First La Liga match: Alaves v Getafe, Saturday 15 August, 18:30 (BST)
Jose Mourinho returning to Real Madrid 13 years after his first spell as manager ended was a reunion nobody saw coming.
Many expected Real to dominate La Liga and the Champions League when they signed Kylian Mbappe in 2024, and while he has impressed, the team as a whole has not gelled.
Last season Real looked like two teams on the same pitch – a group of four superstar attackers, and a fragile defensive unit left vulnerable to counter-attacks.
New signings Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries and Bernardo Silva should help shore things up, while Yan Diomande could provide even more excitement in the final third.
Vinicius Junior has also recently agreed a new deal after being linked with Arsenal.
Some suggest a veteran Mourinho has had his day – can he manage the egos of Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius after his previous time in charge at the Bernabeu ended following dressing room disquiet, and does the Special One still possess the tactical acumen to seriously challenge Barcelona?
Hansi Flick’s side were not as formidable last season as in 2024-25, but a squad full of Spanish World Cup winners are still favourites to win a third consecutive league title.
Replacing the goals of Robert Lewandowski will not be easy, but reinforcements have arrived in the shape of Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi.
As usual, Atletico Madrid will look to muscle their way into the top two, with Villarreal and Real Betis heading up the best of the rest.
After fighting their way up from the third tier, Malaga will look to avoid the drop with a budget but tightknit squad – they have been under judicial administration since 2020.
There will be tears in Valencia as Los Che play their final campaign at the iconic Mestalla stadium, but who knows if Uefa Conference League runners-up Rayo Vallecano will be able to play any home games at all.
The regional government of Madrid has stripped the club of its license to host matches at its rented Vallecas stadium due to the dilapidated state of the facilities.
