Best Soccer DFS & Goal Scoring Picks for Matches on Thursday, April 23, 2026

La Liga continues its midweek fixtures with a triple header on Thursday afternoon. The Spanish top flight wraps up matchweek 33 with three pivotal matches for the bottom half of the table.

Levante and Sevilla kick off the afternoon with a consequential match in the relegation battle. Sevilla sits just one point above 18th place with a crucial match at the Ciudad de Valencia. Luis Garcia’s club is hoping to avoid being relegated for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. Meanwhile, Levante will look to continue its late-season push outside of the relegation zone as it aims to extend its four-game unbeaten streak at home.

Rayo Vallecano is set to host Espanyol shortly after in the nation’s capital for the second fixture of the afternoon. Espanyol’s spot in the middle of the table appears to be fairly secure, while Rayo will be eager to pick up a win based on their current position. Inigo Perez’s club sits just one point ahead of Sevilla, and two points outside of the relegation zone. Rayo Vallecano is unbeaten in its last five La Liga games at the Estadio de Vallecas.

The last match of the afternoon sees last-placed Real Oviedo host Villarreal at the Carlos Tartiere. Oviedo fans will continue to hold out for hope that the club can remain in La Liga next season. Guillermo Almada’s club sits seven points below 17th place with seven games remaining in the season. On the other hand, Villareal enters this matchup having comfortably secured its spot in the top four. Marcelino’s club will likely finish with their best season since 2007-2008, when they finished second.

Thursday’s Best Soccer DFS Picks

Jorge de Frutos, Rayo Vallecano ($8,200)

Rayo striker, Jorge de Frutos, tops our lineup as the second most expensive forward in Thursday’s matches. De Frutos leads his team with 11 G/A in La Liga this season.

He faces an Espanyol defense that has conceded eight goals in its last four games. The Spanish international should have several scoring opportunities, which he has converted at a high clip this season.

Akor Adams, Sevilla ($7,400)

Sevilla’s number nine, Akor Adams, rounds out our forwards in this lineup at $7,400. Like de Frutos, Adams leads Sevilla with 11 G/A in the Spanish top flight.

The Nigerian striker has two goals in his last three La Liga matches, including a penalty against Atletico Madrid last week.

Edu Exposito, Espanyol ($8,800)

The majority of our budget is spent in the midfield, with Edu Exposito as our most expensive selection in this lineup. The Spaniard has been one of the top playmakers in La Liga this season with a team-high six assists.

Exposito has a team-high 9 big chances created, with an average of 2.3 key passes per game this season. The elite level playmaking, paired with solid contributions on the defensive side, justifies Exposito’s price point in this lineup.

Rubén Vargas, Sevilla ($8,000)

Ruben Vargas rounds out our midfield with a preferable matchup against Levante. The Swiss international has struggled with injury for much of the season; however, when he is on the pitch, he tends to produce.

Vargas has 8 G/A in just 17 games played all season. The 27-year-old picked up an assist in his last match vs. Atletico Madrid.

Kike Salas, Sevilla ($3,000)

Our top-heavy lineup calls for some budget options in defense, starting with one of Sevilla’s top defenders all season, Kike Salas.

Similar to Vargas, Salas has missed large portions of the season. However, when the Spaniard has played, Espanyol’s defense has been far better. For the price point, don’t expect too much from the defender, although he is sure to rack up most defensive stats in this match.

Carlos Romero, Espanyol ($5,600)

Espanyol’s exciting left back, Carlos Romero, is our second defensive selection in this lineup. The 24-year-old has had several big games this season and has stood out as one of the more promising young defenders in La Liga.

Romero will be solid in defense, and has also shown a knack for attacking up the flanks, and contributing to some goals in the process. The Spaniard has 7 G/A from his defensive position this season.

Mathew Ryan, Levante ($4,900)

Levante’s first-choice goalkeeper, Mathew Ryan, is the perfect budget option for our lineup. The Australian keeper has been solid in goal all season despite his squad’s woes.

Ryan is averaging 3.6 saves per game with 6 clean sheets in his 29 games played. Ryan will have plenty of opportunities to make saves with Sevilla averaging 11.2 shots per game this season.

Jeremy Toljan, Levante ($4,100)

Levante’s starting right back, Jeremy Toljan, rounds out our lineup for Thursday’s matches. The German defender has been one of Levante’s best playmakers despite his position.

Toljan is second on the team in assists (3), but has created the most big chances (10) of any Levante player this season. The veteran defender is a solid dual-threat option at a budget-friendly price point.

Best Soccer Goal Scoring Pick for Thursday

Best Bet: Georges Mikautadze

The best goal-scoring pick for Thursday’s matches is Villarreal’s Georges Mikautadze vs. Real Oviedo. Mikautadze has been Villarreal’s most prolific attacker this season, with 14 G/A, despite starting just 19 matches.

The Georgian striker was in great form leading up to and through the most recent international break. Mikautadze has failed to find the back of the net in his first two matches since then, but has a prime opportunity against a Real Oviedo defense that concedes nearly two goals per game this season.

Photo Credit: AP/Manu Fernandez