Two years in the past, FC Barcelona supervisor Xavi Hernández, trying to the long run in a season of transition, handed a debut to a 15-year-old with a simple smile and an outrageous left foot: Lamine Yamal.
The boy didn’t simply present promise, however lit up the Camp Nou in type.
In solely quarter-hour, Yamal displayed a mix of confidence, aptitude, and imaginative and prescient that hadn’t been seen for the reason that days of a sure No. 10. That night time, it grew to become clear to many who soccer’s romance was removed from over.
Quick ahead to immediately, and that very same teenager is a two-time La Liga champion, now sporting Lionel Messi’s legendary shirt quantity—and someway, managing to dwell as much as it.
Yamal not solely finds himself within the combine as considered one of La Liga’s greatest gamers, however is among the many favourites within the 30-man 2025 Ballon d’Or shortlist.
To grow to be the most important title within the sport, there’s so much he must obtain, however the profession of the teenager sensation is on a gradual rise, and will he follow what he does greatest, there’ll be no stopping him.
The 2025/26 marketing campaign may mark Yamal’s true coronation as Spain’s new footballing monarch. Nonetheless, massive names like Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and his Barça teammate Pedri González stay in pursuit, every with their very own story to write down by the point they name it quits on their respective Spanish careers.
As the brand new season looms, signings like Marcus Rashford, Alex Baena, and Trent Alexander-Arnold arrive not only for the enjoyable of it, however with one thing to show. For Rashford, it’s about rescuing his dwindling profession in a possibility of a lifetime, whereas Baena and Trent stay up for the subsequent massive strikes of their career.
La Liga 2025/26 is right here already, however solely three months again, FC Barcelona have been topped champions of the 2024/25 marketing campaign, which noticed them dominate rivals Actual Madrid beneath new supervisor Hansi Flick.
Since then, there have been promotions from La Liga Hypermotion, beforehand Smartbank or the Segunda Division, the place all of Levante, Elche and Actual Oviedo managed to return to the highest flight.
For the primary time in 10 years, Madrid come right into a La Liga season with out considered one of Antonio Kroos or Luka Modric of their fold. With these two, Los Blancos clinched 4 league titles within the final decade, with bitter rivals Barcelona selecting up 5 of these, whereas Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid settled for one.
The brand new season is bound to reignite rivalries, present countless iconic moments more likely to go down in historical past, in addition to controversy, contemplating the truth that La Liga has been swamped with questionable refereeing selections beneath President Javier Tebas.
Actual Madrid have been on the coronary heart of all of it final yr, making certain they handed Tebas’ administration a tough time with a sequence of official social media statements, aiming to pile strain on the RFEF.
The drama is bound to proceed, however let’s not digress from the soccer itself, as a result of this might very properly form as much as be one of the best La Liga season this decade.
Yamal’s Barca might be there as soon as once more, aiming to retain their league title for the primary time in eight years.
Actual, however, might have misplaced some massive names, however reinforcements like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen, along with final season’s summer time signing Kylian Mbappe, may show to be a serious distinction of their quest to be topped champions for a thirty seventh time.
For Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, it has been a summer time of intent.
Seven new names on the block in Matteo Ruggeri, Alex Baena, Johnny Cardoso, Thiago Almada, Marc Pubill, Giacomo Raspadori and David Hancko imply that something lower than a critical title problem will virtually definitely spark the “underachievement” narrative.
Athletic Membership pulled off one of many summer time’s greatest wins by convincing Nico Williams to remain, so the Williams-brothers partnership forward of Oihan Sancet, Alex Berenguer and Benat Prados is one thing Ernesto Valverde will definitely be exploring as soon as once more with UEFA Champions League soccer as properly within the combine.
For Villareal, marksman Baena, who created probably the most league possibilities (95) within the entirety of final season in Europe, might have departed for Atleti, however bringing in former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey may show to be the trick for the Yellow Submarine, who purpose to retain a top-five end.
Actual Betis, Celta Vigo, Rayo Vallecano, Osasuna and Mallorca can even be current this new time period with the intention of creating their house grounds a fortress in opposition to the highest six golf equipment trying to run away with factors within the race for the title.
The truth is, Mallorca and Osasuna tackle Barcelona and Madrid, respectively, on Matchday 1, so fasten your seatbelts, as a result of that is going to be a protracted journey.
Right here’s a glance into the highest La Liga summer time signings and the way their arrivals may reshape and elevate their new golf equipment within the upcoming marketing campaign.
Alex Baena, Atletico Madrid
One of many greatest Spanish creators alive might be endlessly accessible for Diego Simeone, who goals to safe his second league title in 5 years and a 3rd total in 15 years in La Liga. That might imply a league title each 5 years since he took the job again in 2011.
At Villareal final time period, Baena amassed 16 aim contributions and created probably the most possibilities (93) within the league, and being handed Angel Correa’s massive quantity 10 shirt means a great deal of duty clearly beneath Simeone.
Nevertheless, simply the sheer considered the ruthlessness he’s positive to afford Los Colchoneros as soon as handed the chance to play alongside world champions Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez is mind-boggling.
Baena can even have Alexander Sortloth, who’s grabbed greater than 40 league objectives within the final two seasons forward of him, and this will very properly be the most important creator signing in Spain for the subsequent few years.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Actual Madrid
It appeared a lifetime as a Merseyside Purple was on the playing cards for Alexander-Arnold, who has racked up probably the most assists (42) in Europe for a fullback within the final seven years, per a number of statistical sources.
Nonetheless, when Madrid comes calling, there are just a few gamers who can stand their floor and reject the request of one of many world’s biggest soccer golf equipment.
Glimpses of how new Madrid supervisor Xabi Alonso needed Trent to settle in have been seen on the 2025 FIFA Membership World Cup, and as a fullback with a great deal of expertise, the large problem for Arnold is right here for all to see.
Enjoying as a wingback means a great deal of room to contribute to assault, nevertheless it additionally requires extra depth and endurance to cowl the flank in the best way the supervisor requires. Will he explode into life? In all probability, however who can say for positive, ought to skipper Dani Carvajal return to his easiest.
Joan Garcia, Barcelona
146 saves in La Liga within the earlier time period implies that Garcia topped the charts at Espanyol, however the dramatic flip he’s made for his profession is what a number of followers world wide didn’t see coming.
So Barcelona have a brand new goalkeeper on their fingers for a second straight season– a sign that skipper Marc Ter Stegen’s time on the membership is nearing an finish by the day.
Garcia, 24, is definitely Hansi Flick’s #1 choice in aim, and he’s anticipated to enhance the efficiency of the Catalans in defence regardless of the sudden departure of Inigo Martinez to Saudi Arabia this summer time.
Dean Huijsen, Actual Madrid
The world is conscious Actual have been struck with accidents in defence for the final two years, and signing a teen 6 ‘5 centre half who occurs to be unbelievable on the ball could possibly be the defining issue for Alonso’s facet within the buildup.
Huijsen on the left facet of defence partnering Alvaro Carreras means Alonso has recognized considered one of Actual’s weak defensive spots, but time would be the greatest choose of how good they are going to settle in beneath the Santiago Bernabeu lights and likewise away from house in intense playgrounds.
Johnny Cardoso, Atletico Madrid
Ranked amongst one of the best six midfielders in La Liga within the 2024/25 season in ball development, duels and tackles, Cardoso’s transfer to Atletico was one many didn’t appear to grasp till the departure of Rodrigo De Paul to Inter Miami within the MLS.
Simeone’s most well-liked pivot pair for Atleti was De Paul and younger sensation Pablo Barrios, however now, Cardoso steps in to interchange the Argentine.
Many will certainly query the development and stability of the brand new pivot-dynamic, but having creators like Baena and Griezmann ought to be sufficient to see out video games and finally elevate this group to the extent the world expects to be.
Marcus Rashford, Barcelona
A chance of a lifetime has been afforded to Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford, who has struggled with recreation consistency during the last two years.
His expertise? Plain. Nonetheless, to succeed at a membership like Barcelona, which is continually full of a number of superstars, Rashford goes to must do extra.
The most important silver lining in all of this? Marcus is aware of precisely what’s at stake. At 27, this could possibly be his final actual shot — and if he fails to grab it, resurrecting a profession that’s already shedding momentum could also be out of attain.
Thomas Partey, Villarreal
Considered among the best defensive midfielders on this planet, Ghanaian midfielder Partey’s transfer to Villarreal is a game-changer for Marcelino’s upcoming season.
The world and Spain particularly are totally conscious of what Partey’s recreation encompasses, but the concept that he’ll pair veteran midfielder Dani Parejo in midfield screams immaculate ranges of management and possession dynamic.
Villarreal and La Liga are totally conscious Partey is dealing with sexual assault expenses, but he’s been granted bail and might be aiming to give attention to displaying his greatest stage after the return to Spain, quite than the off-field points threatening his repute.
Thiago Alamada, Atletico Madrid
The ultimate massive title to maintain a detailed eye on in La Liga this upcoming season needs to be Atletico’s Thiago Almada. The 24-year-old Argentine has already set the tone on the nationwide stage after being topped World champion again in 2022 in Qatar.
Now, he’s taking his membership profession to a better stage after a stint within the MLS and the French Ligue.
Almada has an ideal skillset and offensive unpredictability in his recreation, which is closely just like the departed Angel Correa’s type beneath Diego Simeone.
An Argentine participant beneath Simeone is commonly a hit per Atleti requirements, however remaining constant all through the marketing campaign would be the hardest take a look at for the 24-year-old.
Potential Title Winners and Prime 4 Predictions
Girona and Rayo Vallecano arrange the tempo for the season on Friday, August 15, on the Estadi Montilivi in what many anticipate to be a recreation with immense ranges of depth.
Coach Michel Sanchez Munoz might be aiming for the same begin to the season as he had in 2023/24, after securing a historic Champions League slot for the Catalans.
In the meantime, Vallecano supervisor Iñigo Pérez might be trying to construct on final season’s spectacular eighth-place end — a marketing campaign that earned the membership a spot within the 2025-26 UEFA Convention League.
That achievement set a brand new benchmark, and now, the expectations might be even increased this time round.
The season opener will definitely be a spectacle that can have followers anxiously watching on from all around the world, however as soon as the whistle blows, it’ll actually sink in: La Liga is again.
For the title race, it’s onerous to look previous Hansi Flick’s Barcelona. With proficient gamers like Raphinha, Pedri González, Jules Koundé, Lamine Yamal, and Joan García, the Catalan giants have the depth and high quality to defend their crown.
Actual, Atlético and Bilbao ought to spherical out the highest 4, barring any main surprises.
Madrid will probably catch many followers world wide off guard beneath Xabi Alonso, however the stability and construction wanted to win La Liga do not fairly appear evident but of their camp.
Constant minutes afforded Kylian Mbappe and Vini Jr would imply the likes of Gonzalo Garcia and Endrick have their progress disrupted, however do not get me unsuitable, although, Madrid will all the time be within the combine as they’re report winners of this competitors.
Nevertheless, the inconsistencies in defence, the shortage of a substitute for Modric and an skilled heart ahead could possibly be the primary cause rivals Barcelona barely edge them to retain the title.
Ought to that occur, it could be the primary time in eight years {that a} group has retained La Liga since FC Barcelona within the 2017/18 and 2018/19 campaigns.
For the large El-Classico moments, Raphinha, Pedri, Bellingham, Yamal and Mbappe might be there to supply the much-needed pleasure because the world seems on. Mbappe appears the early favorite to choose the Pinchichi trophy after his breakthrough season final time period. Nevertheless, different key names followers might be retaining a detailed eye on embody Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Alexander Sorloth, Raphinha and a attainable return of Vinicius Jr to his easiest.
La Liga is right here, and should you made it this far, a really massive thanks to you. See you on the finish of the season, and a attainable return of Vinicius Jr to his easiest.
La Liga is right here, and should you made it this far, a really massive thanks to you. See you on the finish of the season.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Feedback, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform don’t essentially signify the views or coverage of Multimedia Group Restricted.
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