La Liga, Spain’s most prestigious football league, returns for its 95th season. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to Spanish football, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about watching La Liga in the 2025-26 season.
Defending champion FC Barcelona has been alternating titles with Real Madrid for four straight years. Can they make it a fifth? Atlético Madrid continues to knock on the door, making fans wonder if this is the year they break through. Might we see another inspired run from Girona? Or a classic between Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal?
The answers to these questions are why we watch La Liga.
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How to Watch La Liga in the United States
ESPN owns coverage of all matches throughout the 2025-26 season. Fans can catch the action on DIRECTV via ESPN (Ch. 206), ESPN2 (Ch. 209), ABC (Find your local network) and ESPN Deportes (Channel 466).
Upcoming La Liga Schedule
La Liga EA SPORTS kicks off in late August with marquee matchups.
Mark your calendars for the following:
Friday, August 22
| Match | Game Time |
| Real Betis vs Alavés | 3:30 p.m. ET |
Saturday, August 23
| Match | Game Time |
| Mallorca vs Celta Vigo | 11:00 a.m. ET |
| Atlético Madrid vs Elche | 1:30 p.m. ET |
| Levante vs Barcelona | 3:30 p.m. ET |
Sunday, August 24
| Match | Game Time |
| Osasuna vs Valencia | 11:00 a.m. ET |
| Real Sociedad vs Espanyol | 1:30 p.m. ET |
| Villarreal vs Girona | 1:30 p.m. ET |
| Real Oviedo vs Real Madrid | 3:30 p.m. ET |
Monday, August 25
| Match | Game Time |
| Athletic Club vs Rayo Vallecano | 1:30 p.m. ET |
| Sevilla vs Getafe | 3:30 p.m. ET |
Wednesday, August 27
| Match | Game Time | TV Info |
| Celta Vigo vs Real Betis | 3:00 p.m. ET | ESPN Select (formerly ESPN+) |
Friday, August 29
| Match | Game Time | TV Info |
| Elche vs Levante | 1:30 p.m. ET | ESPN Select; ESPN Deportes |
| Valencia vs Getafe | 3:30 p.m. ET | ESPN Select; ESPN Deportes |
Saturday, August 30
| Match | Game Time | TV Info |
| Alavés vs Atlético Madrid | 11:00 a.m. ET | ESPN Select; ESPN Deportes |
| Real Oviedo vs Real Sociedad | 1:00 p.m. ET | ESPN Select; ESPN 3 |
| Girona vs Sevilla | 1:30 p.m. ET | ESPN Select; ESPN Deportes |
| Real Madrid vs Mallorca | 3:30 p.m. ET | ESPN Select; ESPN Deportes |
Sunday, August 31
| Match | Game Time | TV Info |
| Celta Vigo vs Villarreal | 11:00 a.m. ET | ESPN Select |
| Real Betis vs Athletic Club | 1:00 p.m. ET | ESPN Select |
| Espanyol vs Osasuna | 1:30 p.m. ET | ESPN Select; ESPN 3 |
| Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona | 3:30 p.m. ET | ESPN Select |
Regular Season Structure
From there, fans can expect the following structure:
- 38 Matchdays from August to May
- Weekend Focus – Most matches on Saturdays and Sundays
- Midweek Fixtures – Occasional Tuesday/Wednesday games
Key Dates
- Season Start: August 15, 2024
- Winter Break: Brief pause around Christmas/New Year
- Season End: May 25, 2025
- El Clásico Dates: Multiple throughout the season
Key Features of the 2025-26 Season
Here are the biggest things you need to know to keep up with the 2025 La Liga season.
Tiebreaking Rules
When clubs finish with equal points, La Liga follows a detailed hierarchy for tiebreakers:
- Head-to-head points (for ties involving 2+ clubs who have played each other twice)
- Head-to-head goal difference (for two-club ties)
- Overall goal difference
- Goals scored
- Fair-play points
Championship Race
The 2024-25 season concluded with Barcelona securing their 28th La Liga title under new manager Hansi Flick. The Catalan giants finished ahead of defending champions Real Madrid, who were seeking their 37th title.
Teams to Watch
- FC Barcelona – The defending champions and one of the world’s best clubs.
- Real Madrid – The runner-up a year ago, they’re looking to reclaim the title.
- Atlético Madrid – Consistent contenders under Diego Simeone.
- Athletic Bilbao – Basque club challenging for European qualification.
- Girona FC – 2023-24’s surprise third-place finishers.
- Real Oviedo – Promoted to La Liga for the first time in 24 years.
Newly Promoted Teams
Three teams joined La Liga for 2025-26:
- Levante UD – Segunda División champions
- Elche CF – Automatic promotion as Segunda División second-place finishers
- Real Oviedo – Secured promotion through a grueling playoff
What Is La Liga?
La Liga (officially known as La Liga EA Sports for sponsorship reasons) is Spain’s top-tier football competition and one of the most competitive leagues in Europe. Often producing the high-rated clubs among elite competitions like the English Premier League and Italian Serie A, La Liga stands as one of the most popular sports leagues globally.
The league features 20 teams competing in a double round-robin format over 38 matchdays, with the season running from August to May. The competition has produced some of football’s greatest moments, featuring legendary clubs like Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, whose El Clásico rivalry is one of the most-watched sporting events globally.
Competition Format
Double Round-Robin System: Each of the 20 clubs plays every other club twice during the season — once at home and once away — for a total of 38 matches per team (380 total league matches).
Point System:
- 3 points for a win
- 1 point for a draw
- 0 points for a loss
After all matches are completed, the club with the highest point total is crowned La Liga champion.
Promotion and Relegation
La Liga operates a promotion and relegation system with the Segunda División:
- Relegation: The 3 lowest-placed teams drop to Segunda División
- Promotion: Top 2 Segunda División teams automatically promoted
- Playoff Promotion: 3rd-6th place Segunda División teams compete in playoffs for the final promotion spot
European Competition Qualification
- UEFA Champions League: Top four teams qualify for the following season’s Champions League group stage (Winners of Champions League and Europa League also qualify if not already in top four.)
- UEFA Europa League: Fifth place team and Copa del Rey winner qualify for Europa League group stage.
- UEFA Conference League: Additional spots available based on cup competitions.
A Brief History of La Liga
La Liga began in April 1928 when José María Acha, a director at Arenas de Getxo, proposed the idea of a national league in Spain. The inaugural season featured 10 teams, including Barcelona and Real Madrid, setting the foundation for what would become one of the world’s premier football competitions.
Most Successful Clubs
- Real Madrid: 36 titles (most in La Liga history)
- Barcelona: 28 titles
- Atlético Madrid: 11 titles
Legendary Players
Throughout its history, La Liga has been home to football’s greatest legends:
- Lionel Messi – Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer.
- Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid icon and Ballon d’Or winner.
- Alfredo Di Stefano – The Blond Arrow is one of the most decorated in the sport.
- Zinedine Zidane – French maestro and Real Madrid legend.
- Segio Ramos – Two words: La Décima.
- Raúl – Real Madrid and Spain legend.
What Makes La Liga Special
Global Competitiveness
La Liga is renowned for some the most talented and competitive matches every year. The league consistently produces the highest UEFA coefficient rankings, cementing its status as one of the world’s premier domestic competitions.
Global Superstars
The league features some of football’s biggest names right now:
- Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) – The French forward remains one of the world’s best
- Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona) – At 18, he’s already rewriting Barcelona record books
- Raphinha (FC Barcelona) – The hottest goal scorer on the planet right now
- Vinícius Jr. (Real Madrid) – Brazilian winger and Ballon d’Or contender
European Success
La Liga teams dominate European competitions, with seven Spanish clubs participating in European tournaments during 2024-25:
- Champions League: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Girona
- Europa League: Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad
- Conference League: Real Betis
Stream La Liga Live on DIRECTV
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Spain's La Liga in the US?
Fans can catch every second of La Liga action on: ESPN - Major El Clásico matches, ESPN2 - Selected weekend fixtures, ESPN Deportes - Spanish-language broadcasts, ABC - Occasional marquee matchups.
Can I watch La Liga in Spanish in the US?
Yes, both ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes offer Spanish-language commentary for many La Liga matches.
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