Barcelona enter as the defending champions, fresh off a domestic treble under Hansi Flick. Flick has locked down Lamine Yamal for the long term, brought in Marcus Rashford on loan, added young talents like Roony Bardghji, and strengthened in goal with Joan García.
The attack looks loaded with youth and speed. But there’s a worry at the back. Veteran Iñigo Martínez has left for Saudi Arabia, leaving Ronald Araújo, Pau Cubarsí, and Andreas Christensen to carry the defense. Can they stay solid enough for Barca to repeat?
Real Madrid are desperate to snatch the title back. Xabi Alonso is in the hot seat, replacing Carlo Ancelotti, and he’s already stamped his mark. Madrid signed Trent Alexander-Arnold, Franco Mastantuono, and Dean Huijsen, bolstering both defense and creativity.
Add Kylian Mbappé to the attack alongside Vinícius Jr. and Rodrygo, and on paper this is a superteam. But not all is smooth, Madrid stumbled at the Club World Cup, and even club legend Steve McManaman suggested Mbappé’s arrival unsettled the balance. Alonso’s biggest test isn’t talent, it’s chemistry. Can he get the stars to shine together?
Atlético Madrid are once again the dark horses. Diego Simeone oversaw a huge rebuild this summer, bringing in Thiago Almada, Álex Baena, Giacomo Raspadori, and more. Seven signings in total. On paper, it looks like a bold refresh.
But reality hit hard: Atlético lost their opening game to Espanyol despite an Álvaro Morata screamer. Defensive frailties and shaky substitutions showed the project is still raw. Still, Opta’s supercomputer gives them about a 12% chance to win the title, behind Barca (46%) and Madrid (32%) but not out of the race.
Beyond the big three, Athletic Club and Villarreal are lurking, tipped for potential Champions League spots, while the likes of Real Sociedad and Betis will look to cause trouble. But make no mistake this title will almost certainly come down to Barca’s flair, Madrid’s firepower, or Atleti’s grit
Can Barcelona repeat their treble-winning magic, or will their defense crack under pressure?
Will Xabi Alonso get Madrid’s new stars firing, or will egos clash and slow them down?
Can Simeone’s “new Atleti” grow fast enough to actually challenge, or was that loss to Espanyol the first warning sign?
Is there a dark horse outside the big three ready to shake things up?
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