REUTERS/Stringer
La Liga remains one of the most-watched leagues in world football and fans across the globe will undoubtedly be interested to see how a supercomputer has predicted the 2026-27 table to look once the season concludes.
The title race is often contested between Barcelona and Real Madrid, which was the case last season as Hansi Flick's men retained their crown in comfortable fashion. Eight points separated the El Clasico rivals at the top of the table while Villarreal were the surprise package, beating Atletico Madrid to a third-placed finish.
While there is interest in the battle to become La Liga champion, the relegation battle often throws up plenty of drama and excitement. Girona were sent packing to the second-tier of Spanish football just two seasons after finishing third.
With that said, Opta's supercomputer tracks the Spanish top-flight each week and updates their predicted 2026-27 La Liga table, factoring in recent results. It makes for interesting reading as clubs move up and down the standings based on their form.
Relegation Zone
REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo
Nobody wants to finish in the bottom three, but as it stands, Elche are predicted to end up rock bottom once the season concludes. Martín Anselmi's men finished 15th last season but have started the season with three consecutive defeats, including a 5-0 thrashing at home to Barcelona on matchweek two.
Gone are the days of Malaga battling for European qualification and they have just returned to the big time after winning the playoffs. Los Boquerones were given a nightmare opening set of fixtures, beaten by both Madrid rivals and tipped to be sent back down to the second-tier of Spanish football with a 19th-placed finish.
Getafe's 10-year stay in La Liga is predicted to end and that's despite qualifying for the Conference League last season. While Jose Bordalas' side have won one of their opening three games, Opta's data team think they are set for the drop as things stand.
REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura
Just avoiding relegation are Espanyol who likewise have won one and lost two in three, including a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid. They settled on mid-table last term, but they are in for a difficult season if the supercomputer is correct.
A similar challenge could await Celta Vigo who managed to claim sixth in the 2025-26 campaign. They remain winless after four games although they did hold Real Sociedad and Valencia to 0-0 draws.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's arrival at Deportivo La Coruna looks to have been a stroke of genius and the former Barca striker could fire the newly-promoted side to safety. That's how the supercomputer sees the season panning out and a 3-1 win over Valencia proves they will be tricky opposition.
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Position Club Points
15. Deportivo La Coruna 44
16. Celta Vigo 44
17. Espanyol 44
18. Getafe 43
19. Malaga 42
20. Elche 40
Bottom Half
Rayo Vallecano players pose for a team group photo before the match vs Barcelona
LaLiga - Rayo Vallecano v FC Barcelona - Campo de Futbol de Vallecas, Madrid, Spain - August 31, 2025 Rayo Vallecano players pose for a team group photo before the match REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
Moving slightly up the table, Racing Santander are tipped to finish in 14th place and claimed their first win of the season last time out. A 3-2 win over Elche came after defeat to Getafe and a draw against Villarreal in their opener.
Valencia are no longer the powerhouse of yesteryear and 13th place is currently on the cards for the Mestalla outfit. Los Che have made a disappointing start to the season, without a win in three but Carlos Corberan's men are surely strong enough to avoid a relegation scrap.
After earning promotion the season before, Levante remained in La Liga with a 16th-placed finish. They are backed to improve on that, finishing 12th this time amid topsy-turvy results at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, losing 3-0 to Espanyol before beating Real Betis 5-2.
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Rayo Vallecano came agonisingly close to a first European trophy before suffering defeat to Crystal Palace in the Conference League final last season. Having lost highly-rated manager Inigo Perez to Villarreal, his replacement Benat San Jose is expected to clinch 11th place.
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Position Club Points
11. Rayo Vallecano 49
12. Levante 49
13. Valencia 47
14. Racing Santander 45
Top Half
Sevilla coach Quique Sanchez Flores
Copa del Rey - Quarter Final - Atletico Madrid v Sevilla - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - January 25, 2024 Sevilla coach Quique Sanchez Flores before the match REUTERS/Susana Vera
Another one of Spanish's powerhouses, Sevilla, aren't quite the behemoth they once were and have been mid-table in recent years. They last finished in the top four in 2022 and, despite winning two of their first three games, Luis Garcia is predicted to guide his troops to 10th-place.
Real Sociedad are regarded as one of the most difficult sides in Spain but the supercomputer reckons ninth place is how they will finish this season. Txuri-Urdin do have midweek European football to contend with and have made an unconvincing start with one win in four games.
A Spanish outfit that has been on the rise in recent years is Deportivo Alaves and they achieved their best finish in a La Liga campaign when they took fifth spot in 2025-26. This time around, the supercomputer is expecting them to drop down a position, but that could soon change given Quique Sanchez Flores side's unbeaten start.
Just missing out on the top four by three points is in store for Villarreal who have failed to win any of their first three games. The appointment of Perez came with big expectations, but the Yellow Submarine are floating rather than flying thus far.
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Position Club Points
5. Villarreal 56
6. Deportivo Alaves 53
7. Osasuna 52
8. Athletic Club 50
9. Real Sociedad 49
10. Sevilla 48
Top Four
REUTERS/Marcelo Del Pozo
The one you've all been waiting for: who does the supercomputer predict to win the La Liga title? Before we get to that, the two teams predicted to clinch Champions League qualification are Real Betis and Atletico Madrid.
Betis fans will be delighted with that outcome and after handing Jose Mourinho his first defeat since returning to the Estadio Bernabeu, they are right in the mix. They missed out on a top-four finish last season by a huge nine-point margin but the signing of Irish striker Troy Parrott could help fire them to fourth.
Diego Simeone isn't expected to drive Atletico Madrid into the title race but improvement is tipped for his Los Colchoneros side. Perhaps Julian Alvarez's transfer saga will cause a distraction but they have started the season with two wins and one draw.
REUTERS/Bruna Casas
The La Liga trophy is heading back to Camp Nou if Opta are spot on with their current prediction. In fact, their data has tipped them to retain their title by finishing six points above Real Madrid.
Rodri's addition to Flick's squad will certainly come in handy and unlike their El Clasico rivals, they have have made a perfect start ahead of Sunday's encounter with Valencia. Los Blancos' shock defeat to Betis has cast doubts over Mourinho wrestling the title away from the Blaugrana.