Preview of the 1st round of La Liga, August 15-19
The opening round of the new Spanish La Liga season is full of intrigue. Yes, we won't see Real Madrid and Barcelona with a bunch of newcomers and plans in action yet, but that doesn't make the first game week boring. In this preview, we will analyze the matches of the 1st round of the Spanish football championship.
Alaves – Getafe
The opening match of the new La Liga season will be a clash between Alaves and Getafe. The teams had different experiences in the last tournament – the glorious fought for survival in the elite until the end, while the city team managed to qualify for the European cups. Both squads were active in the off-season and significantly refreshed their lineups. In the context of forming a bet, it is important to consider the following statistical trend – in 13 out of the last 14 head-to-head matches, Getafe did not lose to Alaves. It seems that Jose Bordalas and his team have a good chance of continuing this trend.
Link to the match:
Sevilla – Rayo Vallecano
Lately, it's quite difficult to expect big achievements and a fight for the highest positions from Sevilla. Last season, the red-and-whites once again struggled for survival, outpacing the relegation zone by just one point. Now, Luis Garcia has had a full pre-season preparation with the team, which increases the chances of successfully integrating his tactical ideas. As for Rayo Vallecano's prospects in the upcoming campaign, they are unclear – the departure of Inigo Perez and a mediocre transfer campaign do not promise anything good.
Link to the match:
Racing – Villarreal
The main intrigue of the upcoming meeting is what Racing can achieve in the elite of Spanish football? For the team from Santander, promotion to the Spanish La Liga is considered a huge event – it took 14 years to get promotion from the lower divisions. It's also unclear what shape Villarreal is in for the new season. The team from the eponymous city continues to maintain silence in the transfer market – hardly can the signing of 36-year-old Peter Gulacsi be considered a reinforcement. The departure of Marcelino is considered the biggest problem – despite the confirmed class of Inigo Perez, his tactical model is noticeably different and needs fine-tuning.
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Espanyol – Levante
Perhaps one of the most unpredictable fixtures of the opening round of the Spanish La Liga. The Catalan team completely failed the second half of the last championship and desperately needed a reboot. In turn, Levante fought for survival almost all season, showing a high degree of instability. A significant loss for the frogs was the departure of Carlos Espi to Real Madrid – if Levante doesn't find without a suitable replacement, the team risks facing serious problems in terms of attacking play in the upcoming season. Let's also note that Espanyol has not lost to Levante in head-to-head matches for six games in a row.
Link to the match:
Celta – Osasuna
Alessio Lishi's time has come to an end - the young Spanish specialist failed to take the team to a new level, despite flashes of good play. As a replacement, the reds invited Luis Miguel Ramis to the post of head coach - the Catalan has experience working in Real Madrid's youth teams. Last season, Osasuna was marked by dismal efficiency in away matches. It's also worth noting that the team from Pamplona lost a key player during the off-season - Victor Munoz was sold to Liverpool. Celta looks like a more stable team with significantly fewer problems.
Link to the match:
Deportivo – Elche
Deportivo is expected to do well - the newcomer to the Spanish Primera worked well in the transfer market during the off-season. The signings of Angelino and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are particularly noteworthy. The pre-season preparation of the team from La Coruna went smoothly - not a single defeat in six matches. On the eve of the opening round, it's important to remember Elche's dismal efficiency in away matches last season - just eight points after 19 games. At this point, it's hard to argue why the green-striped can be considered favorites in this fixture.
Link to the match:
Atletico Madrid – Malaga
For the first time in nine years, Malaga will visit Wanda Metropolitano - the anchovies have come a long way to finally return to the elite division of Spanish football. Now the team has a no less difficult task - with limited resources, to maintain their place and establish themselves as a strong team capable of taking points from more prestigious opponents. Things are not all smooth in the camp of the semi-finalists of the last Champions League tournament either - a controversial transfer campaign and uncertainties in the relationship with Julian Alvarez do not play into the hands of the mattress makers. As a rule, Atletico smoothly rolls into the season, so a goal fest is not expected.
Link to the match:
Round Summary
It will be extremely interesting to observe what the newcomers to the championship represent and what aces they have up their sleeves for matches against more prestigious opponents. The confrontation between Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano can confidently be considered a hiddenThe headline news - Luis Garcia has undergone a full pre-season preparation with the team, and the bees are entering a new season after major changes. We are closely watching the first round of La Liga, studying the list of new betting sites spain and urge caution when choosing bets!
FAQ
When will the 1st round of La Liga 2026/2027 take place?
The first round matches will take place from August 15 to 19, 2026.
Which match will be the highlight of the 1st round of La Liga 2026/27?
In the absence of games involving Barcelona and Real Madrid, the matches between Atletico Madrid – Malaga and Sevilla – Rayo Vallecano are vying for the status of the central fixtures.
