La Liga: What to know ahead of new 2026-27 football season

EXPLAINER

Predictions, information and transfers forward of the brand new La Liga season, as Barcelona and Actual Madrid renew their title rivalry.

Spain’s top-flight league, La Liga, kicks off the 2026-27 European football season on Saturday, as a number of gamers return to membership obligation lower than a month after the FIFA World Cup ended.

Barcelona, whose eight gamers had been a part of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad, enter this marketing campaign with hopes of finishing a “three-peat” of league titles after profitable the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons.

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Nevertheless, their archrivals Actual Madrid have a seasoned supervisor – Jose Mourinho – on the helm this outing, and can look to rediscover their profitable pedigree after going two seasons with no main trophy.

Whereas all eyes might be on the title tussle between Barca and Actual once more, they don’t seem to be in motion within the first spherical of fixtures, which options seven matches and is headlined by Atletico Madrid.

Al Jazeera breaks down the brand new La Liga season:

FILE -Benfica's head coach José Mourinho arrives for a Champions League opening phase soccer match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid in Lisbon, Portugal, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Pedro Rocha, File) — Actual Madrid followers will hope Jose Mourinho, additionally known as the ‘Particular One’, will deliver them again to glory days [Pedro Rocha/AP]

When does the brand new La Liga season begin?

The 2026-27 La Liga season begins on Saturday, August 15, with two matches on the opening day.

Additional spherical one matches are additionally scheduled for Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday.

La Liga first spherical matches and schedule

Alaves vs Getafe – Saturday, August 15 at 17:30 GMT
Sevilla vs Rayo Vallecano – Saturday, August 15 at 19:30 GMT
Racing Santander vs Villarreal – Sunday, August 16 at 15:00 GMT
Espanyol vs Levante – Sunday, August 16 at 17:00 GMT
Celta Vigo vs Osasuna – Sunday, August 16 at 19:30 GMT
Deportivo vs Elche – Monday, August 17 at 19:00 GMT
Atletico Madrid vs Malaga – Wednesday, 19 August at 19:00 GMT

Why are Barcelona and Actual Madrid not taking part in within the first La Liga spherical?

In mid-July, La Liga pushed back Barcelona’s and Actual Madrid’s opening matches as a result of variety of gamers from each golf equipment concerned within the FIFA World Cup semifinals and last.

Among the many key Barcelona gamers concerned within the World Cup last had been Spain’s Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres, whose extra-time goal led them to their second World Cup title.

Madrid’s talisman, Kylian Mbappe, was joined by midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni within the France facet that made the semifinals, whereas Actual playmaker Jude Bellingham was a part of England’s bronze-winning facet.

When will Barcelona and Actual Madrid play their first match?

Barcelona’s title defence begins on August 23 with an away sport towards Elche, whereas Madrid face Espanyol away on August 22.

La Liga predictions 2026-27

The title favourites

The Opta supercomputer has predicted a forty five.6-percent probability of Barcelona finishing a hat-trick of league titles, which might additionally deliver their whole to 30 La Liga championships. Barca haven’t pulled off three titles in a row because the golden Pep Guardiola period from 2008 to 2011.

The simulations gave Madrid a 31-percent likelihood of success beneath the skilled Mourinho, who returns for his second stint on the Bernabeu after being in cost between 2010 and 2013.

Atletico Madrid, who completed fourth final season and didn’t win a trophy, are third on Opta’s record of favourites for glory this time with a mere 8.6-percent probability, adopted by Villarreal at 3.3 p.c and Actual Betis at 2.1 p.c.

The relegation favourites

Sevilla, who had been embroiled within the relegation struggle for the final two seasons, could not survive this time – that’s what the Opta supercomputer predicts. Sevilla have a 27.7-percent likelihood of being relegated this season, making them the third-likeliest group to go down.

Newcomers Deportivo, who’re again in La Liga for the primary time since 2017-18, are the highest favourites to be relegated with a 29.2-percent likelihood, adopted by Elche at 28.4 p.c.

The perfect incoming transfers of La Liga 2026-27

Madrid have been busy in the summertime switch window, signing a number of high-profile gamers throughout departments.

Proper-back Denzel Dumfries has joined them from Inter Milan, left-back Marc Cucurella arrives from Chelsea and centre-back Ibrahima Konate signed as a free agent after leaving Liverpool.

Veteran midfielder Bernardo Silva additionally joined on a free deal after exiting Manchester Metropolis, whereas Madrid paid a club-record fee to usher in teenage winger Yan Diomande on a long-term deal from RB Leipzig

At Barcelona, left-winger Anthony Gordon signed from Newcastle United and the versatile Karim Adeyemi joined the Catalan membership from Borussia Dortmund.