The wait is over. While Europe’s other major leagues are still ironing out the final details before kickoff, Spain’s La Liga has already kicked off its new season—and did so with two goal-filled matches.
Saturday began with Alavés’ 3-0 victory over Getafe, while Sevilla defeated Rayo Vallecano 2-1 with a penalty kick goal in stoppage time.
And if one thing was clear from day one, it’s that the new Spanish season promises plenty of excitement.
The competition began less than a month after Spain was crowned world champion, although the two giants of Spanish soccer will have to wait a few more days to make their debuts.
Mariano Díaz Shines in Alavés’ Rout
The star of Alavés’ victory was Mariano Díaz.
The former Real Madrid forward played a direct role in all three of the home team’s goals, delivering a performance that could hardly have been better.
First, Mariano set up Nahuel Tenaglia, who popped up in the 73rd minute to head in the game’s first goal.
Then came his own moment.
In stoppage time, Díaz received the ball and fired a well-placed shot that went straight into the top corner to make it 2-0.
And there was still time for one last assist.
In the final minute, Mariano popped up again to set up Mikel Rodríguez, who sealed the victory with the final goal, making it 3-0.
With one goal and two assists, the forward was undoubtedly the standout player of the day for Alavés.
Getafe was reduced to ten men
Getafe’s task became even more difficult before halftime.
In the 42nd minute, Kiko Femenía received a yellow card after a dangerous foul.
However, the VAR review changed the decision.
After reviewing the play, the referee changed the yellow card to a red, leaving the Madrid-based team with ten players.
Down a man, Getafe struggled even more to contain Alavés during the second half.
The result was a major blow for a team that finished seventh last season and earned a spot in the Conference League.
Sevilla Defeats Rayo Vallecano in the Final Seconds
Saturday’s other match had a much more dramatic outcome.
Sevilla defeated Rayo Vallecano 2-1, but had to wait practically until the very last moment to secure the three points.
Gerard “Peque” Fernández was the one to decide the match, converting a penalty kick in stoppage time.
The goal sparked celebrations among the Sevilla players and left Rayo empty-handed in a match that had seemed headed for a different outcome.
Rayo Vallecano Starts the Season on a Rough Note
The Madrid-based team faces more than just the on-field challenges of a new season.
Rayo is also dealing with administrative issues that prevented them from starting the season at their own stadium.
Due to conditions deemed unsafe, the team will have to play its first home game at the stadium of Leganés, a club currently competing in the Segunda División.
This situation comes after a fairly positive season for Rayo, which finished eighth in La Liga and reached the Conference League final, where it lost to Crystal Palace.
Barcelona and Real Madrid Have Yet to Make Their Debuts
While Alavés and Sevilla have already celebrated their first wins, two of the top favorites will still have to wait.
Barcelona, the defending champion, will seek to win its third consecutive title and will kick off its campaign next weekend with a road game against Elche on August 23.
For its part, Real Madrid, once again led by José Mourinho, will make its season debut on August 22 against Espanyol.
The reason both teams are starting later is related to the return of several players who recently participated in the World Cup.
The New Era of Mourinho’s Real Madrid
The Merengue squad will face a season with many familiar faces, but also significant changes.
Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham remain key pieces of the project, while the club has added players such as Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, Bernardo Silva, and Yan Diomande.
Mourinho returns to the Real Madrid bench after a second consecutive season without winning a major title, so the pressure will be intense from the very first game.
La Liga was the first of the major leagues to begin
The Spanish league became the first of the five major European leagues to kick off its season.
The Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, and France’s Ligue 1 will begin next weekend, while Germany’s Bundesliga will kick off a week later.
The European season, however, had already seen its first official match.
Paris Saint-Germain defeated Aston Villa 2-1 in the UEFA Super Cup, lifting the first major continental trophy of the campaign.
Celta vs. Osasuna will have to wait
Three La Liga matches were scheduled for Sunday, but one of them had to be postponed.
The match between Celta de Vigo and Osasuna cannot be played due to a fungal outbreak on the field at Balaídos Stadium.
The match was rescheduled for August 27, a decision that caused frustration among the Osasuna squad.
The other two matches scheduled for Sunday remain on the calendar.
Racing Santander Returns to the Top Flight
One of the highlights of the matchday will be Racing Santander’s return to the top flight.
The Cantabrian team returns to the First Division after a 14-year absence and will face a tough opener against Villarreal.
The Yellow Submarine finished last season in third place, behind only Barcelona and Real Madrid, so this will be a major test for the newly promoted team.
In addition, Levante will visit Espanyol in the other match scheduled for Sunday.
The new season is just getting started
La Liga kicked off with goals, a red card, a brilliant performance by Mariano Díaz, and a last-minute victory for Sevilla.
But the best is yet to come.
Barcelona and Real Madrid have yet to make their debuts, Atlético Madrid also has its opener still to come, and the big Spanish teams will gradually start to find their rhythm.
After a summer marked by the World Cup, the 2026-27 La Liga season has finally kicked off and made it clear from the very first matchday that there will be plenty of soccer to talk about.
