European Football Returns: League Openers, Title Contenders and Key Storylines for the New Season

The new La Liga season kicks off on Saturday, 15 August, with Alaves facing Getafe at 18:30 BST.

Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid, 13 years after his first tenure ended, was an unexpected reunion that has already sparked intense debate.

Despite Kylian Mbappe’s individual brilliance since his 2024 arrival, Real Madrid’s overall unit has struggled to gel, falling short of the dominance many anticipated in La Liga and the Champions League.

Last season, Real appeared as two distinct sides: a potent attacking quartet and a defensively fragile setup prone to counter-attacks.

New signings including Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries and Bernardo Silva are intended to strengthen the squad, while Yan Diomande could add further dynamism in the final third.

Vinicius Junior has committed to a new contract, ending transfer speculation linking him with Arsenal.

Critics question whether the veteran Mourinho can manage the egos of Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius, especially given his previous Bernabeu exit amid dressing room unrest—and whether his tactical acumen remains sufficient to challenge Barcelona.

Hansi Flick’s Barcelona were less formidable last term compared to 2024-25, but a squad packed with Spanish World Cup winners remains favored to secure a third consecutive league title.

Replacing Robert Lewandowski’s goal output will be challenging, but the arrivals of Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi provide welcome reinforcement.

Atletico Madrid will again aim to force their way into the top two, while Villarreal and Real Betis lead the charge among the rest.

Having risen from the third tier, Malaga will seek to avoid relegation with a budget-conscious but tightly-knit squad, though the club has operated under judicial administration since 2020.

Valencia fans will mourn the final campaign at the iconic Mestalla stadium, though uncertainty remains over whether Europa Conference League runners-up Rayo Vallecano can host any home games at all.

The Madrid regional authority has revoked the club’s license to host matches at its rented Vallecas stadium, citing the dilapidated state of the facilities.

Source link