The 2025/26 LALIGA EA SPORTS season is finally here, and Matchday 1 is a five-night feast of football running from Friday August 15th through to Tuesday August 19th. Spanish football fans have tasty games to tuck in to on each of these nights, especially with FC Barcelona visiting RCD Mallorca and Real Madrid hosting CA Osasuna, two potentially tricky fixtures for last season’s top two.
The very first game of the new campaign takes place in Catalonia, where Girona FC take on Rayo Vallecano at the Estadi Montilivi at 19:00 CEST on Friday evening. Always a special game for former Rayo Vallecano coach Míchel, he’ll hope to kick off the new campaign with three points as Girona FC aim to bounce back following a disappointing 2024/25.
Next up is a fixture fans in the city of Oviedo have been waiting for for over two decades. With Real Oviedo finally back in Spanish football’s top tier, after a 24-year absence, they’ll relish the chance to play on opening night, with a trip to Villarreal CF on the cards. With both these clubs meaning so much to Santi Cazorla, the veteran of this current Real Oviedo squad, he’ll be one to watch in particular.
Saturday then brings up three fixtures, the first of which introduces another newly promoted side back to LALIGA EA SPORTS. In this case it’s Levante UD, who’ll play away at Deportivo Alavés in the 17:00 CEST time slot.
Then, at 19:30 CEST on Saturday night, defending champions FC Barcelona return to action in the Balearic Islands, taking on RCD Mallorca. Having started last season so well, Hansi Flick will demand a similarly positive start to this campaign as Barça aim to win back-to-back league championships for the first time since 2017/18 and 2018/19.
Valencia CF vs Real Sociedad is the third of the Saturday fixtures, a duel between two historic clubs who missed out on European qualification last season but who have making it back to continental competition as an objective for 2025/26.
There are three more matches on Sunday, starting in Vigo where RC Celta host Getafe CF. The team from Madrid finished both meetings last season with the Galicians with 10 men and with defeat, so will target a more disciplined performance this time around.
Two giants of Spanish football then meet in Bilbao, as Athletic Club face off against Sevilla FC. The Basque side are a shining example of stability and consistency, with Ernesto Valverde still at the helm and with most of last season’s squad still in place. Sevilla FC, on the other hand, have several new signings and a new coach too, in Matías Almeyda. This first test of the season will be a fascinating watch for everyone keen to see how the Andalusians fare in 2025/26.
At 21:30 CEST on Sunday night, Atlético de Madrid are in action as they pay a visit to RCD Espanyol. Both times when Diego Simeone led Atleti to the league championship they started with a victory, so the Argentinian fully understands the importance of a fast start. However, the past four games Atleti have played against RCD Espanyol have all ended in draws. So, this Matchday 1 test won’t be easy.
There is one game on Monday night, as Elche CF face off against Real Betis. This marks the return of Elche CF to the top flight and it’s the first game in the division as a head coach for Eder Sarabia. With the 44-year-old taking on a true veteran of the sidelines in the 71-year-old Manuel Pellegrini, it’ll be interesting to observe this tactical tussle.
The final night of this five-day extravaganza is Tuesday, when Real Madrid take on CA Osasuna in the final game of Matchday 1. There were positive signs under new coach Xabi Alonso at the Club World Cup, and now it’s time for Los Blancos to show what they can do in LALIGA EA SPORTS as they aim to prize the trophy back off FC Barcelona. The new season is here, and Matchday 1 looks absolutely fascinating.
SOURCE: LALIGA CONTENTHUB
