La Liga 2026/2027: a preview from Oranje Palace

Let’s gooooo… La Liga 2026/2027 is about to kick off. Can FC Barcelona become Spanish champions for the third time in a row? Or will Real Madrid, under the leadership of José Mourinho, manage to reclaim the title? And what about Atlético Madrid? Will they be able to get involved in the title race this year?

After a spectacular summer featuring the 2026 World Cup, it’s time for club football once again. In Spain, that means 38 matchdays packed with technically superb football, world-class stars, nail-biting derbies and, of course, the ever-controversial Clásico between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Reason enough for Oranje Palace to tell you all about one of the finest leagues in the world: La Liga!

When does the 2026/2027 La Liga season start?

The first official round of fixtures in the Spanish La Liga is scheduled for the weekend of 14, 15 and 16 August, although several matches will be played at later dates due to the mandatory break following the 2026 World Cup. The opening match is between Deportivo Alavés and Getafe.

Due to the 2026 World Cup, both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will start their seasons at a later date. Reigning champions FC Barcelona will kick off the season against Athletic Club. Real Madrid, Denzel Dumfries’ new club, host Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabéu. Atlético Madrid, meanwhile, get their campaign underway straight away with a home match against newly promoted Málaga CF.

How did the 2025/2026 La Liga season go?

FC Barcelona enjoyed an outstanding season and were crowned Spanish champions. The Catalans finished with 94 points from 38 matches and won no fewer than 31 league games. In doing so, Barça clearly held off Real Madrid, who finished on 86 points. FC Barcelona made the season even more special by beating Real Madrid 2–0 in El Clásico on 10 May. This secured Barça’s 29th league title in the club’s history.

Villarreal also enjoyed a strong season and finished in a surprise third place with 72 points. Atlético Madrid came fourth with 69 points. Real Betis rounded off the top five and will therefore qualify for the Champions League. Celta also had a remarkably good season. The Vigo-based club finished sixth, thereby securing a place in European competition.

La Liga 2026/2027: Matchday 1 fixtures

Below is the fixture list for Matchday 1. Please note: due to the 2026 World Cup, teams such as Barcelona and Real Madrid will start the season a little later.

Key matches in La Liga 2026/2027

Naturally, football fans are particularly looking forward to the matches between Spain’s biggest clubs. The absolute highlight is El Clásico between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. The two fixtures are scheduled for matchday 10 and matchday 35 of the 2026/2027 season.

In addition, the matches between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, and the various city derbies are key fixtures to keep an eye on. The return of the Galician derby between Celta and Deportivo La Coruña is also generating extra interest.

Which clubs are competing in La Liga?

Twenty clubs will compete in La Liga 2026/2027. The league comprises a mix of traditional Spanish top clubs, established mid-table sides and three promoted teams.

These are all the participants:

Promoted and relegated teams

Every year, the Spanish football league sees three teams promoted. Racing Santander won the Segunda División title and were the first team to secure promotion. Deportivo La Coruña then secured the second automatic promotion spot. Málaga CF completed the trio via the play-offs. This means that three clubs with a rich history are returning to La Liga.

Deportivo’s return is particularly interesting. The Galician club – also the team where Roy Makaay caused a sensation in the past – was a fixture in the Spanish top flight for many years and even won the league title in 2000. Moreover, the clash with regional rivals Celta means that the Galician derby is back on the fixture list.

On the other hand, three clubs were relegated from the top flight. RCD Mallorca, Girona and Real Oviedo finished bottom of the table in the 2025/2026 season and will therefore no longer be playing at the top level.

The ever-exciting battle for the Spanish league title

La Liga was first played in the 1928/1929 season. FC Barcelona became the first champions. Since then, only nine different clubs have managed to win the Spanish league title. Alongside Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, these are Athletic Club, Valencia, Real Sociedad, Deportivo La Coruña, Sevilla and Real Betis.

Although FC Barcelona have won the league title several times in recent years, Real Madrid remain the most successful club in the history of La Liga. The Madrid side have been crowned Spanish champions 36 times, compared with 29 titles for FC Barcelona. Atlético Madrid are third on the list with eleven league titles.

In the 2026–2027 season, too, it looks set to be a contest between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid to see who will claim the league title. FC Barcelona, in particular, seem to be in a strong position, given that they have a large number of players who won the 2026 World Cup with Spain in July. On the other hand, it may also be the case that these players have lost some of their motivation and are focusing primarily on the Champions League. This, in turn, could be good news for both Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.

Three in a row for FC Barcelona?

FC Barcelona begin the new season as reigning champions. Under Hansi Flick, the side have developed into one of the strongest teams in Spain. With players such as Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha and Frenkie de Jong, Barça possess a wealth of attacking talent.

Lamine Yamal, in particular, is set to be one of the key players to watch this season. The young striker had a somewhat lacklustre World Cup, but has firmly established himself among the world’s best over the past few seasons. Thanks to his young age, he is also a key part of Barcelona’s future.

The challenge for Flick is to maintain the standard set in the championship-winning season. Barça must also take into account the physical strain on players who have played many matches during the 2026 World Cup. As a result, players such as Pau Cubarsí, Lamine Yamal, Eric Garcia, Pedri and Gavi featured regularly at the World Cup. What’s more, they won’t have Frenkie de Jong available for the first few months. The Dutchman is set to be sidelined for a long time with a knee injury.

Real Madrid are out to reclaim the title

Real Madrid are, of course, the main challengers. Los Blancos finished second last season, but perhaps boast the most impressive squad in Spain. Kylian Mbappé is arguably the best striker in the world and was once again crowned top scorer at the World Cup last summer.

In addition, Real Madrid boast even more world-class players in Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde. Marc Cucurella and Denzel Dumfries were also added to the squad this summer.

All this must take place under the leadership of José Mourinho, the manager who previously won the Champions League with Real Madrid. The question, of course, is whether he can behave normally now that he has returned to the highest level. On the other hand, he remains one of the most successful managers on the European stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the 2026/2027 La Liga season start?

The first round of fixtures in La Liga is scheduled for the weekend of 14, 15 and 16 August. Due to the mandatory break following the 2026 World Cup, some of the opening round’s matches will be played later.

How many clubs play in La Liga?

There are twenty clubs in La Liga. Each team plays 38 matches: one at home and one away against every other team. This means a total of 380 league matches are played.

Who are the reigning national champions?

FC Barcelona are the reigning Spanish champions. The Catalans won the 2025/2026 La Liga season with 94 points, securing their 29th league title. Real Madrid finished second with 86 points.

Which clubs have been promoted to La Liga?

Racing Santander, RC Deportivo and Málaga CF are the three promoted sides for the 2026/2027 season. Racing Santander were promoted as champions, Deportivo as runners-up, and Málaga secured their place in the top flight via the play-offs.

Who are the favourites for the league title?

FC Barcelona and Real Madrid appear to be the main favourites for the title. Barcelona start as reigning champions, whilst Real Madrid will be keen to reclaim the Spanish league title. Atlético Madrid and Villarreal could potentially spring a surprise.

Who are the players to watch?

Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé and Julián Álvarez are among the key players to keep an eye on. In addition, there are several young talents at Barcelona and Real Madrid who could make a big breakthrough this season.