I’ve been working on this for a bit with the help of Gemini and Transfermarkt.
The 2025-2026 La Liga campaign is packed with new faces, returning legends, and plenty of drama to go around. From the title race to the battle for European spots and the fight against relegation, here’s a deep dive into what to expect from every team in the top flight.
The Title Contenders
Real Madrid: The consensus favorites heading into the season. The biggest news is the appointment of club legend Xabi Alonso as manager. He takes over a ridiculously talented squad that has added some serious firepower. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Franco Mastantuono are the marquee signings. The big question is how quickly Alonso can get his new-look team to gel, but on paper, they are probably the team to beat.
Barcelona: The reigning champions, led by manager Hansi Flick, are not to be counted out. They secured a domestic treble last season and have made some key additions of their own, including Marcus Rashford on a season-long loan from Manchester United. The team will continue to rely heavily on its incredible young talent, with Lamine Yamal and Gavi set to be central figures once again.
Atlético Madrid: Under the ever-passionate Diego Simeone, Atlético has undergone a significant squad overhaul. They’ve brought in reinforcements Álex Baena, center back Dávid Hancko, former Bético Johnny Cardoso, Thiago Almada, Matteo Puggeri, Marc Pubill, former Sevilla player Lenglet, and Giacomo Raspadori. They also lost super-sub, Ángel Correa, De Paul, Lino, Riquelme, and Axel Witsel. Will it be enough to close the gap on the top two?
Villarreal: The Yellow Submarine is consistently a tough opponent and a top-half contender. Under Marcelino, they are expected to push for a top-four spot. Did they do enough in the transfer window to put them in the top four? Either way, they have a solid, experienced squad that can cause problems for any team on their day.
Athletic Bilbao: Coming off a strong season, Athletic Club will be looking to build on their success. Under manager Ernesto Valverde, they continue to be a tough, disciplined side, aiming for a spot in the European competitions. The biggest move in the offseason was extending Nico Williams while adding Jesús Areso from Osasuna.
Real :poop:: With Manuel Pellegrini at the helm, Real :poop: will be a team looking to take the next step after losing their first European final. Their squad boasts experienced players like Isco, though the star midfielder’s status is in doubt for the season after picking up an injury. They also brought in some new faces, such as Riquelme from Atlético, Nelson Deossa from Monterrey in Mexico, youngster Valentín Gómez, Álvaro Valles, and Junior Firpo. :poop: made a nice profit on some sales, including youngster Jesús Rodríguez and Johnny Cardoso. There have been a number of changes, and missing Isco is going to hurt. Who steps up to lead the squad and can they take the next step in the league?
Real Sociedad: A team with a solid core and a knack for producing young talent. They will be looking to their captain, Mikel Oyarzabal, to lead them back into the European places. There are lots of changes at La Real this offseason after losing their long-time manager, Imanol Alguacil. Can new man, Sergio Francisco, find the same success? The main change to the roster is losing the heart of the midfield, Martín Zubimendi, to Arsenal in a 70-million-euro transfer. La Real did add the former Valencia star, Gonçalo Guedes, to bolster their chances.
Celta Vigo: Celta Vigo looks to have worked over the Wolves brass, selling both Strand Larsen and Fer López for a combined sum of 60 million euros. They also brought in the dynamic winger Bryan Zaragoza on loan from Bayern Munich, forward Ferran Jutglá, Ilaix Moriba, and made the Borja Iglesias move permanent. Their captain and star striker, Iago Aspas, is still a key player. If their new acquisitions can click quickly, Celta could be a surprise package this season; however, playing in Europa League may cause them to struggle.
The Mid-Table & Relegation Battle
Girona: Míchel, in his 5th season as Girona head coach, will look to improve upon their 16th place finish, the worst of his Girona career. Adding veterans such as Thomas Lemar and Axel Witsel should help with that goal. Young Brazilian, Vitor Reis, joins the mix as well. Girona should be improved, but the question is by how much.
Getafe: Getafe finished 13th last season and has had a challenging summer, with rumors of a team sale. This could be a difficult season for them, as manager José Bordalás will have to work with a squad that has some notable departures.
Sevilla: The perennial European contenders have been in a state of flux. With a new manager in Matías Almeyda, their season is difficult to predict. In August, the team is still in flux, with the team needing to sell some of their star players and fringe players in order to register the new signings. It will again be a challenging season for a club facing financial debts that seem to never go away.
Valencia: Under manager Carlos Corberán, Valencia steadied the ship last season and will look to improve once again. Losing talented Cristhian Mosquera will surely hurt the squad, but economical and veteran replacements could provide a more stable team. Can they start fast is the question.
Osasuna: Osasuna has a new manager in Alessio Lisci coming from a team in Mirandés that keeps climbing the tables in the lower leagues. After finishing 9th last season in La Liga, Osasuna looks to take the next step into European competition; however, they can find themselves in the relegation battle just as easily. They lost talented right back Areso to Athletic Club but brought in Real Madrid youngster Víctor Muñoz to potentially bolster their forward lines. Top goal scorer, Ante Budimir, returns after an impressive 21 goals on the year.
Rayo Vallecano: With their unique style of play and passionate home support, Rayo will once again be a difficult team to play against. They’ll look to improve upon their 8th place finish last season under manager Íñigo Pérez. Veteran center back, Luiz Felipe, joins the squad as does Fran Pérez from Valencia.
Espanyol: Espanyol is a team to keep an eye on. After selling goalkeeper Joan García to Barcelona for 25 million Euros, they added a ton of free transfers including their former goalkeeper, Marko Dmitrović. Also joining is 6.5 million Euro center forward from Braga, Roberto Fernández, and 35-year-old Kike García. Manager Manolo González looks to improve on their 13th place finish from last season.
Deportivo Alavés: Alavés did some good business in the offseason, making so far a 20 million Euro profit. Led by the sale of Panichelli for 16.5 million. They added a few players, including Youssef Enríquez from Real Madrid and Carles Aleñá from Getafe. Known for their tough-to-beat mentality at their Mendizorrotza stadium, Alavés will probably be focused on survival.
Mallorca: Jagoba Arrasate is on to his second season at Mallorca and will look to move up the table into those coveted European spots. Finishing 10th last season on 48 points, Mallorca sees Spanish U-21 stars Pablo Torre and Mateo Joseph join. Pablo comes over for 5 million from Barcelona and Mateo is on a loan deal for the season. If they slot in and gel, it could be a pretty nice season for the islanders.
The Promoted Sides
Levante: As the champions of Segunda División, Levante returns to the top flight after a three-year absence. Under manager Julián Calero, they have been one of the most active clubs in the transfer market, focusing on reinforcing their defense. Their goal will be to avoid a quick return to the second division.
Elche: Elche is back in La Liga after a one-season absence. With a busy pre-season schedule, they have been preparing to make a strong start to the season. Their goal is clear: to remain in the top flight.
Real Oviedo: After an incredible 24-year wait, Real Oviedo is back in La Liga. Their promotion is one of the most heartwarming stories of the season. They are led by the veteran hero Santi Cazorla, and their fans will be celebrating their return to the top flight. While they are a sentimental favorite, they will have their work cut out for them to stay up.
