La Liga 2025–26: Villarreal’s Impressive Beginning Challenges Barcelona and Real Madrid
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Omar Haddad
- . August 29, 2025
- . Update: August 29, 2025 12:42 am
La Liga, officially recognized as LALIGA EA SPORTS, started on August 15, 2025, and is set to end on May 24, 2026. Only after two weeks, the competition has already been drama-filled. Barcelona, the defending champions, who won the 28th league title last year, are bent on their success. But it is Villarreal who have taken centre stage, flying to the top, with an unblemished start, as Real Madrid and Barcelona are hotly following them.
Upcoming Matches: August 29–31, 2025
Week three brings high-stakes encounters that could reshape the early league table.
| Date | Match | Time (Local) | Venue | City |
| Friday, Aug 29 | Elche vs Levante | 11:00 PM | Martínez Valero | Elche |
| Saturday, Aug 30 | Alavés vs Atlético Madrid | 8:30 PM | Mendizorroza | Vitoria-Gasteiz |
| Saturday, Aug 30 | Real Oviedo vs Real Sociedad | 10:30 PM | Carlos Tartiere | Oviedo |
| Saturday, Aug 30 | Girona vs Sevilla | 11:00 PM | Municipal de Montilivi | Girona |
| Sunday, Aug 31 | Real Madrid vs Mallorca | 1:00 AM | Santiago Bernabéu | Madrid |
| Sunday, Aug 31 | Celta Vigo vs Villarreal | 8:30 PM | Estadio Abanca-Balaídos | Vigo |
| Sunday, Aug 31 | Real Betis vs Athletic Club | 10:30 PM | Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla | Sevilla |
| Sunday, Aug 31 | Espanyol vs Osasuna | 11:00 PM | RCDE Stadium | Barcelona |
Such fixtures will play an important role in the initial story of the campaign. Villarreal face a tricky away trip to Celta Vigo, while Real Madrid welcome Mallorca at the Bernabéu. Barcelona is not playing this weekend, but it will be watching the results keenly because it wants to remain at the same pace in defending the title.
Score Table and Key Info
| Position | Team | Pl | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Villarreal | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 6 |
| 2 | Barcelona | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 6 |
| 3 | Real Madrid | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 6 |
| 4 | Getafe | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 6 |
| 5 | Athletic Bilbao | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 |
| 6 | Real Betis | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 5 |
| 7 | Espanyol | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 4 |
| 8 | Rayo Vallecano | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 |
| 9 | Alavés | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | Osasuna | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Analysis and Early Season Highlights
The title race is developing rapidly, and five clubs are at the top with maximum points. The attacking acuity and defensive strength are emphasized by Villarreal being the early leaders with a blistering +7 goal difference. Close behind are Barcelona and Real Madrid, who are yet to strike a blemish, whereas Getafe and Athletic Bilbao are not far behind them after fabulous beginnings.
Real Betis have not been beaten in their three matches, and they are not as weak as five points give them resilience, and Espanyol is in the seventh position with four. The top ten is completed by Rayo Vallecano, Alavés, and Osasuna with three points each.
The first few weeks of the season have already given us a point of discussion: Villarreal’s flying start, Barcelona’s defending title with confidence, and Madrid at the start of the season in a controlled manner. The question that will be the theme of the next few rounds is whether Villarreal will be able to continue their march, or is it time to see the old powerhouses rise to the top once again?
