La Liga 2024/25 News, Predictions and Updates
Football fans all over the globe hate June and July as there is no club football to entertain ourselves with. At least we had Euro 2024 and the Olympics to see us through the tough times, but there is nothing quite like club football, in our opinion.
The 2024/25 La Liga season starts on the 15th of August and sees Athletic Bilbao take on Getafe in the first game of 380. Below, you can find the latest La Liga news and our predictions for the upcoming season.
The Winter Break Remains in La Liga This Season
The Premier League clubs decided to do away with the winter break for the 2024/25 season, opting to start the season a little bit later instead so that those players who took part in Euro 2024 and Copa America could get some extra days off.
However, La Liga have decided to keep the winter break in place, which means that there will be no club football in Spain between the 23rd of December and the 11th of January. Spanish fans will have to turn their attention to the EPL if they want any top football action over the festive period.
The Top La Liga Transfers During the Summer Window
There have been many top transfers in La Liga during the 2024 summer window, and below we will check out the top transfers that could have a huge say in how well their new team goes on to do in the 2024/25 campaign.
Kylian Mbappe: The Frenchman has made no secret in recent years of his desire to play for Real Madrid, and his dream came true this summer as he signed for Los Blancos on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. In the 25-year-old, Real Madrid have got their hands on one of the best players in the world.
During his time in Ligue 1, he scored 162 goals in 178 matches, and it will be interesting to see how he performs in a harder league and with the pressure of expectation upon his shoulders. With him in the team, we would not bet against Los Blancos retaining their La Liga and Champions League titles.
Robin Le Normand: Atletico Madrid have spent close to €200m during this transfer window with the likes of Julian Alvarez and Conor Gallagher both swapping the Premier League for sunny Spain. However, their best bit of business has been capturing Le Normand for just €34.5 million.
During his eight-year spell at Real Sociedad, the strong centre-back established himself as one of the best defenders in the league and was an integral part of Spain’s Euro 2024 success. Not only is he extremely physical, but he is comfortable with the ball and has great footballing IQ. He could help Atletico Madrid upset the likes of Barcelona and Madrid.
Dani Olmo: The Catalan giants have re-signed Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig in a deal that is supposedly worth around €60 million. His new contract has a release clause of €500 million, which just highlights how good they think he is now.
They are not wrong as he was one of the best players at Euro 2024, scoring three goals which helped them on their way to glory. He has great dribbling skills, links up well with his teammates, makes intelligent runs, and is a composed finisher. If he plays to the best of his ability, he can play a big role in wrestling the title away from Real Madrid.
Julian Alvarez: The Argentinian has moved from Manchester City to Atletico Madrid this summer, and his fee of up to €95 million makes him the most expensive La Liga transfer this summer. Alvarez spent two seasons at the Etihad, helping Manchester City to win six major trophies.
His versatility allows him to play anywhere in the frontline, while his speed, directness, and control makes him a nightmare for defenders. With him in attack, Atletico Madrid will be confident about their ability to push for another La Liga title.
2024/25 La Liga Fixtures to Look Out For
A typical La Liga season is made up of 380 matches, so there are many interesting fixtures that we can watch and put our hard-earned money on. Below, we are going to take a look at the dates of some of the more enticing 2024/25 La Liga matches.
Barcelona vs Valencia (17th August)
A hotly anticipated fixture of any La Liga season is Barcelona against Valencia, and we will be treated to it right away as they will play each other on the opening weekend. It is always a fierce battle between these two teams and, with both clubs aiming to finish at the top of the table, it should be a thrilling encounter with plenty of drama.
Real Valladolid vs Leganes (28th August)
Both of these teams were playing in the Spanish Second Division last season, and now they are mixing it with the big boys. Their main aim for the season will be to survive, so both teams will be looking to get the win here and claim three big points that could go a long way to securing survival for another season.
Sevilla vs Real Betis (6th October)
The majority of Spanish football fans agree that the “El Derbi Sevillano” is the biggest derby in Spain. Out of all the Spanish derbies, this is the most intense one of all as both sets of fans hate each other with a passion. The atmosphere is electric when these two meet, and the football is usually not half bad either.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona (27th October)
Even those who do not follow La Liga much will often be inclined to tune into the El Clasico when it is being played. Real Madrid and Barcelona, as you probably already know, are huge rivals, and their games against each other are often full of goals, nasty tackles, and cards. These two teams will be fighting it out for the title come the end of the season, so a win here could end up being huge.
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid (9th February)
This used to be a one-sided rivalry that was dominated by Los Blancos, but things are usually much closer now thanks to the talent that Diego Simeone has put together. When it comes to quality, this is one of the best derbies in the football world, and Atletico are always eager to put a dent in their rivals chances of claiming yet another title.
Real Sociedad vs Athletic Club (4th May)
This is one of the friendliest derbies out there, but it is still one of the biggest Spanish footballing rivalries. These two teams will probably finish somewhere around mid-table, but that does not mean that this is not an entertaining game to watch.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid (11th May)
The second El Clasico will take place in May, and it could be a match which determines the team that will go on to win the 2024/25 La Liga title. It is definitely worth putting this date down in your diary.
Who Will Win La Liga 2024/25?
Carlo Ancelotti had one of his best seasons as a coach last year as he led Los Blancos to La Liga and Champions League glory. His side were hard to break down at the back, and had no issues when it came to finding the back of the net. Now that they have added Mbappe to their team, things have just gotten a whole lot harder for their opponents.
For us, we cannot look beyond Real Madrid retaining the title that they won in style last season, especially if Jude Bellingham puts in the same kind of performances that saw him voted as La Liga Player of the Season.
Barcelona is one of the favourites ahead of the new campaign starting, but we do not think they will go on and win the title. Yes, they have signed some quality players, such as Dani Olmo, but they do not have the same quality that Real Madrid boast.
They have also struggled to fill the gap that has been left by the retirement of Sergio Busquets, while Robert Lewandowski is not getting any younger. Lamine Yamal showed just how good he is at Euro 2024, but he is too young to lead Barcelona to La Liga glory.
Who Will Get Top Four?
Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid should finish in the table in that order, leaving one more Champions League spot up for grabs. Girona claimed it last year, but the tolls of UCL football will have a detrimental impact on them this season along with the fact that they have lost Savinho, Garcia, and Dovbyk. I think Athletic Club will claim 4th as they were impressive last season, winning the Copa del Rey and having the second-best defensive record in the league.
Who Will be Relegated?
The main aim of a newly promoted team is to stay in the division, but that is easier said than done, especially nowadays when the difference in financial power of the top and lower teams is getting bigger. It is not unusual to see promoted teams get relegated at the end of their first season back, and I think that is what will happen in May. So, we think Leganes, Valladolid, and Espanyol will be relegated at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
