Europe’s leading domestic football leagues are about to begin, with La Liga starting this weekend and Ligue 1, Serie A and the Bundesliga following shortly afterwards. The new season brings major managerial changes, high-profile transfers and uncertainty around several prominent clubs, shaping early title races and European ambitions.

– La Liga begins on 15 August, with José Mourinho returning to Real Madrid and tasked with uniting a star-studded squad featuring Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior.
– Barcelona remain favourites for a third straight title despite Robert Lewandowski’s departure, while Atlético Madrid, Villarreal and Real Betis are expected to compete near the top.
– Real have added Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries and Bernardo Silva, while Barcelona have recruited Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi.
– Málaga return from the third tier aiming to survive despite financial constraints; Valencia face a final season at Mestalla, while Rayo Vallecano’s stadium licence has been withdrawn.
– Serie A starts on 22 August, with champions Inter Milan expected to defend their title as rivals Napoli, AC Milan, Atalanta and Lazio all begin under new managers.