Champions Barcelona to host Athletic Club on opening weekend of 2026-27 La Liga season

MADRID: The 2026-27 La Liga season kicks off on Aug. 16 with the opening weekend having champions Barcelona taking on Athletic Club at Camp Nou, Real Madrid hosting Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu and Atletico Madrid welcoming Malaga to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

The Spanish top tier — officially LALIGA EA SPORTS — concludes the weekend of May 30, while the regular season of the second tier LALIGA HYPERMOTION will end on Sunday, June 6. The announcement was made during a recent presentation with the Royal Spanish Football Federation, held in Plaza de Colon in Madrid.

The first El Classico of the season between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF will take place on Matchday 10 in Barcelona during the weekend of Oct. 25, with the return fixture on Matchday 35 in Madrid during the weekend of May 9.

The first Madrid Derby will be played on the weekend of Sept. 20, on Matchday 7, at Atletico de Madrid’s Riyadh Air Metropolitano, with the return match on the weekend of April 4, on Matchday 30, at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Seville derby, El Gran Derbi, will see Sevilla FC face Real Betis Balompie on the weekend of Nov. 22, on Matchday 13, at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, with the return leg on the weekend of Feb. 7, on Matchday 23, at Estadio La Cartuja.

El Derbi Vasco between Athletic Club and Real Sociedad will take place on the weekend of Nov. 1, on Matchday 11, in Bilbao, with the return leg on the weekend of May 2, on Matchday 34, in San Sebastian.

El Derbi de Barcelona between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona will take place on the weekend of Jan. 3, on Matchday 18, at the RCDE Stadium, with the return leg on the weekend of April 18, on Matchday 32, at the Spotify Camp Nou.

El Derbi de Valencia between Levante UD