that park the bus and hope for a 0-0. It’s frustrating to watch, but it’s effective. Real Oviedo actually travels to Osasuna this weekend, a game that could determine if they stay out of the relegation zone for another month.
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Looking Ahead: The February Gauntlet
If you think January is tough, look at what happens when we hit February.
The schedule gets congested. We have the Champions League returning—Real Madrid, Barça, and Atleti all have mid-week travel. Specifically, Barcelona has a date with Slavia Prague just days after their league matches.
The depth of these squads is about to be tested. Hansi Flick has already hinted at resting Robert Lewandowski because, let’s be real, the man is 37 and can’t play 90 minutes twice a week forever. Ferran Torres has been filling in admirably, but he’s not "Lewy."
And don't even get me started on the officiating. We’ve seen an average of over four yellow cards per game this season. Suspensions are going to start hitting the big names right as we get into the meat of the spring season. One mistimed tackle from Vinícius Jr. or Jude Bellingham, and suddenly they’re out for a crucial game against a top-six rival.
How to Follow the Action
If you're trying to keep up, you sort of have to be a night owl or a morning person depending on where you live. Most of the heavy hitters play in the late slot (8:00 PM local time), which is perfect for a Sunday night in Spain but a weird mid-afternoon slot for those in the States.
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Here is the best way to handle the upcoming weeks:
- Prioritize the Sunday Night Slot: This is where La Liga puts its "showcase" games. If you only watch one game, make it the 8:00 PM Sunday kickoff.
- Watch the Injury Reports: With the winter window open, keep an eye on players like Joao Cancelo, who just returned to Barça on loan from Al-Hilal. He could debut off the bench this weekend.
- Don't Ignore the Mid-Table: Teams like Athletic Bilbao and Girona are playing some of the most attractive football in Europe. They don't have the "star power," but they have the cohesion.
The title isn't won in January, but it can certainly be lost. With Real Madrid and Barcelona separated by thin margins, every single one of these la liga next games feels like a final. One slip at Anoeta or a surprise draw at the Bernabéu changes the entire gravity of the 2025/26 season.
Keep your eyes on the fitness of the youngsters. Yamal and Guler are the future, but they are also the present, and their legs are being worked to the limit.
Check the official La Liga app or your local broadcaster (like ESPN+ or DAZN) for the exact kickoff times in your region, as TV scheduling can shift things by a day or two at the last minute. Keep an eye on the Friday night game too; Espanyol vs. Girona is a sleeper hit for this weekend that most people are overlooking.