5' min
In a few days the start of the 2024-2025 La Liga season. It will be the 94th edition of the Spanish national tournament, which promises to be thrilling in light of the spectacular transfer moves.
There is great anticipation for Kylian Mbappé's debut in a Real Madrid shirt, as well as for the new adventure of Hans-Dieter Flick on the Barcelona bench. The "enfant prodige" will face a different league for the first time in his career after nine years in Ligue 1 and will try to win the much-coveted Champions League. Meanwhile, there is much curiosity among the Blaugrana ranks; the choice to focus on the former Bayern Munich coach was met with surprise, and the field will tell whether the Catalan management's decision was correct.
The new season will kick off on August 15 and conclude on May 25, 2025. The opening matches will feature Athletic Bilbao and Betis Sevilla hosting Getafe (7:00 PM) and Girona (9:00 PM) respectively on Thursday. Girona was a major player last season with their first historic qualification for the Champions League.
On Friday, August 16, Celta Vigo will face Alaves (7:00 PM) and Las Palmas will play Sevilla (9:00 PM). Sevilla needs to redeem themselves after last season’s disappointing 14th place finish, marking the first time in 10 years that they were out of European competitions.
Sunday, August 17, will see the first big team in action, with Hans-Dieter Flick's Barcelona debuting in a tough away match against Valencia (9:00 PM). The match between Osasuna and the newly promoted Leganes (7:00 PM) will precede the main event.
In the Monday Night game, Kylian Mbappé will debut with Real Madrid in an away match against Mallorca (August 18, 9:30 PM). Before the Whites' away game, Real Sociedad will play against Rayo Vallecano in San Sebastian (August 18, 7:00 PM).
The first round will conclude with Valladolid-Espanyol, a clash between newly promoted teams (Tuesday, August 19, 7:00 PM), and the first big match of the day at Estadio de La Ceramica between Villarreal and Atletico Madrid (9:30 PM).
Undoubtedly, the hottest matches of the La Liga season will be El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona, and the Madrid derby between Real and Atletico. The historic Andalusian rivalry between Betis and Sevilla also draws attention.
The first leg of El Clasico will be on the 11th matchday, the weekend of October 27, with the return leg in Barcelona on the 35th matchday, the weekend of May 11. Before the historic duel between the Whites and the Blaugrana, the Great Derby of Seville will take place on October 6 (return leg on March 30). Even before the Andalusian city derby, the clash between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will occur, with the first leg on September 29 at Metropolitano and the return leg at Bernabeu on February 9.
The main changes for the 2024-2025 season come from the Segunda Division, welcoming the relegated teams from the previous campaign: Almeria, Granada, and Cadiz. Promoted to Primera Division are Leganes, winners of the Spanish Serie B, ahead of Valladolid, who finished second. The promotion playoffs were won by Espanyol, who came from behind to defeat Real Oviedo in the final. The Catalan derby with Barcelona returns after a two-year absence (first leg on November 3 at Blaugrana, return leg on May 14).
In addition to Barcelona replacing the dismissed Xavi Hernandez with Hans-Dieter Flick, several other La Liga clubs have new managers. Las Palmas appointed Luis Carrion, who replaced Garcia Pimienta, now the new Sevilla coach, succeeding Quique Sanchez Flores. Changes also occurred at Mallorca, where Jagoba Arrasate took over, leaving Osasuna’s bench to Vicente Moreno.
After winning La Liga last season, Real Madrid is determined to defend their title in the 2024-2025 season. Under Carlo Ancelotti, the team demonstrated impressive solidity, suffering only one defeat throughout the season against Atletico Madrid, and maintaining an incredible 28-game unbeaten streak. This allowed the Whites to claim their 36th national title and add their 15th Champions League trophy to their collection. Such a performance has cemented Real Madrid as the team to beat in Europe and Spain, fueling expectations for another successful season.
One of the main reasons Real Madrid is considered the favorite for the upcoming season is the reinforcement of their squad with the acquisition of Kylian Mbappé. The arrival of the French forward has rekindled excitement and high expectations among fans, reminiscent of the glorious times of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Mbappé brings speed, skill, and a scoring ability that promises to make a difference in every game. Additionally, the team has further strengthened its attack with the signing of Endrick, a young Brazilian talent from Palmeiras, considered one of the future stars of world football.
But it’s not just the attack that has been bolstered. Arda Guler, despite an injury that kept him off the pitch for much of last season, showed glimpses of his extraordinary abilities during the European Championship, giving fans hope that he can become a key player in Real Madrid's midfield. His vision and technical skills add depth and creativity to the team, which could prove crucial in the toughest matches.
Barcelona, who finished second last season, is also gearing up for a battle. With new coach Hansi Flick, the former Bayern Munich manager, the Blaugrana hope to return to the top. The Catalan team, a consistent presence among the top positions in the standings, will look to leverage Flick's experienced leadership to reclaim the title.
Another team to watch is Girona, which surprised everyone by staying in the upper echelons of the table and managing to beat Barcelona both home and away. Girona even secured a historic Champions League qualification, marking a milestone for the club.
Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, should not be underestimated. Finishing fourth and securing a Champions League spot, Diego Simeone’s team is determined to improve their performance and seriously compete for the national title. After being dramatically eliminated by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarterfinals, Atletico will aim to bounce back and target high achievements both in Spain and Europe.
