La Liga Season Kicks Off Without Barcelona And Real Madrid As Title Race Begins

La Liga will kick off its new season this weekend, but Spain’s top-flight football competition will begin without two of its biggest attractions. Defending champions Barcelona and Real Madrid will miss the opening round, while another fixture has been postponed because of a fungus outbreak on the pitch.

Barcelona, chasing a third consecutive La Liga title, will start their campaign away against Elche on August 23. The Catalan giants will have several members of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad, including Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Pedri and Pau Cubarsí.

Barcelona have strengthened their attack with England forward Anthony Gordon, who is expected to help replace veteran striker Robert Lewandowski. Ferran Torres could also leave, with reports linking him to Paris Saint-Germain.

Real Madrid begin their campaign against Espanyol on August 22, with José Mourinho returning to the club after consecutive seasons without a major trophy. The squad has undergone a major overhaul, with Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham remaining key figures. New arrivals include World Cup champion Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, Bernardo Silva and Yan Diomande.

Atletico Madrid host promoted Malaga on Wednesday, but uncertainty surrounds Argentine forward Julián Álvarez, who has expressed a desire to leave. Atletico have insisted they do not plan to sell him despite reported interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid.

The opening weekend features Alaves vs Getafe and Sevilla against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, while Racing Santander return to the top flight after 14 years against Villarreal on Sunday.

La Liga will also introduce connected-ball technology, with a radio-frequency sensor providing real-time data on the ball’s position and every contact.

Promoted clubs include Racing Santander, Malaga and Deportivo La Coruña, setting the stage for an intriguing new campaign.