La Liga 2023-24: a season of title races, derbies, and big questions
Spanish football returns with renewed emotion this Friday as the league kicks off its summer-influenced schedule and runs through late May. The curtain rises with Almeria hosting Rayo Vallecano, a day that also features the reigning champions commissioning the campaign with a visit to Getafe, while Real Madrid travel to Bilbao to face Athletic. Atlético Madrid, finishing third last season, welcomes Granada at the Metropolitano in what promises to be a telling start for the race at the top.
Even as the transfer window remains open, LaLiga EA Sports begins with a pragmatic tone, maintaining the familiar chalk-and-talk balance of a league that trusts its core contenders while acknowledging the need for fiscal restraint. The opening phase signals continuity among the usual suspects, with no immediate dramatic shifts in the hierarchy observed so far.
2023-2024 League candidates
Barcelona again enters the season as a strong title contender, navigating ongoing financial pressures that shape every decision. The club faces notable departures, including the exit of Ousmane Dembélé, and leans on a squad built around last season’s core and the talent nurtured by La Masia. Complications persist around their home venue, with stadium work complicating travel plans to Montjuïc, complicating logistics but not dampening ambition.
The first Clasico arrives on matchday eleven, a fixture charged with history and rivalry that will test both teams as the campaign unfolds. The white side of the city has reinforced its squad, yet faces uncertainties from injuries and potential late acquisitions, while the club continues to balance its historic European ambitions with a competitive domestic program.—[Source: La Liga]
The Madrid side enters the season with strengthened pieces, despite the departure of Karim Benzema and the expectation surrounding Jude Bellingham. Questions linger about Thibaut Courtois’ fitness and whether a late signing such as Kylian Mbappe could alter their trajectory. Still, Real Madrid remains a club that believes its strength lies in its deep history and its capacity to compete for major prizes on multiple fronts.
Atlético Madrid, already shown as a threat in the second half of the previous campaign, comes in with a robust squad built around Antoine Griezmann and the tactical framework of Diego Simeone. The team aims to sustain momentum in the league while keeping a roster that can adapt to a season heavy with fixtures, derbies, and European obligations.
From the European front-runners to the hopefuls chasing a place in the continent, Real Sociedad, Villarreal, and Real Betis are positioned to contest Europa League spots and perhaps push for a Champions League berth. Osasuna, Athletic Club, and Sevilla also harbor ambitions of climbing higher, with Mendilibar steering a late surge that earned a European pass on merit during the prior campaign.
The season will reveal how the table settles, with teams like Girona, Rayo Vallecano, and Mallorca aiming to climb from mid-table to solid European contention or better. On the flip side, the relegation battle looms for teams that endured a difficult year. Almería, Celta Vigo, Getafe, Cadiz, and Valencia endured stretches of instability, with the danger of slipping into a fight for survival again, while Granada, Alavés, and Las Palmas could become the team to beat if others stumble.
League calendar and important dates
After the opening weekend, the league will unfold through a schedule that stretches toward late spring. The calendar includes pauses for international breaks and a winter break around Christmas, guaranteeing several stretches of football-free time for rest and preparation. Fans can expect a continuous rhythm punctuated by short pauses for national team duties during the season.
The first Clasico of the campaign is slated for matchday eleven, held in Barcelona, a fixture famous for its intensity and tactical chess. The return clash, Madrid versus Barcelona, is scheduled for the weekend of April 21 on matchday thirty-two, a focal point of the season’s narratives and a potential turning point in the race for the title.
La Liga’s schedule features asymmetric programming where fixtures are spread to maximize marquee matchups without excessive overlap. Real Madrid, mindful of stadium work, anticipates starting the season away from home, underscoring how logistical realities shape the opening rounds.
Transfer market
The summer market centers on a few marquee moves and a broad patchwork of sensible signings that reinforce the league’s balance. Jude Bellingham and Ilkay Gundogan stand out as the high-profile arrivals among a group of players who are expected to lift the level of competition. The window makes it clear that clubs operate under tight financial constraints, prioritizing sustainable spending and strategic recruitment rather than oversized splurges.
Atlético Madrid has added depth with César Azpilicueta and other experienced reinforcements, while Javi Galán strengthens the left side, complementing a squad built to press and transition quickly under Simeone. Real Madrid has also pursued talent to complement its core, while Barcelona looks to maximize the potential of its young stars and seasoned veterans alike.
Among other teams, Roca, Héctor Bellerín, and Isco Alarcón have featured prominently in the market, with strong signings in attack and midfield to balance the squad. Real Sociedad, Villarreal, and Sevilla have added players who can contribute immediately, while notable departures continued to reshape the talent landscape across the league. The absence of certain veterans who had long been fixtures of the competition marks a challenging transition for some clubs, underscoring the financial realities facing La Liga teams today.
As the new season opens, the league looks to maintain a high level of competition, ensuring that the best players, teams, and tactical innovations remain central to the drama that defines Spanish football this year. This ongoing shift in personnel testifies to a league that evolves while holding on to its identity and love for the game.