All articles tagged with #la liga
Barcelona dominated Athletic Club and sealed a 2-0 victory, with Raphinha scoring the opener and Fermin López adding a late second; Pedri was the standout in midfield, providing the assist for the opener and driving the play, while Rodri debuted in a deep-lying role and Barça’s defense held firm.
Kylian Mbappé’s hat-trick powered Real Madrid to a 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad, with Jude Bellingham adding two assists and standout showings from Arda Güler, Fede Valverde, and Ibrahima Konaté as Courtois and the defense held firm.
Barcelona host Athletic Club at Camp Nou in La Liga as they chase back-to-back titles, with the Julian Álvarez transfer saga casting a shadow over the build-up; Barça opened with a 5-0 win over Elche, while Athletic lost 3-1 to Sevilla. The article also covers team news, injuries and suspensions, and provides predicted lineups for both sides ahead of the match.
Atlético Madrid publicly rejects Barcelona’s bid for Julián Álvarez, insisting the Argentine will not be sold and accusing Barça of a campaign that harms Atlético economically and socially; Atlético says there is 0% chance of selling him to Barça, framing the saga as a matter of dignity that could reshape the transfer landscape.
Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Bernabéu in José Mourinho’s return to the dugout. Madrid were booed at halftime after a disjointed first half, but a sharper second period saw Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior strike before Mbappé completed the hat-trick late on to seal the win.
Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 4-1 in the Bernabéu season opener, with Kylian Mbappé scoring a hat-trick. Jude Bellingham added two assists, feeding Mbappé and Vinícius Jr., as Madrid go top of La Liga after two games. The hosts had a 51-49 possession edge and 20 shots to Sociedad's 10. Mourinho returned to the Bernabéu for the first time since 2013, while Mbappé’s treble takes him to 89 Madrid goals and 9 against Sociedad, cementing his place among the club’s top scorers.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick explained Alejandro Balde's omission from the squad for the La Liga opener against Elche, saying Balde wasn’t 100% focused and that he needs to manage minutes with players able to play 90 minutes. Flick said he spoke with Balde this morning and told him to clear his mind, with a potential return discussion after the match; Balde has been linked with Manchester United, Aston Villa and Benfica amid transfer speculation.
Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2-1 with Arda Güler delivering a creative masterclass (seven key passes and an assist) and substitute Carlos Espí scoring the late winner; Bellingham added a superb header as the Madrid defense held firm and Courtois had little to do.
Real Madrid published their starting XI for the La Liga opener vs Espanyol: Courtois; Dumfries, Konaté, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Bernardo Silva; Bellingham, Güler, Vinicius; Mbappé. Espanyol’s XI is listed as Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Riedel, Unai Núlez, Hinojo; Urko, Edu Expósito; Calatrava, Javier Hernández, Dolan; Roberto (TBC). The match takes place on 08/22/2026 at 21:30 CEST at Cornellá-El Prat, with Espanyol entering off a 3-0 win in their opener; broadcast in Spain on DAZN La Liga and in the USA on ESPN Deportes (ESPN+ for streaming).
Spain midfielder Rodri arrives in Barcelona to finalize a about £65m transfer from Manchester City on a four-year contract, saying it’s a dream to play for Barça and vowing to chase Champions League glory with his new team.
Barcelona signed Ferran Torres in 2021 amid heavy debt and a strict spending cap, betting on a versatile winger; under Hansi Flick he was reframed as a clear striker and delivered career-best numbers with trophies, before moving to PSG for around €50 million. He leaves with 207 appearances and 65 goals, a complex but transformative Blaugrana story that isn’t quite a legend or a failure.
Paris Saint-Germain are close to signing Ferran Torres from Barcelona for around €50m (£43m), with the Spain forward missing training to finalise the move after a productive season at Barça; Torres would bolster PSG's attacking options as they reinforce this summer.
Real Madrid beat Deportivo A Coruña 1-0 to win the Teresa Herrera Trophy, Brahim Díaz scoring, their first win of the trophy since 2013. The result came in a pre-season test with rotating lineups; Mourinho said he’ll limit minutes for some players and that “next week, the real work begins” as Madrid refines tactics before La Liga starts.
Liverpool confirmed a season-long loan for Ronald Araujo from Barcelona, with an option to make the move permanent for €55m. Liverpool will cover his wages while he takes a pay cut, and the defender—who can also play right-back—is expected to join training this week, bolstering a thin backline as the club also eye other targets, including a winger.
Real Madrid announced Vinícius Júnior has signed a new contract through 2032, fending off Arsenal’s bid and bolstering Madrid’s project. The renewal mitigates the risk of him leaving for free next summer and aligns with the club’s strategy to retain a world-class star; Vinícius has made 375 appearances for Madrid, with 128 goals and 100 assists since 2018.