LaLiga 2025: Intense Fixtures Between Osasuna, Alavés, and Real Madrid, and Transfer Market Movements

Matchdays 16 and 17 of LaLiga 2025 bring an intense battle in the standings, with decisive matches for several teams. On Saturday at 14:30, Osasuna hosts Deportivo Alavés at El Sadar Stadium in a pivotal Matchday 17 clash. Osasuna arrives after a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona, while Alavés lost 2-1 to Real Madrid. In the table, Osasuna has 15 points and Alavés 18, highlighting both teams' need to secure points to improve their positions.

Osasuna and Alavés compete in a 20-team league with a classic round-robin format, spanning 38 matchdays where teams earn three points for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss. The top team wins LaLiga, while the bottom three are relegated to Segunda División. UEFA tournament qualification is also at stake: the top four enter the Champions League; the fifth-place team and Copa del Rey winner qualify for the Europa League, and the sixth-place team for the Conference League. Spots may vary based on Copa del Rey and European competition results.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid faces a crucial test this Sunday, December 14, at 21:00 at Mendizorroza against Deportivo Alavés. This Matchday 16 duel is key for manager Xabi Alonso, who is under pressure due to recent losses. The Merengues seek to escape crisis with player and fan support, while Alavés aims to capitalize on home advantage. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and via streaming and radio (Cope, Ser, Onda Cero). The referee is Víctor García Verdura, with Pablo González Fuertes on VAR.

In the transfer market, Argentine center-back Federico Gattoni is drawing interest from Mexico after his loan at River Plate ends this month. Gattoni, owned by Sevilla FC (contract until June 2027), seeks a new club for more playing time, having lacked prominence in recent loans. Two Mexican teams, Querétaro and Necaxa, are interested in signing him in the winter window. Sevilla, meanwhile, wants to resolve his non-EU player status, and all parties view this potential sale favorably.

Javier Tebas, LaLiga president, gave an extensive interview covering key topics for Spanish football’s present and future. He defended the current 11v11 model, with increasing technological integration in refereeing and fan experience, dismissing radical rule changes like those in the Kings League. Tebas highlighted the rise in broadcast rights value, attributing it to anti-piracy efforts, improved audiovisual quality, and higher post-match viewer retention.

On football pricing, Tebas argued that Spain is not the most expensive country to watch football when considering purchasing power and per capita income, and that reducing piracy could lower prices without harming revenue. He also discussed IP blocking for piracy and dismissed significant harm to legal services from these measures.

One of the most controversial topics was the Negreira Case. Tebas stated bluntly: ‘The Madrid president doesn’t understand half of the Negreira Case’ and explained that LaLiga has actively participated in the investigation, with many of Real Madrid’s criticisms being part of a strategy to weaken the competition and promote the Super League, which he considers harmful to national football.

Finally, Tebas reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the domestic industry and noted that taking LaLiga matches to countries like the U.S. has promotional and commercial value without breaking the league’s essence or tradition, advocating a balance between international expansion and local roots.