Barcelona or Real Madrid? As La Liga kicks off, the eternal question once again dominates debate

Jon Arnold, USA TODAYThu, August 20, 2026 at 8:03 PM UTC

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Barcelona or Real Madrid?

It is the question that has defined La Liga since the turn of the century, with the two rivals winning every title but four since the 2000-01 season.

In all actuality, it has defined Spanish soccer for far longer. Just four other clubs ever have won multiple Spanish league titles, with Real Madrid claiming 36 and Barcelona capturing its 29th just last season.

Will this year look any different? Not according to a pair of legends with experience in El Clásico.

Can Barcelona repeat as La Liga champion once again?

The expectation for Barcelona is always to win the championship. Former Barca captain Carles Puyol knows that well. That's what Barcelona did last season, dealing with injury absences that limited stars like Lamine Yamal, Frenkie De Jong and Gavi, and the year before in manager Hansi Flick's first season with the club.

"Two leagues in a row won, I think deservedly, against great opponents and with a good work from the coaching staff and the players. Now, it's about going for another one. It doesn't stop," Puyol said in a call with U.S. media organized by ESPN, the league's U.S. rightsholder. "I think Barcelona has a great team, but we hope there are fewer injuries and I have a lot of hope it's going to be a great season.

As the club looks to add depth, it has brought on winger Anthony Gordon from Newcastle, midfielder Joao Cancelo and Rodri, who won the Golden Ball as the best player at the World Cup and joins from Manchester City.

Will Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid return help Los Blancos challenge for a title?

Real Madrid is hoping an offseason overhaul and the return of a familiar face will be a boost for its title chances. Jose Mourinho, the colorful manager who led the team from 2010-2013, is back on the bench.

"He needs to win. It's as simple as that. He needs to beat Barcelona. He needs to win the league. I don't necessarily think he needs to win the Champions League, but I certainly think he needs to finish above Barcelona," said Steve McManaman, who played for Real Madrid from 1999-2003, winning two La Liga crowns and two UEFA Champions League titles.

It isn't just Mourinho, who led Los Blancos to a league title in 2011–12, who has arrived to help solidify a squad that finished eight points back of FC Barcelona last season and fell to Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League.

The defense has been reinforced, and the club locked down winger Vinicius Jr. on a new contract after rumors he might be wooed to the Premier League. Still, McManaman believes Mourinho will need to paper over a lack of depth in the middle of the park and get good showings from his new additions at the back to charge past Barca.

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"When we won all those titles, we had an incredible number 6 in Claude Makélélé who really helped the midfield. Of course, the defense at the particular time had a level that was really, really strong," McManaman said. "I think Real Madrid this year have tried to rectify that. I think they were weak defensively last year, and Jose has brought in another three defenders: (Denzel) Dumfries has come in, (Marc) Cucarella has come in and of course (Ibrahima) Konate has come in.

"They haven’t got a No. 6 yet. The best 6 in the world is going to go to Barcelona in Rodri from Manchester City. He’s the best around, so Real Madrid are going to have to try to sort out their defensive area that way, but if they get the front three right, if Jose gets Vini Jr and Kylian (Mbappe) playing together, they’ll score many goals, but they need to find the best midfielders to stop leaking goals."

What else is worth watching in La Liga this season?

The La Liga campaign got off to a strange start, with the World Cup leading the players' union and the Spanish federation to push Round 1 matches in which clubs affected by the World Cup after Round 2. That means many teams have started their campaign - with Alaves and Espanyol enjoying temporarily leading the league.

Atlético Madrid won its opening match over Malaga and is expected to be a thorn in the side of the big two once again, especially with Argentine forward Julian Alvarez apparently staying at the club after speculation he would move to Barcelona or another club.

Meanwhile, teams like Villarreal, Real Betis and others will continue to push for European places while others might impress with their style of play even if they aren't able to climb the table.

"Last year, I liked watching Elche because (former manager Eder) Sarabia is a manager I like with a nice style of play, which is always tougher at a smaller club," Puyol said. "Atletico Madrid always has great players but hasn't been able to take that step. We talk a lot about Barcelona and Madrid, but for me Atleti is a clear contender."

Barcelona opens its season Aug. 23 against that Elche team, which opened its season with a draw with Deportivo de A Coruña, while Real Madrid begins the day before against table-topping Espanyol.

The decision to play the first week with the split calendar came before Spain's triumph in the World Cup, something Puyol was thrilled to see as part of the first Spain team to lift the men's World Cup. Still, he said, players must turn the page quickly from the celebrations to help their clubs.

"Honestly, from here the season starts with a lot of pride in the way the Spain team played. As players, it's an enormous satisfaction, but that's in the past now," he said. "It's history, and now you have to focus on the new season where you have to from the start be very concentrated because matches are always tough and you can't let points get away."

That's especially true for the teams that always are in the title race with each other - and any Spanish team who wants to challenge the duopoly that has dominated La Liga for decades.

Full La Liga weekend calendar

(All times Eastern)Thursday Aug. 20Rayo Vallecano vs. Deportivo Alavés, 3 p.m.

Friday Aug. 21Real Betis vs. Real Sociedad, 3 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 22Athletic Club vs. Sevilla, 11 a.m.Valencia vs. Celta Vigo, 1:30 p.m.Espanyol vs. Real Madrid, 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 23Atletico Madrid vs. Villarreal, 11 a.m.Getafe vs. Racing Santander, 1:30 p.m.Elche vs. Barcelona, 3:30 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 24Osasuna vs. Levante, 1:30 p.m.Malaga vs. Deportivo La Coruña, 3:30 p.m.

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