What's new

European football leagues (La Liga, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, Serie A, etc.) 2025-26 Discussion Thread

The Bald Eagle

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Nov 25, 2023
Runs
23,886
European Football Leagues 2025-26 Overview & Discussion

La Liga (Spain)

Title Race: The 2025-26 season is expected to be a close contest between Barcelona and Real Madrid. Barcelona comes in as defending champions, boosted by high-profile arrivals such as Marcus Rashford (on loan from Manchester United) and Joan Garcia (goalkeeper from Espanyol). Lamine Yamal, who contributed massively last season, is seen as a key figure.

Real Madrid have strengthened their defense with signings like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen, but there is some concern that their midfield depth may be lacking. Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. lead their attack. New coach Xabi Alonso must quickly establish his preferred system.

Atletico Madrid has been active in the market but may again finish third despite efforts to strengthen under Diego Simeone.

Teams Promoted: Levante, Elche, Real Oviedo
Teams Relegated: Real Valladolid, Las Palmas, Leganés

Ligue 1 (France)

PSG remains the favorites after defending their title, but the gap to contenders Monaco and Marseille has narrowed.

Monaco and Marseille have strengthened their squads and are expected to mount serious challenges. Strasbourg and Paris FC add extra intrigue, with Paris FC returning to the top flight after 46 years.

Significant Changes: Lorient, Paris FC, and Metz join Ligue 1 after promotion. Big names (Montpellier, Saint-Étienne, Reims) were relegated, marking a fresh dynamic for the league.

Teams Promoted: Lorient, Paris FC, Metz
Teams Relegated: Montpellier, Saint-Étienne, Reims

Bundesliga (Germany)

Season Dates: Begins August 22, 2025; ends May 16, 2026.

Defending Champions: Bayern Munich. Harry Kane and Michael Olise are expected to be key for Bayern.

Newcomers: 1. FC Köln and Hamburger SV were promoted, replacing Holstein Kiel and VfL Bochum.

Managerial Moves: Several coaching changes across the league, including Erik ten Hag to Bayer Leverkusen and Vincent Kompany with Bayern Munich.

Teams Promoted: 1. FC Köln, Hamburger SV
Teams Relegated: Holstein Kiel, VfL Bochum

Serie A (Italy)

Season Dates: August 23, 2025 – May 24, 2026.

Defending Champions: Napoli, who strengthened further with Antonio Conte staying and major signings including Kevin De Bruyne, Noa Lang, and Sam Beukema.

Major Changes: Seven of last season's top ten teams changed managers, including Allegri returning to Milan, Sarri to Lazio, Pioli to Fiorentina, and Chivu to Inter Milan.

Title Contenders: Napoli, Inter, AC Milan seen as frontrunners. Bologna and others also in the rebuilt chase.

Debut Fixtures: Sassuolo-Napoli, Milan-Cremonese, Roma-Bologna, Juventus-Parma, Inter-Torino.

Promotions & Relegations Across Major Leagues (Ahead of 2025-26)
League Promoted Teams Relegated Teams
La Liga Levante, Elche, Real Oviedo Valladolid, Las Palmas, Leganés
Bundesliga 1. FC Köln, Hamburger SV Holstein Kiel, VfL Bochum
Ligue 1 Lorient, Paris FC, Metz Montpellier, Saint-Étienne, Reims
Serie A [Not listed in snippets] [Not listed in snippets]
Premier League Leeds United, Burnley, Sunderland Leicester, Ipswich, Southampton
Transfer Highlights
De Bruyne to Napoli, Rashford to Barcelona, Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid headline notable moves in continental Europe for this campaign.

Promoted teams like Leeds are preparing for high-stake seasons with ambitious recruitment.

Key Discussion Points for 2025-26
Can Barcelona defend their La Liga title against a star-studded Madrid and a rebuilt Atletico?

Will PSG’s dominance in France finally break with Monaco or Marseille challenging?

Bayern Munich remains the team to beat in Germany, but managerial shakeups could impact the race.

Has Napoli built a dynasty in Italy, or will Inter, Milan, or Juventus disrupt the order?

Promoted teams face steep challenges to avoid immediate relegation, especially in the Premier League, where all three promoted sides were relegated last season.

Feel free to join the discussion with your thoughts on title races, transfer impacts, club strategies, or anything across the European football landscape this season!
 
Overseas La Liga game 'good for football' says Spain football chief

La Liga's decision to move the fixture between Villarreal and Barcelona to Miami in December is "good for football", says Spanish football federation (RFEF) president Rafael Louzan.

In August, the RFEF approved plans for the game that had been due to be hosted at Villarreal's Estadio de la Ceramica to instead take place at Hard Rock Stadium on 20 December.

Real Madrid expressed opposition, stating the consequences would be "so serious" and lead to a "before and after" for the world of football.

Confirmation of the Miami game followed a decision by the Italian football federation (FIGC) to sanction a Serie A match between AC Milan and Como to be played in Perth, Australia in February.

"It's a reward for those fans who are behind the screen, also in Asia or America, who are paying a fee to watch all the Spanish La Liga matches. It's a gesture to them," Louzan said.

"It's good for football and it promotes the Spanish La Liga around the world. Italy is also going to do it with Serie A in Australia. It's a good move for the best league in the world to do it."

European football's governing body Uefa was in "clear opposition" to the plans but "reluctantly" gave approval because there was no legal framework to stop it.

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said it was a "regrettable" decision to allow two European league matches to be played overseas and insisted it "shall not be seen as setting a precedent".

Barcelona's greatest ever player, Lionel Messi, has made Miami his home since joining Inter Miami in 2023 following a two-season spell at Paris St-Germain.

Joan Laporta, Barcelona's president, said when the fixture was announced: "A competitive game in a city like Miami, with a large FC Barcelona following, will definitely be a great show."

The club have played four pre-season friendlies in Miami previously, most recently in 2022.

BBC
 
1768167053628.png

Barcelona edged past Real Madrid in a five-goal thriller to win back-to-back Spanish Super Cup finals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

It marked a 16th triumph in the tournament for Hansi Flick's side, with Barcelona also beating Los Blancos in last year's final.

Brazilian forward Raphinha's floated shot in the 73rd minute proved to be the winner after a frantic ending to the first half.

Three quick-fire goals in first-half stoppage time put the two on level terms at the break after Raphinha had opened the scoring, drilling into the bottom corner in the 36th minute.

Vinicius Jr equalised two minutes into three of added time, nutmegging Jules Kounde on a brilliant run before sliding into the far corner to score his first Real goal in 17 games, since 4 October, 2025.

Robert Lewandowski then clipped in off the post to restore Barca's lead in the 49th minute.

But Gonzalo Garcia hooked in three minutes later after a scramble in the box that saw Dean Huijsen's header hit the bar, as Barca boss Flick protested the the half-time whistle should already have been blown.

Frenkie de Jong was shown a straight red card in stoppage time after lunging in on Kylian Mbappe, who came on as a substitute having recovered from a knee injury.

Late chances at both ends made for a nervy finale with Marcus Rashford shooting wide when clear, while Alvaro Carreras and then Raul Asencio both shot straight at goalkeeper Joan Garcia.

But Barca held on to secure a second consecutive title for the first time since 2011.
 
162 arrests in Spain's violent ultras crackdown

Spanish police say they have "neutralised" dozens of arranged meetings between groups of violent football ultras this season.

The National Police announced they have made 162 arrests of individuals linked to radical football groups so far in the 2025-26 campaign.

They say they have stopped "numerous planned clashes" between rival sets of ultras, including an interception of a planned clash involving Atletico Madrid and Sevilla groups in early November.

The National Police say they recovered "material hidden in bushes" that would have allegedly been used to attack rival groups.

Another example provided was of 14 individuals being arrested before an alleged planned "meet-up" between ultras from city rivals Sevilla and Real Betis, prior to the two teams playing in La Liga.

The 162 arrests have come as part of 15 operations across Spain throughout the season.

Police said they had "a policy of 'zero tolerance' against extremist and violent behaviour".

"Most of the detainees are involved in crimes of tumultuous brawl, public disorder, injuries and belonging to a criminal group," they added.

"The predominant profile of the detainees corresponds to men, between 18 and 40 years old, with previous records in crimes related to public order, and linked to radical factions of different ideologies."


 
162 arrests in Spain's violent ultras crackdown

Spanish police say they have "neutralised" dozens of arranged meetings between groups of violent football ultras this season.

The National Police announced they have made 162 arrests of individuals linked to radical football groups so far in the 2025-26 campaign.

They say they have stopped "numerous planned clashes" between rival sets of ultras, including an interception of a planned clash involving Atletico Madrid and Sevilla groups in early November.

The National Police say they recovered "material hidden in bushes" that would have allegedly been used to attack rival groups.

Another example provided was of 14 individuals being arrested before an alleged planned "meet-up" between ultras from city rivals Sevilla and Real Betis, prior to the two teams playing in La Liga.

The 162 arrests have come as part of 15 operations across Spain throughout the season.

Police said they had "a policy of 'zero tolerance' against extremist and violent behaviour".

"Most of the detainees are involved in crimes of tumultuous brawl, public disorder, injuries and belonging to a criminal group," they added.

"The predominant profile of the detainees corresponds to men, between 18 and 40 years old, with previous records in crimes related to public order, and linked to radical factions of different ideologies."



Violence over a sport is very stupid.

Not sure why people behave like this. They are not the ones who are playing on the field. They are just spectators. :inti
 
Back
Top