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

Neom SC will host Al Khaleej at King Khalid Sport City Stadium in Tabuk on September 3, 2026, for a Saudi Professional League fixture kicking off at 16:30 UTC. Both sides enter this early-season encounter looking to build momentum in the 2026/2027 campaign, with Neom SC aiming to capitalize on home advantage against a visiting Al Khaleej side that has struggled for consistency in recent weeks.

The home team has assembled an ambitious squad for the 2026/2027 season under head coach Christophe Galtier, featuring key names such as Alexandre Lacazette, Saïd Benrahma, Georgios Masouras, Malang Sarr, and goalkeeper Marcin Bułka. Neom SC's recent form shows mixed results, having played out a 1-1 draw with Al-Ettifaq in late May, followed by a 1-1 stalemate against Al-Hazem in April, though they did produce a thrilling 3-4 victory away at Al-Ittihad earlier in the spring.

Real Betis welcome Real Madrid to Estadio La Cartuja on Friday, September 4, 2026, for an early-season LaLiga showdown in the 2026/2027 campaign. Both sides enter this fixture looking to build momentum after an eventful August, and the Seville outfit will be eager to make their home advantage count against the reigning European giants. With kick-off scheduled for 19:00 UTC, this encounter promises to be a compelling test of credentials for Manuel Pellegrini's men against the visiting star-studded squad.

The Green-and-Whites have endured a mixed opening sequence to the 2026/2027 term, bouncing back from an early setback with a hard-fought 0-1 victory at Valencia before edging 1-0 past Real Sociedad at La Cartuja. Pellegrini is expected to field a competitive lineup featuring Álvaro Valles between the posts, with Héctor Bellerín, Marc Bartra, Natan and Ricardo Rodríguez across the back, while Sofyan Amrabat and Marc Roca shield a creative trio of Antony, Pablo Fornals and Abde Ezzalzouli behind striker Cédric Bakambu. However, the hosts remain without Giovani Lo Celso, Aitor Ruibal and Diego Conde through injury, which could limit their tactical flexibility against Madrid's relentless attack.

Rayo Vallecano will welcome Racing Santander to the Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas in Madrid on Saturday, September 5, 2026, for a LaLiga 2026/2027 fixture. Both clubs are still searching for consistency early in the campaign, and this meeting offers the hosts a chance to secure their first league victory in front of their home supporters while the visitors look to build on promising attacking displays.

Rayo Vallecano enter the contest under coach Beñat San José with a 2026/2027 squad built around key figures such as Jorge De Frutos, Andrei Rațiu, Sergio Camello, and Óscar Valentín. The Vallecas side is currently dealing with several injury setbacks, as Jozhua Vertrouwd, Marash Kumbulla, Augusto Batalla, Luiz Felipe, and Isi Palazón are all unavailable. Their opening results have been disappointing, having suffered a 5-2 defeat away to Barcelona and managed only a 1-1 draw at home against Deportivo Alavés, leaving them eager to turn performances into points.

LaLiga action returns to San Mamés on September 5, 2026, as Athletic Bilbao host Atlético Madrid in an early-season showdown of the 2026/2027 campaign. Both sides arrive with contrasting starts to the new term, and the Basque faithful will expect a fierce contest under the lights in Bilbao. With new coach Edin Terzić at the helm for the hosts and Diego Simeone's experienced Rojiblancos looking to build momentum, this fixture promises genuine intrigue from the first whistle.

For Athletic Bilbao, the 2026/27 season marks a new era under former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzić, who was appointed in May to replace Ernesto Valverde. The squad features established names such as Unai Simón, Iñaki Williams, Nico Williams, Oihan Sancet, and Aymeric Laporte, with Terzić keen to forge a dynamic midfield partnership around Sancet and Peio Canales. Early results have been mixed: the Lions secured a 0-2 victory away at Celta Vigo but suffered a 2-0 defeat at Barcelona and a home loss to Sevilla, leaving them with work to do ahead of this heavyweight encounter.

Deportivo Alavés will welcome CA Osasuna to Estadio de Mendizorroza on Sunday, September 6, 2026, for a LaLiga EA Sports clash that serves as Matchday 4 of the 2026–27 campaign. The two Basque-region neighbours are locked together on seven points apiece, with Alavés occupying fourth place and Osasuna sitting fifth, making this an early-season six-pointer in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Their most recent league meeting at this ground, on April 5, 2026, finished in a 2-2 draw, and another closely fought encounter is expected.

Quique Sánchez Flores has guided Alavés to an unbeaten start, collecting seven points from three fixtures. The Mendizorroza outfit began the term with a commanding 3-0 home win over Getafe, then battled to a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano, before sealing a narrow 1-0 victory against Villarreal last time out. Osasuna have also taken seven points from their opening three matches, though they have been less convincing defensively, conceding in each of their fixtures so far.

Málaga CF will host Levante UD at Estadio La Rosaleda on Sunday, September 6, 2026, in a crucial LaLiga EA Sports Matchday 4 fixture. Both sides enter this early-season encounter searching for vital points after difficult opening rounds, with Málaga positioned 18th and Levante anchored in 20th place in the fledgling 2026/27 table. The Andalusian club will look to capitalize on home advantage against a Levante side that has historically struggled at La Rosaleda, where Málaga remain unbeaten in their last eight LaLiga meetings with the Valencians.

For the 2026/27 campaign, Málaga manager Juan Funes has assembled a squad blending experienced heads with emerging talent. Goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero anchors the defense, which features summer arrivals Fernando Calero and José Salinas alongside holdovers Diego Murillo, Carlos Puga, and Einar Galilea. In midfield, Carlos Dotor and Ramón Enríquez provide the engine, while the attacking burden falls on Julen Lobete, Eneko Jauregi, and Adrian Niño. Málaga's recent form has been mixed—they opened with a 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid before managing a 1-1 home draw with La Coruna. Earlier results include a 1-0 victory over Las Palmas and a 2-1 result against Almeria.

Málaga CF will host Levante UD at Estadio La Rosaleda on Sunday, September 6, 2026, in a crucial LaLiga EA Sports Matchday 4 fixture. Both sides enter this early-season encounter searching for vital points after difficult opening rounds, with Málaga positioned 18th and Levante anchored in 20th place in the fledgling 2026/27 table. The Andalusian club will look to capitalize on home advantage against a Levante side that has historically struggled at La Rosaleda, where Málaga remain unbeaten in their last eight LaLiga meetings with the Valencians.

For the 2026/27 campaign, Málaga manager Juan Funes has assembled a squad blending experienced heads with emerging talent. Goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero anchors the defense, which features summer arrivals Fernando Calero and José Salinas alongside holdovers Diego Murillo, Carlos Puga, and Einar Galilea. In midfield, Carlos Dotor and Ramón Enríquez provide the engine, while the attacking burden falls on Julen Lobete, Eneko Jauregi, and Adrian Niño. Málaga's recent form has been mixed—they opened with a 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid before managing a 1-1 home draw with La Coruna. Earlier results include a 1-0 victory over Las Palmas and a 2-1 result against Almeria.

Elche CF will welcome Real Sociedad to the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero on Monday, 7 September 2026, for a LaLiga EA SPORTS 2026/2027 matchday four encounter. The home side are in desperate need of points after a difficult start to the campaign that has seen them collect just one point from three matches, leaving them in 19th position in the early standings with a goal difference of minus six. Real Sociedad arrive with three points on the board and will be aiming to climb the table with a positive result on the road in Alicante.

Elche's squad for the 2026/2027 season is managed by Martín Anselmi, who was appointed in June 2026, and captained by defender Pedro Bigas, with midfielders G. Villar and F. Buonanotte expected to provide creativity in the final third. The Franjiverdes have found the net three times this term but defensive issues have plagued their opening fixtures, most notably in a 0-5 hammering at home to Barcelona and a 3-2 defeat away to Racing Santander, results that have put early pressure on the Argentine coach.

Getafe will host Celta Vigo at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez on Monday, 7 September 2026, kick-off at 19:00 CEST, in a LaLiga EA Sports 2026/2027 fixture. Both sides have struggled to find consistency early in the campaign, making this an important encounter as they look to climb the table. The match will be played in front of the home faithful in Getafe, where José Bordalás's side will aim to capitalize on familiar surroundings against Claudio Giráldez's visitors.

The home team enters this clash with several injury concerns, as Andrés García, Abdelkabir Abqar, Mario Martín, Christantus Uche, and Juanmi are all unavailable. Despite these setbacks, Getafe's 2026/2027 squad features key names such as David Soria, Dakonam Djené, Kiko Femenía, Zaid Romero, Orel Mangala, Ramón Terrats, Borja Mayoral, and Martín Satriano. Their recent form has been disappointing, managing only a 0-0 draw at home against Racing Santander and another 0-0 stalemate away to Alavés, highlighting their struggles in front of goal.