Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid Delay La Liga Debuts
The 2026-27 La Liga season has started, but FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid have not yet played their first matches. The league began on August 15 with Deportivo Alaves defeating Getafe 3-0, but only four of the ten scheduled matches took place over the weekend.
The postponement of the matches for the three major clubs was due to an agreement made by La Liga, allowing teams with players who participated in the later stages of the 2026 World Cup additional rest before their league debuts. Seven Spanish clubs, including the three giants, reached the semifinals or further in the tournament.
While waiting for their official matches, these clubs maintained their fitness by playing friendly matches. Atletico Madrid will be the first to debut on August 19 against Malaga, followed by Barcelona and Real Madrid during Matchday 2 on August 22 and 23, respectively. They will also reschedule their postponed fixtures for midweek later in August.
