Liga

Dominant football win moves defending La Liga champions to second place in the standings, five adrift of archrivals Madrid.

Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford struck for Barcelona as they earned a 3-1 win over Elche in La Liga to bounce back from last weekend’s El Clasico defeat and move back into second place to trail leaders Real Madrid by five points.

Barca continued to struggle in defence and Elche had chances to cause an upset on Sunday, scoring through Rafa Mir, with the striker also twice hitting the woodwork.

Hansi Flick’s Barca have failed to keep a clean sheet in six consecutive league games, in the midst of an injury crisis.

The champions were missing Pedri, Gavi, and Joan Garcia among others, but were able to bring on Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo following spells out of action.

Teenage star Lamine Yamal underwhelmed in last week’s defeat by Real Madrid after coming back from a groin issue, but looked more spritely against Elche.

Coached by Eder Sarabia, a former Barcelona assistant coach under Quique Setien, the ninth-placed visitors came to play and impressed.

Barca took the lead after nine minutes when Alejandro Balde drove forward and fed Yamal in the area.

The winger took a touch to set himself and then whipped a clinical finish past former Barca goalkeeper Inaki Pena, a teammate of his last season.

Three minutes later, Torres doubled the hosts’ advantage, tapping home after Fermin Lopez broke into space down the left and provided an inch-perfect cross.

The striker revealed a T-shirt paying tribute to Valencia, his home region, a year on from the deadly flooding that hit Spain’s east coast.

Lopez and Rashford fired narrowly off-target while Pena saved from Torres as Barca squandered some presentable chances.

Mir pulled a goal back shortly before half-time. Barca tried to catch the forward offside, but he was in his own half when he was played in. Mir bent a shot past Ronald Araujo and Barca goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and in at the far post.

Torres might have scored again before the interval, but Pena produced a superb save to tip his strike to safety.

Early in the second half, Mir clipped the top of the crossbar with a curling effort as Elche battled well.

Rashford sealed Barca’s victory with a superb finish after Lopez picked him out with a cross, for his second league goal of the campaign.

Veteran goalkeeper Szczesny pushed a Mir effort onto the post to save Barca sweating over their advantage in the final stages.

“It was very important to start strong and intense. From there, we could take the game where we wanted it to go,” Torres told DAZN.

“We knew the type of game they were going to play, and we started very strong. We were a bit off afterwards, but we found our spirit and our intensity again in the second half.”

Follow the build-up, analysis and live text commentary of the football game as Barcelona host Elche at the Olympic Stadium.

Follow the build-up, analysis and live text commentary of the game as Madrid host Barcelona for Spain’s El Clasico.

Despite the match being cancelled, Spanish football expert Guillem Balague does not think this is the end of the story.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Whilst Javier Tebas is the head of La Liga, he will try to get one game away.

“He thinks that it’s a project, as the statement says, aimed at enhancing the visibility of Spanish football.

“It complied fully with federation regulations. The position on the project was just for reasons unrelated to regulatory or sporting integrity.”

Balague believes finances were the main reason behind the cancellation of the match.

“Perhaps there wasn’t enough money, perhaps the money wasn’t clear where it was going, but certainly it’s been a lot of confusion,” he added.

“Villarreal were saying, ‘We’re not getting any money for it’, but Barcelona were saying, ‘As soon as we get into the plane, we will get money’.

“It wasn’t clear how Villarreal had promised about 5,000 of their fans would go to Miami, or how that was going to happen.”

The AFE said replica demonstrations will take place at the remaining La Liga games this weekend.

Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso, whose side play at Getafe on Sunday, said: “We are against the [Miami] match. We believe it distorts the competition.

“There hasn’t been unanimity or consultation for it to be played on neutral ground. The protests are positive, and that sentiment is positive.

“We believe it could happen if there were unanimity, but that’s not the case.”

The AFE has not asked Barcelona and Villarreal players to participate in the protests to avoid it being “interpreted as a possible measure against any club”.

It said: “In the face of La Liga’s constant refusals and unrealistic proposals, the Spanish Footballers’ Association categorically rejects a project that does not have the approval of the main players in our sport and demands that the employers’ association create a negotiating table in which all information is shared and the exceptional characteristics of the project are analysed, the needs and concerns of the footballers are addressed, and the protection of their labour rights and compliance with current regulations are guaranteed.”

The BBC has contacted La Liga for comment.

Confirmation of the Miami game followed a decision by the Italian football federation (FIGC) to sanction a Serie A match between AC Milan and Como to be played in Perth, Australia, in February.

On Friday Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said: “My players are not happy. I am not happy. But La Liga decided that we will play this game.”

Real expressed opposition when the fixture was announced, saying the consequences would be “so serious”, while Uefa “reluctantly” approved the move.

This week RFEF president Rafael Louzan said the move was “good for football”, while Barcelona president Joan Laporta said the match will “definitely be a great show”.

Uefa says it consulted stakeholders and found “widespread lack of support” for league matches to be played abroad, echoing concerns raised by fans, other leagues, clubs, players and European institutions.

But it said world governing body Fifa’s regulatory framework is “not clear and detailed enough” for it to block the plans.

Fifa set up a working group last year to look at the impact of playing competitive domestic matches overseas.

Last year, La Liga said it wanted to hold Barcelona v Atletico Madrid in Miami before dropping the idea because of time constraints.

In 2019, Barcelona also planned to stage a league match against Girona in Miami, but the idea was scrapped after opposition from Spain’s football association and its players’ union.

Other one-off matches, such as the Italian Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup, have been held abroad in recent years.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said in August there are no plans to play an English top-flight match abroad.

The idea of the Premier League playing an extra round outside England – the so-called ’39th game’ – was raised in 2008 but shelved after criticism from fans and media.

Barcelona’s unexpected loss to Sevilla drops the Spanish champions two points behind Real Madrid on La Liga ladder.

Sevilla thrashed Barcelona 4-1 on Sunday, ending the champions’ unbeaten start in La Liga and denying them an opportunity to return to the top of the table.

The Andalusian club’s first league win over Barcelona since 2015 lifted them to sixth in the standings with 13 points from eight matches. Barcelona remained second with 19 points, two below leaders Real Madrid.

“It’s one of the happiest days of my life. We deserved to win from start to finish,” said Jose Angel Carmona, who scored Sevilla’s third goal.

Barcelona made a muted start and had no shots on target in the first half an hour, while Sevilla probed early on, looking to unleash Alexis Sanchez with long balls.

Sevilla took the lead in the 13th minute, after Isaac Romero went down while jostling for the ball with Ronald Araujo near Barcelona’s six-yard box, and the referee awarded a penalty to Sevilla after taking a look at the VAR replay.

Sanchez sent former Arsenal teammate Wojciech Szczesny the wrong way to convert the spot kick.

Szczesny stopped Sevilla from doubling their lead in the 27th minute, saving Romero’s shot from inside the box.

Romero, however, doubled Sevilla’s lead 10 minutes later, as Ruben Vargas sprinted past Barcelona’s high defensive line to chase down a through ball near the box, and crossed to the Spanish forward who dispatched a first-time finish.

Marcus Rashford reduced the deficit for Barcelona late in added time before the break, hammering Pedri’s lobbed pass into the net from a tight angle with his left foot.

Lewandowski misses penalty

Barcelona pushed forward in the second half and were handed an opportunity to equalise when Adnan Januzaj brought down Alejandro Balde in the box, but Robert Lewandowski fired wide from the penalty spot in the 76th minute.

The visitors’ hopes of salvaging a point ended in the 90th minute when Carmona shot through a defender’s legs to find the net and put Sevilla 3-1 ahead.

Second-half substitute Akor Adams made it 4-1 five minutes into added time, scoring from Chidera Ejuke’s pass.

“We lacked intensity, we couldn’t get the ball out of our half, we didn’t know what to do with the ball … we were never at our best,” Barcelona midfielder Pedri said.

“We need to improve a lot of things so that we can start winning games again after the break.”

Sevilla, who have won two games in a row, will continue their league campaign after the international break against Mallorca on October 18, the same day Barcelona host Girona.

Who: Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid
What: Spanish La Liga
Where: Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain
When: Saturday, September 26, at 4:15PM (14:15 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 1:15pm (13:15 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.

Real Madrid have made a perfect start to the season under Xabi Alonso, but their new coach warned against complacency on Friday before his first Madrid derby in charge of La Liga’s leaders.

Alonso spent five seasons as a player with Real but now takes his team to the Metropolitano stadium to take on Atletico in his latest role with his side in impressive form.

Real have won all six league matches, conceding three goals, and hold a two-point advantage over champions Barcelona.

“We’ve only played six and got full points, but some games were a real struggle, so we can’t get overconfident,” Alonso told reporters before Saturday’s game.

“You can’t think that just by stepping onto the pitch you’ll win because of the badge you wear or the squad we have. I believe the more we educate ourselves to come out switched on for any match at any ground, the more games we’ll win.

“And if we win a lot of games, if we have that natural activation, we can pick up a lot of points. But we mustn’t relax because a lapse can cost you.”

Is Real Madrid’s trip Alonso’s first to Atletico as a manager?

Alonso has faced Atletico as manager when in charge of Bayer Leverkusen – drawing 2-2 in Madrid in 2022 shortly after taking over the German club and losing 2-1 away last season – but going there with Real is a very different prospect.

“It’s definitely different going to the Metropolitano with any other club than with Real Madrid,” Alonso said.

“Because of the healthy rivalry, and I think that’s something beautiful, something that’s been enjoyed for many years, and hopefully, we can keep enjoying it tomorrow, as well.”

How Atletico Madrid shape up before Real visit?

While Alonso’s Real are flying high, Diego Simeone’s Atletico have won two of their six league games, which leaves them already trailing their Madrid rivals by nine points, but those numbers are not so relevant at this stage.

Real have also failed to beat Atletico in the league over the last two seasons.

“The standings don’t say much right now,” Alonso said.

“Sure, we could extend the lead, but the match is going to be tough; it’s going to be tight. Winning at the Metropolitano isn’t easy; we’re going to have to work for it.”

Alonso impressed by Simeone but setting no targets

Simeone has been in charge at Atletico for 14 years, but 43-year-old Alonso, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti in June, is not looking that far ahead.

“What Simeone has done over these 14 years at Atletico is very important, not just what he’s achieved,” Alonso said.

“I’m just starting out, so I like to take things step by step. I don’t set such long-term goals.

“The beginning has been good, and there’s a long road ahead, so we will see.”

What happened the last time Real Madrid faced Atletico?

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone famously hates to deviate from the here and now, but when his team host Real, it is difficult not to look both forwards and backwards.

The last time these teams met was in March in the Champions League last 16, when Atletico were eliminated after Julian Alvarez’s controversially disallowed shootout penalty.

The Rojiblancos seethed for weeks about the incident, with Alvarez ruled to have double-kicked the ball, and their season rapidly flew off the rails. Perhaps they have never fully recovered since.

STANDINGS | Here’s how the #LALIGAEASPORTS table looks after Matchday 6. pic.twitter.com/VlRzyf2ZRB

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) September 25, 2025

Can Simeone turn around Atletico’s fortunes?

Atletico spent big in the summer, signing Alex Baena, David Hancko and Thiago Almada among others, for a total of more than 175 million euros ($204m).

“We want to recover in the best way we can,” said Simeone after his team came from behind to beat Rayo Vallecano 3-2 in a thrilling clash on Wednesday.

“We will have a really hard, difficult game against a side that has been winning all their games, and who have a tonne of very good players in their squad.”

What is Simeone’s record at Atletico?

Simeone this week became the coach who has spent the longest time in charge of a La Liga club, having arrived in December 2011.

Helping Atletico to reach two Champions League finals, both lost against Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016, as well as winning two La Liga titles, Simeone has taken the club to their very best moments.

Unfortunately, over the past few seasons, since they won La Liga in 2021, the team have fallen from their peak.

“The team needs to evolve to the height the club has,” admitted Simeone in August.

What is Real Madrid’s form before the derby?

Alonso can match Vanderlei Luxemburgo’s record of seven straight league wins at the start of a season set in 2005, if Real emerge on top this weekend.

The main force behind Madrid’s excellent results is superstar striker Kylian Mbappe, who leads the scoring charts with seven. The France international ended last season in rich form and has continued that into the new campaign.

What has been Atletico’s biggest struggle?

Atletico, by contrast to Real, lacked finesse in front of goal until Alvarez netted the first hat-trick of his career against Rayo to climb to four league goals.

“Julian is the best player that we have. We need to look after him, so he stays many years here at Atletico,” said Simeone.

“He has to help us and we have to help him, so he gets even better than he currently is. Each time he scores, he makes the difference, he helps us so much.”

Who and when do La Liga champions Barcelona play?

Second-placed Barcelona host Real Sociedad on Sunday at the Olympic Stadium, hoping Real Madrid drop points so they can close the two-point gap to the top.

Atletico Madrid team news

Spanish international Alex Baena returned from injury to start on the bench on Wednesday, while Alexander Sorloth is back from suspension.

Jose Gimenez, Johnny Cardoso and Thiago Almada, however, all remain absent due to injuries.

Real Madrid team news

Alonso refused to give any clues away over his starting lineup, but said Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga were fit enough to start after recently returning from injury and playing as substitutes.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ferland Mendy and Antonio Rudiger all remain sidelined by injury.

Atletico Madrid predicted starting lineup

Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Lenglet, Hancko; Simeone, Koke, Barrios, Gallagher; Alvarez, Sorloth

Real Madrid predicted starting lineup

Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouameni; Mastantuono, Guler, Vinicius; Mbappe

Rayo were furious after a VAR failure meant Lamine Yamal’s first-half penalty could not be reviewed in their 1-1 draw against the defending La Liga title holders.

Barcelona dropped their first points in La Liga this season as Rayo Vallecano fought back to secure a 1-1 draw at home to the champions in a testy encounter where a faulty Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system caused controversy.

Rayo substitute Fran Perez thrashed home a 67th-minute equaliser as he stole in unmarked at the back post from a corner after Lamine Yamal’s 40th-minute penalty had put Barca ahead on Sunday.

A malfunctioning VAR ensured the game was clouded in controversy after Pep Chavarria’s challenge on Yamal, which led to the spot kick being awarded, could not be reviewed because the system was not working at the time.

Chavarria did make contact with Yamal’s thigh, but the penalty award might have been overturned on review.

Both teams had been informed of the faulty system at kickoff, but Rayo’s vigorous protests over referee Mateo Busquets’s decision ensured the rest of the clash at Vallecas Stadium was played in a tempestuous atmosphere.

Indignant home supporters voiced their fury at every subsequent decision that went against their side.

Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia made several outstanding stops to deny Rayo a win at the end of a week in which the club from the Madrid suburbs secured a place in the Conference League group phase on their return to Europe after 24 years.

Garcia made a point-blank save to deny Andrei Ratiu in the 12th minute and, in the second half, spectacularly denied efforts from Isi Palazon and a breakaway on goal by Jorge de Frutos.

Substitute Sergio Camello could have won the game for Rayo in the last minute, but with the goal at his mercy, he miscued his shot, allowing a grateful Garcia to gather easily.

For Barca, Daniel Olmo was guilty of missing an easy goal soon after teenager Yamal’s penalty had put the visitors ahead. Olmo’s strike sailed over the top of the crossbar from close range, setting off an angry reaction from furious coach Hansi Flick.

Barcelona had won their opening two games of the season, but the dropped points mean Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao are the only two clubs with a 100 percent record after three matches in La Liga. Rayo have four points from their opening matches of the campaign.

Real Madrid score twice in two minutes against Mallorca as they come from behind to maintain winning La Liga start.

Real Madrid claimed a third straight La Liga victory, with a 2-1 triumph over Real Mallorca, to continue their perfect start to the campaign.

Arda Guler and Vinicius Junior scored in quick succession for Los Blancos on Saturday, after Mallorca’s Vedat Muriqi opened the scoring at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

Xabi Alonso’s Madrid also had three more goals ruled out as they continued to improve following the coach’s arrival at the start of the summer.

After competing in the Club World Cup this summer and not having much of a preseason, winning all their games before the first international break is an impressive feat for Alonso.

The former Bayer Leverkusen coach brought Vinicius Junior and Trent Alexander-Arnold back into the starting lineup, after both began last weekend’s win at Real Oviedo on the bench.

Kylian Mbappe, who has started the season in fine form with three league goals, thought he had broken the deadlock early on after a fine pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold, but was judged to be offside.

Mallorca took a surprise lead after 18 minutes, when Vedat Muriqi used his shoulder to divert a corner past Thibaut Courtois.

It was the first goal Madrid had conceded in La Liga this season after two clean sheets in their opening victories.

Alonso’s side responded with two goals in under two minutes.

Dean Huijsen headed Alvaro Carreras’s cross into the 6-yard box for Arda Guler to nod home in the 37th minute.

With Mallorca rocking, Vinicius surged into space before breaking into the box and scuffing a finish into the bottom corner.

Mbappe could have extended Madrid’s lead before the break, but nudged wide from close range after Guler’s drive was deflected into his path.

The Frenchman struck moments later, but was again offside, and the goal was ruled out.

Bright summer signing Franco Mastantuono fired narrowly over, early in the second half, on the 18-year-old’s first Santiago Bernabeu start, during which he showed few nerves.

The Argentinian attacker was involved in Madrid’s third disallowed goal of the night, after some superb footwork in the box, before he forced Roman into a save, and Guler eventually turned home.

However, the Turkish playmaker was judged to have handled the ball before striking, and the goal was ruled out, upsetting Madrid fans.

Carreras produced a spectacular goal-line clearance to keep out Samu Costa’s thumped effort to safety, as Mallorca sniffed for an equaliser.

Under Alonso’s predecessor, Carlo Ancelotti, Madrid were not always able to close games out, but after that scare, they showed a good level of control in the final stages to keep Mallorca at arm’s length.

On Sunday, champions Barcelona visit Rayo Vallecano, looking to match Madrid on three wins from three. Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao could also do the same should they beat Celta Vigo and Real Betis, respectively.

Who: Real Madrid vs Mallorca
What: Spanish La Liga
Where: Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain
When: Saturday, August 30 at 9:30pm (19:30 GMT)

How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 6:30pm (16:30 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.

Real Madrid sit joint-top of La Liga with four other teams after winning both of their opening matches, setting up Saturday’s clash with struggling Mallorca, who are 16th with one point from two games.

It is Real manager Xabi Alonso’s first season in charge at Santiago Bernabeu, so the former Los Blancos midfielder has a spotlight focused tightly on him, especially given the side’s limp FIFA Club World Cup exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a look a closer look at a clash that Alonso’s Madrid will be fully expected to win against struggling Mallorca.

What are Real Madrid’s results in La Liga this season?

The record La Liga winners opened the new domestic Spanish season with a 1-0 win against Osasuna, thanks to Kylian Mbappe’s penalty. The Madrid-based club stormed to a 3-0 win against Real Oviedo in their second game.

How have Mallorca fared in La Liga this season?

Mallorca have been handed a tough start with the trip to Madrid coming only two games after a meeting with Barcelona in their season opener.

The Catalan club emerged victorious with a 3-0 win. Mateu Morey then saved the islanders from back-to-back defeats with an 87th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 home draw with Celta Vigo.

Will Vinicius Junior start for Real Madrid?

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso doubled down on his decision to leave Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior out of his starting lineup, insisting every player must fight for their place despite the FIFA world player of the year’s heroics off the bench.

The move paid off last Sunday as Vinicius came on as a substitute to help Real Madrid win 3-0 at Oviedo, providing an assist for Mbappe’s second goal before netting himself.

When asked about the impact of benching such a high-profile player, Alonso remained unfazed.

“In the dressing room, the key thing is that everyone is willing to contribute, whether on the pitch or off it,” he told a news conference on Friday. “Really believing in this is fundamental. And here, everyone does.”

The Real Madrid boss heaped praise on the Brazilian’s response. “I’m very happy with Vini. Against Oviedo, he showed that he can have a big impact coming off the bench. We’re just getting started … and he’s going to be crucial.”

Is Rodrygo available for transfer from Real Madrid?

Alonso has also backed Rodrygo, who replaced Vinicius on the left wing for his first start since their Club World Cup clash against Al Hilal in June.

The Brazilian forward has been heavily linked with a move away from the Spanish giants since the arrival of Alonso, but appears to be playing his way into the new coach’s plans.

“He has performed at his best in different positions. He has played as a 9 and even a 10. But I think the left wing is a very good position for him,” Alonso said.

However, the Spaniard did not disclose whether Rodrygo would start ahead of Vinicius again this weekend.

“It wouldn’t be very smart of me to tell you what I’m going to do, put him as a starter or on the left wing again,” he said with a laugh. “We’ll see.”

Head-to-head

This is the 50th meeting between the clubs, with Real Madrid winning on 29 occasions, while Mallorca have emerged victorious from 13 of the encounters.

Mallorca have not beaten Los Blancos in five matches, losing four of those games.

Their last win at Santiago Bernabeu came in May 2009, when the home side were on a run of five defeats to end that La Liga campaign, resulting in a finish nine points behind champions Barcelona.

Real Madrid team news

Alonso remains without the services of Jude Bellingham, Endrick, Ferland Mendy and Eduardo Camavinga, who are all injured.

Mallorca team news

Vedat Muriqi and Manu Morlanes return from suspensions.

Pablo Torre arrived from Real Madrid’s fierce rivals, Barcelona, earlier this year, and is expected to start in the number 10 position.

Real Madrid predicted starting lineup

Courtois; Carvajal, Rudiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouameni, Guler; Mastantuono, Mbappe, Vinicius

Mallorca predicted starting lineup

Roman; Kumbulla, Raillo, Valjent; Morlanes, Darder, Lato, Mojica; Torre; Muriqi, Asano

Reigning Spanish League champions recovered from a two-goal, halftime deficit to pull off a stunning comeback against Levante.

Barcelona fought back from a two-goal deficit to win 3-2 at Levante with a late own-goal by the hosts in La Liga.

Defending champions Barcelona needed Pedri Gonzalez and Ferran Torres to score early in the second half to equalise after the newly promoted Levante had rolled to a surprise two-goal lead at halftime on Saturday.

Lamine Yamal then helped to produce the winning goal when he curled a cross into the 6-yard box, and Levante’s Unai Elgezabal headed into his own net.

Levante striker Ivan Romero earlier struck from a counterattack in the 15th minute that started with a ball lost by Yamal. Jose Luis Morales made it 2-0 in first-half injury time by converting a penalty after a video review called a handball by Alejandro Balde when he blocked Morales’s shot.

But Pedri started the fightback in the 49th when he received Yamal’s pass well outside the area, picked his spot in the corner of the net and blasted in a shot from long range.

Ferran, who had hit the woodwork in the first half, levelled in the 52nd when he fended off his marker and volleyed in Raphinha’s corner kick.

Barcelona then pressed for the decider, which Yamal helped find just after the 90 minutes were up.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised Pedri for his goal, saying that “it changed the match”.

“The first goal we scored helped us a lot to get our confidence in the box, but until the end, it was not easy for us to get the three points.”

Barcelona won its opener at nine-man Mallorca 3-0 last weekend.

Rashford makes first league start

Newcomer Marcus Rashford made his first league start for Barcelona since his loan move from Manchester United as a left-side forward for Flick.

The English international was replaced by Dani Olmo at halftime, after the biggest threats had come from Pedri’s passes in the middle and Yamal’s incursions down the right.

“I think Marcus [Rashford] had some situations in the first half where he showed how good he is and how he can help us, and that is how we have to continue,” Flick said.

Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski played his first minutes of the season as a late substitute after recovering from a muscle injury.

Barca will visit Rayo Vallecano next week as it continues its title defence. Levante, which has lost both its opening fixtures, will travel to Elche, hoping for a more positive result.

Who: Oviedo vs Real Madrid
What: Spanish La Liga
Where: Estadio Carlos Tartiere in Oviedo, Spain
When: Sunday, August 24, at 9:30pm (19:30 GMT)

How to follow: We’ll have all the updates on Al Jazeera Sport from 6:30pm (16:30 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.

The La Liga season reaches its second round of fixtures with a potentially early-season giant-killing in the offing.

Newly promoted Oviedo will not be expected to take much from the record Spanish league winners, Real Madrid.

Los Blancos limped over the line last weekend in their first match of the new season, Xabi Alonso’s first in charge.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at what could be an even bigger banana skin on Sunday.

How are Real Madrid shaping up?

Alonso took charge of Madrid before the FIFA Club World Cup, in which his new charges reached the semifinals before suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.

After a short close-season break, Real returned to training before edging Osasuna 1-0 on Tuesday thanks to a Kylian Mbappe penalty.

“After a two-week preseason, against a team who had longer, there were things missing, but the result gives us stability going forward,” said Alonso after that match.

What are Oviedo’s credentials?

Oviedo returned to Spain’s top flight after an absence of almost a quarter of a century by beating Mirandes in the second-tier playoff final in June.

The club from the northern region of Asturias, coached by Serbian former player Veljko Paunovic, were therefore left facing a quick turnaround before tackling life back in La Liga.

How did Oviedo fare in their first match back in La Liga?

With a 40-year-old Santi Cazorla coming off the bench and Venezuela veteran Salomon Rondon leading the attack, Oviedo lost 2-0 away at Villarreal in their first game back in the elite.

Now, they host the 15-time European champions in front of what will be a sellout 30,000 crowd at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere.

How are the new Los Blancos signings settling?

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen, signed before the Club World Cup, made their La Liga bows for Madrid in that game, while left-back Alvaro Carreras made his debut after joining from Benfica.

Teenage Argentinian sensation Franco Mastantuono also came on for his first appearance.

Alonso will now hope for a more fluid display as his side continue what looks like a kind opening run of fixtures, building up to the derby away to Atletico in late September.

The Argentinian teenager is tipped for a huge future and made his La Liga debut on Tuesday off the bench for Madrid.

Mastantuono moved to the Bernabeu in June, signing from River Plate for just more than 63 million euros ($72m and penning a six-year deal.

The winger or attacking midfielder, who made his senior Argentina debut in early June, just before playing at the Club World Cup with River, will hope to make a big impact in La Liga this season.

“He has that Argentine grit and competitive spirit,” said Real coach Alonso this week, while also hailing the youngster’s ability to play the final pass.

With Rodrygo still being tipped to depart Real in the transfer window, that would leave Mastantuono and Brahim Diaz to contest a spot on the right wing.

What happened the last time Oviedo played Real Madrid?

This is the first meeting between the sides since Real won a Copa Del Rey meeting in November 2002.

Head-to-head

This is only the 18th meeting between the sides, with Real winning nine times and Oviedo on four occasions.

Oviedo team news

Alvaro Lemos misses out through injury, while Santiago Colombatto, Jaime Seoane and Lucas Ahijado face late fitness tests.

David Costas returns from suspension, but Alberto Reina was sent off in the defeat by Villarreal last time out, so he sits this game out.

Real Madrid team news

Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham and Endrick are all absent for Los Blancos due to injury.

Many eyes will still be on Rodrygo with the Brazilian forward left on the bench against Osasuna while being heavily linked with a move away from Madrid.

Antonio Rudiger returns to the backline following suspension.

Real Oviedo predicted starting lineup

Escandell; Costas, Dendoncker, Calvo; Vidal, Ilic, Sibo, Alhassane; Chaira, Rondon, Hassan

Real Madrid possible starting lineup

Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouameni, Guler; Brahim, Mbappe, Vinicius

Real Madrid open their La Liga season with a nervy 1-0 home win against Osasuna at Santiago Bernabeu.

Kylian Mbappe struck from the penalty spot as Real Madrid beat a dogged Osasuna 1-0 to make a winning start in La Liga under new coach Xabi Alonso.

The French striker, last season’s European Golden Shoe winner, scored early in the second half on Tuesday after he was fouled in the area by Osasuna defender Juan Cruz.

It was enough to seal the points in Alonso’s first game in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Madrid now unbeaten in their opening fixture of a league campaign since 2008.

“It was special to be back here as a coach, unforgettable,” Alonso said. “Hopefully, it was the first of many victories celebrated here.

“There were positives, beginning with the result. We still need a few things that will give us stability to keep progressing.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold made his La Liga debut after his move from Liverpool, with former Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen and left-back Alvaro Carreras, the other summer arrivals included in the starting lineup.

Madrid, though, were without England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who is expected to be sidelined until October as he recovers from an operation to solve a recurrent shoulder issue.

Madrid are looking to turn the page on a disappointing end to the Carlo Ancelotti era after relinquishing both their domestic and European crowns last season.

Alonso’s side had to show patience against an Osasuna team that finished ninth last term, with the hosts largely restricted to long-range efforts from centre-backs Huijsen and Eder Militao in the first half.

Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera was equal to both, while Mbappe failed to connect cleanly after being picked out by Vinicius Junior before he curled another shot wide as Madrid struggled to break down their opponents.

But Mbappe grabbed the only goal six minutes after half-time, after he went down following a clumsy challenge by Cruz as he tried to cut past the defender.

Mbappe, who was La Liga’s top scorer, with 31 goals in his first season in Spain, got up and running for the new campaign as he sent Herrera the wrong way from the spot.

Alonso handed 18-year-old Argentinian winger Franco Mastantuono his debut midway through the second half, as Madrid controlled the game and seldom looked troubled.

Ante Budimir headed over in a rare opportunity for Osasuna, and Mastantuono was denied late on by Herrera.

Osasuna finished the match with 10 men, with Abel Bretones sent off in stoppage time for throwing an arm to block the run of Gonzalo Garcia.

Who: Real Madrid vs Osasuna
What: Spanish La Liga
Where: Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid, Spain
When: Tuesday 9pm (19:00 GMT)

How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 6pm (16:00 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream of the match.

Real Madrid will open their 2025-2026 La Liga campaign with a home game against Osasuna on Tuesday at the Bernabeu.

The 36-time Spanish domestic champions approach the new season with several new signings and fresh hope under recently appointed coach Xabi Alonso and are looking to turn the page on a disappointing end to the Carlo Ancelotti era with “ambitious” football.

But as Alonso saw firsthand in his Real managerial debut at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States this summer – Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Madrid 4-0 in the semifinal – there is plenty of work to do if the megaclub wants to reclaim its La Liga title from Barcelona in the new season.

Alonso’s Vinicius-Mbappe challenge

Alonso, who wants to implement some version of the 3-4-2-1 formation that won him the Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen in 2023, faces a huge challenge to unlock the chemistry between his two superstar forwards: Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.

Both Mbappe, who scored 44 goals in his debut season at Real, and Vinicius, whose scoring output dipped substantially after the Frenchman’s arrival, are being told they must contribute more off the ball this season and set a better example for the team, according to reporting by the Marca newspaper.

Alonso is reportedly concerned about a lack of teamwork and visible negative gestures among some of his top players – a trend that has persisted since last season.

If the two players again fail to consistently connect up front in the 2025-2026 season, the constant rumour mill of a Vinicius exit from the club will begin churning once more.

Where did Osasuna finish last season?

The Pamplona-based club had one of their most successful La Liga seasons, finishing ninth in the standings and making it to the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey.

What happened the last time Real Madrid met Osasuna?

The teams played out a controversial 1-1 draw on February 19 when 10-man Real squandered a chance to cement their lead on top of the La Liga ladder after Jude Bellingham was sent off in the 39th minute for what appeared to be an argument with the match referee.

Modric out, Guler in

Real Madrid enters the 2025-26 La Liga season without inspirational veteran Luka Modric in the squad for the first time in more than a decade. The lack of the Croatian’s experience and quality will be felt in a side lacking some guile in midfield.

Los Blancos’ hope is for Turkish playmaker Arda Guler, who is entering his second season with the club, to be able to thrive there and become a player who can control the tempo of a game.

“The coach is trying to make us have more control of the game, and that’s better for me,” Guler said.

The 20-year-old should get plenty of chances to play at the start of the season with another key midfielder, Bellingham, sidelined until around mid-October.

Who are the new players signed by Real Madrid?

Ex-Liverpool and England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, widely considered one of the best right backs in the world, was Real Madrid’s highest-profile signing over the summer. He is a near-certainty to start in his La Liga debut against Osasuna on Tuesday.

Towering centre back Dean Huijsen joins the club from Bournemouth after signing a 50 million pounds ($67m) deal on May 17 and is also expected to line up in the starting XI.

Real also added new left back Alvaro Carrera from Benfica as well as promising Argentinian teenager Franco Mastantuono, who will occupy a midfield role at Madrid.

Team news: Real Madrid

Midfielder Eduardo Camavinga may miss the Osasuna fixture after picking up an injury to his right ankle, the club announced on August 10.

“Following tests conducted on Eduardo Camavinga by the Real Madrid Medical Services, the player has been diagnosed with a sprain to his right ankle,” the 15-time European champions wrote on their website. Madrid did not give a timeline for the 22-year-old’s return.

England international Bellingham has undergone successful shoulder surgery but will miss the first two months of the season.

Antonio Rudiger is serving a one-game suspension carried over from last season.

Team news: Osasuna

Osasuna have no reported injuries or suspensions.

Promising winger Victor Munoz, who joined Osasuna from Real Madrid’s youth system over the summer, is tipped to make his debut against his old club in the season opener.

Possible lineups:

Real Madrid possible starting XI: Courtois (GK); Alexander-Arnold, Huijsen, Militao; Carreras, Guler, Tchouameni, Ceballos; Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr; Mbappe

Osasuna possible starting XI: Herrera (GK); Arnaiz, Boyomo, Catena, Cruz; Torro, Garcia; Oroz, Munoz, Gomez; Budimir

Head-to-head:

In their last five matches against Osasuna, Real Madrid have won four and drawn once:

Osasuna 1, Real Madrid 1 – February 16, La Liga
Real Madrid 4, Osasuna 0 – November 10, La Liga
Osasuna 2, Real Madrid 4 – March 17, 2024, La Liga
Real Madrid 4, Osasuna 0 – October 8, 2023, La Liga
Real Madrid 2, Osasuna 1 – May 7, 2023, Copa del Rey final

Lamine Yamal and Raphinha both find the net in Barcelona’s 3-0 La Liga win at Mallorca, who had two players sent off.

Barcelona began the defence of its La Liga title with a comfortable 3-0 win at Mallorca, scoring early and taking advantage of two first-half red cards for the hosts.

Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, who led Barcelona’s prolific attack last season, needed only seven minutes to impress again on Saturday. Yamal’s curling cross found Raphinha by the far post, and the Brazil forward headed in from close range.

Ferran Torres’s shot from outside the area in the 23rd was a goal that drew complaints from Mallorca because one of its players was on the ground after being hit by the ball in the head in the buildup.

Some Mallorca players stopped playing after their teammate went down, but the referee allowed play to continue. Mallorca immediately complained after Ferran scored.

The host went a man down 10 minutes later when Manu Morlanes was sent off for a second yellow card for fouling Yamal on the run. His first yellow was for protesting Barcelona’s second goal.

The second red card in the 39th came from Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi hitting the head of Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García with his left foot while reaching up for a high ball. The referee changed the card from yellow to red after a video review.

Yamal made it 3-0 in second-half stoppage time by hitting the top corner.

Barcelona, which won the league last season after scoring 102 goals, was without veteran striker Robert Lewandowski because of an injury. Newly signed forward Marcus Rashford went in as a substitute in the 69th.

New Barcelona goalkeeper García did not have to work much in his Barcelona debut after being signed in the offseason in a transfer from city rival Espanyol.

Regular starting goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is out after undergoing lower back surgery, and García started ahead of Wojciech Szczesny and Iñaki Peña, who replaced Ter Stegen last season.

Later Saturday, Valencia hosted Real Sociedad and promoted Levante visited Alaves.

On Friday, Rayo Vallecano won at Girona 3-1, and Villarreal defeated promoted Oviedo 2-0.

Atletico Madrid is at Espanyol on Sunday, while Real Madrid hosts Osasuna on Tuesday.

Who: Mallorca vs Barcelona
What: Spanish La Liga
Where: Estadi Mallorca Son Moix in Mallorca, Spain
When: Saturday at 7:30pm (17:30 GMT)

How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 4:30pm (15:30 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream.

Barcelona begin their defence of their La Liga title on Saturday after flying to the island of Mallorca.

The Catalan club disposed of their fierce rivals and winners of the previous year’s title, Real Madrid, on all fronts last season.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the first major match of the new La Liga season and what clues there may be as to whether Barca will give Real a glimpse of hope in the title race this time around.

How dominant were Barcelona last season?

The Catalan club is coming off one of its best seasons in years, having won the league, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. It also went deep in the Champions League, reaching the semifinals for the first time since 2019.

How big a role will Marcus Rashford play at Barcelona?

In its second year under coach Hansi Flick, the Catalan club will try to add to its success from last season by boosting its squad with Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United. He will be teaming up with Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski in an attacking front that was one of the best in Europe last season.

It led the scoring charts both in the Spanish league – with more than 100 goals – and in the Champions League.

With Lewandowski set to miss the start of the new season, Rashford will vie with Ferran Torres for a place in Barca’s attack.

After Rashford fell down the pecking order at Old Trafford, his move to Barcelona presents a huge chance to rebuild his career.

What other changes have Barcelona made?

Leaving the team are veteran defender Inigo Martínez, who has signed with Saudi club Al-Nassr, and Ansu Fati, who went on loan to Monaco after not playing much last season.

How many La Liga titles have Barcelona won?

Last season’s title was Barcelona’s 28th trophy lift in La Liga. Real Madrid are the record winners with 36 victories to their name.

Has Mallorca ever beaten Barcelona?

Yes. The Spanish islanders have won 17 of their 75 meetings. Barca, however, have won 44 of the encounters.

Where did Mallorca finish last season?

Mallorca squeezed into the top half of La Liga last season with a 10th-placed finish.

Only one team had a worse home record among the top 12 teams last season after Mallorca recorded only seven wins in 19 league matches in front of their own crowd. Six of those games resulted in defeats.

What happened the last time Barcelona met Mallorca?

Barca narrowly beat Mallorca 1-0 at home in their last meeting in April. Dani Olmo scored the only goal in the first minute of the second half to settle the La Liga match.

The corresponding fixture resulted in a 5-1 win for Barca with Raphinha netting twice.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick’s prematch thoughts

“We are working hard to face this new season. Winning three titles last year is not the end – it’s a continuation. We will give everything this year.

“Lamine Yamal still has room to improve. I like what I’m seeing. He’s training very well, with and without the ball, defending and pressing.”

Head-to-head

Mallorca have not defeated Barcelona since May 2009 – a 2-1 home win in an end-of-season affair in La Liga.

Barca, meanwhile, have won 14 of their last 15 matches against Mallorca in all competitions.

Mallorca team news

Pablo Maffeo will be heavily missed in defence due to a hamstring injury.

Pablo Torre is set to start against his former side, having joined from Barcelona in the summer window. Spain Under-21 international Mateo Joseph is also in line to feature, having joined on loan from Leeds United.

Omar Mascarell has a suspension hanging over from last season after his booking in the final game of the last La Liga campaign.

Barcelona team news

The Catalan club starts the season without veteran goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen because of surgery for lower back problems.

The goalkeeper was at odds with the club about his recovery time. He was provisionally stripped of his captaincy for refusing to sign a medical report about the injury, but he and the club eventually reached an agreement that restored his role as captain.

Veteran striker Lewandowski also isn’t expected to play early in the new campaign because of a muscle issue. Rashford’s registration after his loan from Manchester United has proved problematic, similar to the financial issues that held up Dani Olmo’s participation last season.

Mallorca predicted starting lineup

Greif; Morey, Lopez, Raillo, Lato; Sanchez, Costa, Torre, Darder; Muriqi, Joseph

Barcelona predicted starting lineup

Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Araujo, Balde; de Jong, Pedri, Olmo; Lamine Yamal, Torres, Raphinha

Barcelona’s domination of Real Madrid last season resulted in Los Blancos bringing an end to Carlo Ancelotti’s second tenure – even though he had delivered a league and European double a year previous.

Rumours rumbled for most of the season, after a low-key start at home and abroad, that former Real midfielder Xabi Alonso would be making the switch from Bayer Leverkusen to replace Ancelotti.

With their La Liga and UEFA Champions League defence over, the Madrid-based club wasted little time in announcing Alonso, conveniently at a time when Brazil cranked up their interest in Ancelotti.

All seemed well for a dignified departure for the Italian, club football’s most decorated manager, who now will lead the record World Cup winners into next year’s 2026 edition.

For the perfectly written script to continue, however, Alonso will need to make a strong start on all fronts. Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the new La Liga season.

When does the La Liga season begin?

The first match of the new Spanish campaign is on Friday, August 15 and sees Girona, who finished only a point above the relegation zone last season, entertain a Rayo Vallecano side that claimed ninth spot in La Liga last year.

Girona were the league’s surprise package two seasons ago when they finished third – only four points behind Barcelona.

When are Barcelona and Real Madrid’s first La Liga fixtures?

Barcelona kick off their La Liga defence on Saturday, August 16, when they make the trip to Mallorca.

Real Madrid are not in action until Tuesday, August 19, when they complete the first round of Spanish top-flight fixtures with a trip to Espanyol.

What transfers have Real Madrid and Barcelona made?

It has been a quiet transfer window for Barcelona, whose finances had been heavily in the spotlight last year with La Liga rules limiting spending on wages and transfers – complicating the registration of Dani Olmo.

The Spanish international arrived from RB Leipzig in Germany for a fee of $62.5m in the summer of 2024, but was nearly forced into a free transfer away from the Catalan club due to their dire financial situation.

The loan of Marcus Rashford, who made his debut in the 5-0 pre-season demolition of Como, from Manchester United is Barca’s only major addition in the off season to their ranks so far.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, have been quick to bolster a defence that has been hampered by injury and suspension throughout last season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was a much-heralded arrival at a snip from Liverpool for $11.3m. Little expense was spared, however, in the capture of Spanish defensive duo Alvaro Carreras from Benfica for $57.7m and Dean Huijsen for $67m from Bournemouth.

What were the results between Barcelona and Real Madrid last season?

Barcelona won all four El Clasico matches between the football clubs last season, including the decisive La Liga clash, a May 11 meeting in Catalonia. The 4-3 win all but sealed the title for Barca, and also ended any thought that Ancelotti may stay on as manager of Real.

A 4-0 demolition of Real in Madrid on October 26 kicked off the derbies last season, the first major warning signs that Los Blancos may have a turbulent ride ahead.

That defeat for Ancelotti’s side was compounded by a 5-2 hammering in the Spanish Super Cup final in January, before a 3-2 Copa Del Rey final win for Barca in late April left Real facing up to the prospect of a trophyless season.

Where will the spotlight focus on Barcelona and Real Madrid?

The lack of any major additions to Barcelona’s title-winning squad will throw doubt on whether manager Hansi Flick will be able to push the players to go again without further competition for places.

An early-season injury to Robert Lewandowski may mean an early opportunity for Rashford to make his mark in attack alongside Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. The England international has many questions himself to answer following his demise from his status as the star of Old Trafford.

Ferran Torres, the 25-year-old Spanish international, will also be a candidate to start in the place of Lewandowski in the early-season games.

With the resolution of Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s dispute, both the backlines and midfield appear well-resourced for Barca. Flick’s side will be fully expected to put up a stern defence of their La Liga title and to go all the way in the Champions League, a competition they were heavily favourites to win last season until their shock semifinal elimination by Inter Milan.

Real Madrid will have to cope with the loss of Luka Modric in midfield, only a year after the retirement of Toni Kroos – an absence believed to have heavily contributed to Real’s demise last season.

The link-up between the front three of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo was another area of concern for Real. Indeed, so much so that it affected the role of Jude Bellingham, who was forced to sit deeper in midfield following the arrival of the former.

Mbappe eventually silenced the critics. The French international’s tally of 40 goals in all competitions surpassed that of Cristiano Ronaldo in his first season with Madrid.

Nonetheless, the link-up between an attack and midfield, which is now missing both of its mainstays for more than a decade, will be the major problem for Alonso to solve.

Can Atletico Madrid challenge Real and Barcelona?

Atletico finished 14 points off top spot last season, but had offered hope at one stage, with a 15-game winning streak, that glory was on the cards.

Diego Simeone’s side finished sixth in the League Phase of the Champions League, but were eventually eliminated by Real, who themselves had to reach the knockout stage via playoffs. They did also have a disappointing group-stage exit at the Club World Cup, including a 4-0 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain.

Simeone’s side are always based on a solid defence, and the permanent capture of Clement Lenglet following his loan from Barcelona last season ensures that is likely to continue.

An already formidable forward line is boosted by the arrival of Thiago Almada from Botafogo, for an undisclosed fee, following a season-long loan at Lyon last season.

The 24-year-old helped Argentina to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Copa America last year and was part of his country’s side at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Alongside fellow countryman Julian Alvarez, France and Atletico legend Antoine Griezmann, and Giuliano Simeone, the son of the manager, Almada could well sprinkle the magic needed to elevate Atletico to the top of the pile.

Spain’s football federation has approved a request for Villarreal’s home La Liga game with Barcelona to move to Miami.

The Spanish league is closer to playing a regular-season game in the United States.

The Spanish football federation on Monday approved a request for the match between Villarreal and Barcelona to be played in Miami, Florida on December 20.

The federation will now seek approval from football’s governing bodies UEFA and FIFA.

The 17th-round match in La Liga would be played at the Hard Rock Stadium, the home stadium of former Barcelona star Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.

The league first tried to stage a match in the US in 2018, but the idea was dismissed after criticism from some players, fans and clubs. Its subsequent attempts to play there also failed.

Staging a match abroad has been part of the league’s goal of promoting football and its brand in other countries. The league is in a long-term partnership with sports and entertainment group Relevent Sports, which is part of Stephen Ross’s portfolio of companies including the Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami Dolphins, Formula One’s Miami Grand Prix, and the Miami Open tennis tournament.

FIFA moved last year towards ending decades of football tradition by ordering a review of its policy that blocks domestic league games being played in other countries.

Fans are likely to object to their teams’ home matches potentially being moved thousands of miles (and kilometres) away, though it has become routine for US pro sports leagues to stage games in Europe, Asia and South America that help build their brands and fan bases.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be staged across the US, Canada and Mexico next year, while FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup has just been hosted in the US.