La Liga 2026/27 season begins with Mourinho's return to Real Madrid

The 2026/27 La Liga season is set to begin with significant changes, most notably the return of José Mourinho as manager of Real Madrid. The league's schedule has been adjusted to accommodate players returning from the 2026 World Cup, resulting in a staggered start where giants Real Madrid and Barcelona will begin their campaigns a week later than other clubs.

Real Madrid has undergone a major squad overhaul, securing signings such as Ibrahima Konaté, Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries, Carlos Espí, and Yan Diomandé. Mourinho is reportedly working to establish a clear tactical structure, potentially utilizing a 4-2-3-1 formation to maximize the impact of Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham.

Barcelona, the defending champions, enters the season under Hansi Flick, having added Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi to their roster. Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid will start their season earlier than their primary rivals to avoid fixture congestion. The league is also introducing technological advancements, including an “intelligent” ball equipped with a chip to assist VAR in making precise decisions regarding offsides and ball contact.