The 2025/26 La Liga season got underway with drama, upsets, standout performances, and no shortage of controversy on Matchday 1.
Matchday 1 of the 2025/26 La Liga season kicked off with Rayo Vallecano putting on a commanding display against Girona in a 3-1 victory, and it wrapped up with Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid edging past their opponents thanks to a coolly converted Kylian Mbappe penalty.
Even though it was only the opening weekend, the action was anything but quiet, packed with standout performances, a few surprising twists and questionable decision-making from the officials.
Barcelona began their title defence on the right note, Nico Williams carried his boyhood club to an impressive win, while Atletico Madrid were left stunned after a shock defeat at the hands of Espanyol. Having looked closely at all the fixtures, The Hard Tackle breaks down five key takeaways from the first round of action in the 2025/26 La Liga season.
Barcelona’s title defence is underway in style
The Catalan giants secured a comfortable 3-0 win over RCD Mallorca in their opening league fixture. Goals from Raphina, Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal helped them secure all three points against a team that was reduced to nine men within the first half following two red cards.
While the scoreline suggests it was a walk in the park for Barcelona, their manager, Hansi Flick, was not really pleased with his performance. They were 2-0 ahead quite early in the game, but after Mallorca were reduced to nine players, the Catalan giants could not really make the most out of it.
The biggest talking point of the game was the refereeing, with several decisions appearing to favour the defending champions. Despite a Mallorca player taking a blow to the head, the referee chose not to stop play in the build-up to Ferran Torres’s 23rd-minute strike.
While he was spot on with both red card calls, fans were left furious when he decided against sending off Raphinha after a reckless flying tackle on Morey, which many felt clearly warranted harsher punishment.
Nico Williams lets his football do the talking
Athletic Club secured a hard-fought 3-2 win over Sevilla to kick start the new campaign, and Nico Williams was the star of the night with a goal and two assists. The Spanish international’s future was one of the biggest talking points throughout the summer.
If reports are to be believed, he was on the verge of joining Barcelona, which resulted in a significant outburst from Athletic Club fans. The young attacker’s mural was vandalised three times, and the fans started demanding his departure.
After a long-drawn transfer saga, Nico Williams eventually committed his long-term future to his boyhood club by signing a massive ten-year deal. And on the opening weekend, he quickly reminded everyone why Athletic fought so hard to keep him.
Williams was instrumental in Athletic Club’s strong start, helping them establish a 2-0 lead with his energy and creativity. Sevilla, however, mounted a spirited comeback and managed to level the score with just 15 minutes remaining. But the 23-year-old was not done yet; his pinpoint cross in the dying stages was converted by Robert Navarro, sealing all three points and winning over the fans once again.
Atletico Madrid stunned away from home: Cause for concern?
Espanyol, who finished in the bottom half last season, scripted the first big upset of the season as they came from a goal behind to defeat title contenders Atletico Madrid. Julian Alvarez gave the lead to the visitors in the first half, and they were in total control until the final 20 minutes, when it all collapsed.
Miguel Rubio’s debut goal and Pere Milla’s superb header turned the game on its head, and now, Diego Simeone’s team are already playing catch-up in the title. Despite making significant additions to their squad, Los Rojiblancos could not get the desired result in their season opener.
The pressure is beginning to mount on Simeone, who has gone some time without delivering a major trophy. If Atletico Madrid fail to turn things around and secure silverware this season, it could very well mark the beginning of the end for the Argentine manager.
Real Oviedo’s return to the top flight after 24 years
Real Oviedo’s 25-year wait finally ended last weekend when they squared up against Villarreal. But while they hoped for a positive result on their return to the top flight, things did not quite go as planned, as they barely managed to trouble the Yellow Submarine.
Alberto Reina was sent off for a second bookable offence within the first 30 minutes, and from that point onwards, there was no way back for Oviedo. Just 10 minutes after going down to 10 men, the visitors conceded twice, with Villarreal taking full control of the game from there on.
Veteran striker Salomon Rondon had the chance to salvage some pride from the penalty spot, but he failed to convert on his debut. And while Real Oviedo are finally back after more than two decades of waiting, they could be heading straight back down if performances do not improve.
Penalty the Difference as Real Madrid Lack The Cutting Edge
Real Madrid kick-started the new era under Xabi Alonso with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Osasuna. Los Blancos dominated possession and had plenty of shots on goal, but they lacked creativity and that killer touch in the final third.
From a defensive perspective, though, it was a strong showing. Alonso handed debuts to Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, and Alvaro Carreras at the back, while Eder Militao returned to the starting XI after a long absence. The back four looked rock solid and fully deserved their clean sheet.
Despite enjoying 71% possession and recording 18 shots, Real Madrid only managed to create a handful of clear-cut chances. Kylian Mbappe was the standout performer, winning and converting the decisive penalty to secure all three points, while Vinicius Junior looked a shadow of his usual self.
Another bright note was the debut of Franco Mastantuono. The teenager showed no fear after coming off the bench, demanding the ball, linking play intelligently, and getting into dangerous positions.
In midfield, Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Arda Guler did well to keep the ball and dictate the tempo, but it was clear Real Madrid missed the deep-lying playmaking of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, who had long been the architects in such situations.