The 2026/27 La Liga EA SPORTS season is just around the corner, and fans around the world are already poring over the official schedule to mark the most important dates.
RC Deportivo’s return to the top flight after an eight-year absence brings the number of regional derbies to six—matches that are set to become some of the season’s biggest highlights. Below, we review the matchdays and key dates on which these highly anticipated clashes will take place.
THE MADRID DERBY
José Mourinho returns to the Spanish capital to face off in a highly anticipated matchup against Diego Simeone, the coach who has spent the longest time at the helm of the same team in the competition. The two coaches have faced off three times in the Madrid derby of La Liga, with Mourinho’s Real Madrid having a perfect record of league wins against their city rival. The last time they met was in 2014, when Simeone’s Atlético Madrid eliminated Mourinho’s Chelsea by an aggregate score of 3-1 in the Champions League semifinals. The first derby of the season will be played at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Matchday 7, scheduled for the weekend of September 20. The second-leg match will take place at the Bernabéu on Matchday 30, the weekend of April 4, 2027.
EL GRAN DERBI
Few rivalries in Europe match the intensity of the Seville derby between Sevilla FC and Real Betis. Every time these two teams face off, the city is split in two. We’ll have to wait until Matchday 13, the weekend of November 22, to enjoy the first El Gran Derbi of the season, with Sevilla FC playing at home. The second matchup will take place on Matchday 23, the weekend of February 7, at La Cartuja Stadium. While Real Betis is making its second appearance in the Champions League in club history, Sevilla FC will look to regain its prominence and once again compete for European spots after missing out in the last two seasons. It’s worth noting that Los Nervionenses have won only one of their last eight derbies, while Real Betis remains undefeated in their three most recent matchups.
THE BARCELONA DERBY
RCD Espanyol will seek its first league victory over FC Barcelona since 2009 when the two teams face off at the RCDE Stadium on Matchday 18, the first weekend of the new year. For their part, Los Azulgranas will look to extend their unbeaten home streak in the Barcelona derby to 16 matches. The return match is scheduled for the weekend of April 18, on Matchday 32, at Spotify Camp Nou. Hansi Flick has yet to drop any points against Los Periquitos, having won all four league derbies played during his two seasons at the helm of the reigning champions.
THE GALICIAN DERBY
The Galician derby returns to LALIGA EA SPORTS with the promotion of RC Deportivo, which will face RC Celta again for the first time since the 2017–18 season. Furthermore, Depor has not beaten Os Celestes since 2015. Since then, RC Celta has recorded three wins and two draws in the five matches played between the two teams. The first Galician derby of the season will take place in Vigo on the first weekend of 2027, corresponding to Matchday 18. The second will be played on the weekend of April 18, on Matchday 32, in La Coruña, coinciding with the Barcelona derby.
THE VALENCIA DERBY
Matchday 18, scheduled for the weekend of January 3, 2027, promises to be one of the most special of the season, as it will feature up to three derbies, including the Valencia derby between Valencia CF and Levante UD at the Estadi Ciutat de València. The second leg will be played on the weekend of March 7, corresponding to Matchday 27, at Mestalla. Levante UD will be looking to bounce back after losing both derbies last season without scoring a single goal. In fact, Los Granotes’ last victory over Los Che dates back to March 2021, so they’ll head into this season aiming to restore the city’s pride.
THE BASQUE DERBY
One of the most traditional rivalries in European soccer, the Basque derby is once again a must-see event for any LALIGA EA SPORTS fan. The two teams will face off for the first time next season at San Mamés on the weekend of November 1, for Matchday 11. The rematch will take place at Anoeta on the weekend of May 2, on Matchday 34. The Lions will look to get back on the winning track after losing three of the four derbies played last season across all competitions. In addition, Real Sociedad defeated them twice during the Copa del Rey semifinals before going on to win the title.
