New strength of La Liga: Osasuna Club sets out to conquer the top

The first Madrid derby of the 2026/27 LaLiga season is almost upon us, as Atlético Madrid host Real Madrid at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on 20 September 2026 in what promises to be a fiery early-season clash. Diego Simeone's side arrive in confident mood after dismantling Real Sociedad 0-3 in San Sebastián, a result that kept them firmly in the hunt near the top of the table. Real Madrid, now under the guidance of José Mourinho in his second spell at the club, have been in devastating attacking form: they brushed aside Rayo Vallecano 4-1, edged past Inter 2-1 in the Champions League, and survived a late scare at Elche to win 2-3 on Tuesday night, a victory that pulled them level on points with Barcelona at the summit.

Both squads for the 2026/27 campaign are stacked with quality, but team news could prove decisive. Atlético have been dealt a major blow with Pablo Barrios ruled a serious doubt after suffering a low-grade myofascial injury to his right leg in the Champions League trip to Liverpool, leaving Simeone to choose between Koke, Morten Hjulmand, Johnny Cardoso and Rodrigo Mendoza in midfield. Simeone's probable eleven features Jan Oblak in goal behind Nahuel Molina, Robin Le Normand and José Giménez, with Marcos Llorente and Giuliano on the flanks supporting Antoine Griezmann, Julián Álvarez and summer signing Jonathan David, who has hit the ground running. Mourinho, meanwhile, can call on Thibaut Courtois; a rebuilt defence of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konaté, Dean Huijsen and Marc Cucurella; a midfield of Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni; and a frightening attack led by Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Arda Güler and teenage sensation Yan Diomandé, though Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo remain unavailable.

Deportivo A Coruna host Real Betis at Riazor on Sunday 20 September 2026 in a LaLiga meeting that pits two of the early-season's most watchable attacks against each other. Deportivo arrive unbeaten in their last three league games after a 3-1 home win over Valencia, a 3-2 away success at Villarreal and a 1-1 draw at Getafe, while Betis have momentum of their own after beating Real Madrid 1-0, recovering from 2-1 down to win 3-2 at Lille in the Champions League and then edging Villarreal 1-2 away in LaLiga.

The 2026/2027 Deportivo squad under Antonio Hidalgo blends experience with loan energy: Leo Roman, German Parreno and Alvaro Fernandez compete in goal; Ximo Navarro, Lucas Noubi, Jose Maria Gimenez, Giacomo Quagliata, Angelino, Adria Altimira and Miguel Loureiro form the defensive core; Diego Villares, Marc Casado, Mario Soriano, Lorenzo Amatucci, Jonathan Asp Jensen and Riki Rodriguez supply midfield control; and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Yeremay Hernandez, Zakaria Eddahchouri, David Mella, Adama Traore and Bil Nsongo lead the line, with Aubameyang's early scoring run the clearest sign that Depor can hurt anyone at Riazor.

Getafe host Málaga at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez on Sunday, 20 September 2026 in a LaLiga meeting between José Bordalás’ experienced 2026/2027 squad and Juanfran Funes’ newly promoted side, with Málaga back in the top flight after eight years away and Getafe carrying the extra load of a European campaign. The latest European odds price Getafe as favourite at about 2.24, the draw near 3.21 and Málaga around 3.95, but the early-season evidence points to a tight, low-margin game rather than a home procession.

Getafe’s recent league rhythm has been drawn-heavy: they were held 1-1 by Deportivo La Coruña after Ramón Terrats’ opener was cancelled out late, and that followed another 1-1 against Celta Vigo in which Martín Satriano scored before finishing with hamstring cramps. Bordalás is still missing Kiko Femenía with a hamstring tear, Abdel Abqar with a muscle tear and Christantus Uche for the long term, so the spine of David Soria, Djené, Nemanja Gudelj, Orel Mangala and Enes Ünal has to supply the stability that keeps Getafe competitive even when the attack stalls.

Valencia CF welcome Real Sociedad to the Estadio de Mestalla on Sunday, 20 September 2026, in a LaLiga EA SPORTS 2026/27 clash between two sides heading in very different directions. Valencia are in crisis mode after a dismal start left them bottom of the table, a run that cost Carlos Corberán his job on 13 September; caretaker Óscar Sánchez has since steadied the ship slightly with a hard-fought 0-1 win at Alavés on Tuesday, following a painful 1-0 defeat at Sevilla that extended the club's losing streak and sealed the manager's dismissal. Real Sociedad, meanwhile, sit mid-table under Pellegrino Matarazzo at 2-1-2, having bounced back from a 0-0 draw against Celta Vigo with a dramatic late 3-2 victory at Elche in which Luka Sučić struck a 90th-minute winner. The Basques will be confident of extending Valencia's misery, though they were beaten in their last outing by Atlético Madrid.

Squad news for the 2026/27 season paints a worrying picture for the home side. Valencia will rely on captain José Gayà, goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, defenders César Tárrega and Mouctar Diakhaby, midfielders Javi Guerra and André Almeida, and forwards Hugo Duro, Umar Sadiq and Arnaut Danjuma, with Luis Rioja carrying confidence after his match-winning strike against Alavés. Real Sociedad can call on a deeper and more settled group: captain Mikel Oyarzabal leads the line alongside Takefusa Kubo, Gonçalo Guedes, Orri Óskarsson and in-form youngster Job Ochieng, while Alejandro Remiro, Igor Zubeldia, Jon Martín, Sergio Gómez, Carlos Soler, Yangel Herrera, Ander Barrenetxea and Sučić round out Matarazzo's options. Jon Martín is available again after serving a suspension, although Zubeldia remains a doubt with discomfort. La Real also drew 0-0 with Celta Vigo earlier in the month, showing their defensive resilience even when their attack stalls.

Villarreal vs Levante closes Matchday 7 of the 2026/27 LaLiga season on Sunday, 20 September 2026, at 18:30 CEST in the Estadio de la Cerámica, and the latest news points to a home side needing a response after a bruising run: the Yellow Submarine were beaten 1-2 by Real Betis at home and also fell 3-2 at Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, so Iñigo Pérez’s men must rediscover the control that deserted them in the final third.

Levante arrive with more encouragement than the table may suggest because their 2-4 home defeat to Barcelona still contained two late goals from Iván Romero and Roger Brugué, while their previous away day at Málaga finished 2-4 in the loss and 0-0 at La Rosaleda; Luís Castro’s rebuilt side has been competitive, but the absence of Karl Etta Eyong with a rectus femoris issue limits one useful counter-attacking option.