After the 2026/27 La Liga season kicked off last weekend, all eyes are now on an exciting Matchday 2.
As a reminder, four matches were postponed due to several players’ participation in the final rounds of the 2026 World Cup, so eight teams will be kicking off their season this weekend. While clubs like Atlético de Madrid, Deportivo Alavés, and RCD Espanyol will look to build on the momentum of their home wins, the newly promoted teams—Real Racing Club, RC Deportivo, and Málaga CF—will be desperate to secure their first victory of the season. Below are the match previews for the weekend:
Thursday: A Chance for Redemption
La Liga action kicks off on Thursday as Rayo Vallecano looks to bounce back after a road loss to Sevilla FC in its season opener. The team led by Beñat San José will face Deportivo Alavés at 3:00 PM ET.
Friday: Goals Guaranteed
Estadio de La Cartuja will host the clash between Real Betis and Real Sociedad at 3:00 PM ET. After having their league openers postponed, both teams will look to get off on the right foot in an exciting matchup that promises to be a spectacle, as their last four head-to-head meetings have produced 15 goals.
Saturday: Debuts on the Bench
Saturday’s lineup features three must-see matchups:
- Athletic Club vs. Sevilla FC (11:00 AM ET): Following the postponement of their first game against Barça, Edin Terzić will make his grand debut at the helm of the Basque team, succeeding Ernesto Valverde. Despite the home-field advantage at San Mamés, the task won’t be easy for “Los Leones,” as Sevilla arrives motivated after coming from behind to defeat Rayo Vallecano 2-1.
- Valencia CF vs. RC Celta (1:30 PM ET): Mestalla opens its doors as both teams play their first match of the season. The “Che” will look to secure all three points at home against a Celta side that also arrives with serious European aspirations.
- RCD Espanyol vs. Real Madrid (3:30 PM ET): Saturday’s action will end on a high note at the RCDE Stadium. The “Periquitos” are looking to secure their second straight home win, but they’ll face Real Madrid, which—following the postponement of its first match—will finally see José Mourinho’s long-awaited second debut on the Real Madrid bench.
Sunday of Champions and Urgency
- Atlético de Madrid vs. Villarreal CF (11:00 AM ET): At the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, the Rojiblancos will seek their second home win after defeating Málaga 2-0 on Wednesday. The “Yellow Submarine,” for its part, will try to pick up three points after a bitter 2-2 draw against Racing.
- Getafe CF vs. Real Racing Club (1:30 PM ET): A clash of struggling teams. José Bordalás’s side is coming off a 3-0 thrashing by Alavés, while the Cantabrian team let a two-goal lead slip away at El Sardinero.
- Elche CF vs. FC Barcelona: The final match of the day will take place at the Martínez Valero Stadium, where Martin Anselmi’s Elche (who made his debut by salvaging a point at Riazor) will host the defending champions. Hansi Flick’s team will officially begin its title defense, looking to win its third consecutive championship under the German coach.
Closing Out Monday at La Rosaleda
The matchday will come to a close with two intriguing matchups. At 1:30 PM ET, CA Osasuna will play its first game of the season at home against Levante UD, a team looking to redeem itself after a 3-0 loss to Espanyol.
Finally, at 3:30 PM ET, La Liga will return to the legendary La Rosaleda stadium after an eight-year absence. Málaga will look to bounce back from its opening-day loss when it faces RC Deportivo, a team eager to secure its first victory in the top flight since April 2018.
