The 2026-27 La Liga season starts on August 15 and as usual, all the focus in the winner market is on powerhouses Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The giants have shared 11 of the previous 12 titles and bookmakers are expecting another two horse race in Spain.
Barcelona are the defending champions under Hansi Flick but Real Madrid are preparing to stop the Catalan club winning three on the spin.
Florentino Pérez brought José Mourinho back to the club in an attempt to regain some control over a disruptive dressing room. Can the Special One deliver?
2026-27 La Liga Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Barcelona |
1.80 |
| Real Madrid |
2.20 |
| Atletico Madrid |
17.00 |
| Real Betis |
51.00 |
| Villarreal |
67.00 |
| Athletic Club |
67.00 |
| Real Sociedad |
101.00 |
Barcelona - Champions Chasing a Three-Peat
- Manager: Hansi Flick
- President: Joan Laporta
- Key Players: Pau Cubarsí, Pedri, Fermín López, Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres
- In: Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund), Jesse Bisiwu (Club NXT)
- Out: Marc-André ter Stegen (Ajax), Ronald Araujo (Liverpool), Ansu Fati (Monaco), Robert Lewandowski (Chicago Fire)
Barcelona claimed a second straight title last season, finishing eight points ahead of Real Madrid. They scored 95 goals, 18 more than their eternal rivals.
One of the impressive elements of their success was the distribution of the goals. Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres both netted 16 goals, Robert Lewandowski next best with 14 and Raphina scoring 13 goals.
With Marcus Rashford, Dani Olmo and Fermín López contributing a combined 15 goals and assists each, it was nearly impossible for opponents to stop the Catalan club banging them in.
Hansi Flick has an incredible amount of highly talented youngsters at the club, La Masia continually producing technically gifted players who are able to make the step up to the senior side.
One of those is Pau Cubarsí, the 19-year-old centre-back who was instrumental in Spain’s success at the 2026 World Cup. Expect the teenager to keep improving and be a permanent piece of Barcelona’s defence in the years to come.
Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi have been signed to add depth and quality out wide, but Lewandowski will need to be replaced with a younger striker.
Atlético Madrid's Julián Álvarez is the main target, expect the club to get busy in the transfer market before the start of the campaign.
Real Madrid - Special One Returns
- Manager: José Mourinho
- President: Florentino Pérez
- Key Players: Dean Huijsen, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Arda Güler, Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappé
- In: Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Yan Diomande (Leipzig), Carlos Espí (Levante)
- Out: David Alaba (Released), Daniel Carvajal (Released), César Palacios (Fulham), Gonzalo García (Fulham)
Real Madrid are coming off a season of upheaval, Xabi Alonso lasting six months in charge before Álvaro Arbeloa tried his hand in the hot seat.
With munities abounding and players seemingly refusing to get on board, Florentino Pérez turned to 63-year-old José Mourinho who returns to the club where he won the 2011/12 La Liga title.
Ibrahima Konaté, Marc Cucurella and Denzel Dumfries have been signed but it wasn’t defence where the title was lost to Barcelona. Los Blancos conceded 35 goals, one less than their rivals. It was their attack that couldn’t keep up the pace.
Mourinho has no shortage of talent at his disposal. Jude Bellingham should play behind Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Junior but there are rumours that Vinicius could be sold in the transfer window.
Real Madrid made a statement in the transfer window by signing highly rated winger Yan Diomande for €125m. The Ivory Coast speedster was one of the most prouctive players in the Bundesliga last season, registering 12 goals and eight assists for Leipzig.
Whatever happens, Mourinho arrived in Madrid with a mandate to stamp his authority on the club. It will be fascinating to see how the Special One and his side perform in their attempt to return to the summit of Spanish football.
Atlético Madrid - Simeone's Side Slipping off the Pace
- Manager: Diego Simeone
- President: Enrique Cerezo
- Key Players: Marc Pubill, Morten Hjulmand, Álex Baena, Ademola Lookman, Julián Alvarez
- In: Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Morten Hjulmand (Sporting CP), Kang-in Lee (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Out: Clément Lenglet (Benfica), Thiago Almada (River Plate), Antoine Griezmann (Orlando City)
Atlético have won two La Liga titles since Diego Simeone took charge in 2011 but fell a long way off the pace last season. They finished fourth, 25 points behind champions Barcelona.
Star striker Julián Alvarez has been heavily linked with a move to Barca which highlights the power imbalance in Spanish football.
The Colchoneros face an uphill battle to go the distance with the two dominant clubs in Spain despite showing they can compete in head to head games.
Expect more players to be signed in an attempt to strengthen their squad, but it’s unlikely to be enough to stick with Barcelona and Real Madrid throughout the course of a 38 game campaign.