So, what have we learned from the opening weekend of the new La Liga season?
Well, that the SBOTOP La Liga 2025 betting odds are bob-on for one thing!
Because while there may be changes in style, formations and even managers in the new campaign, some things never change and the title race will be fought between the big two – Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Reigning champions Barca may well start as favourites, nicely rested and refreshed, all the while arch rivals Real, and their compatriots from the capital Atletico were battling it out in the heat of America at the World Club Championships (even though the latter had an early exit) this summer.
The club from Catalonia certainly wasted no time in delivering their first tranche of La Liga 2025 highlights in the new campaign.
There were two red cards and it was all a bit wild but Barca picked up where they left off by starting the new term with a 3-0 win at Mallorca.
Marcus Rashford was registered just in time to make his debut and was watching from the bench when Raphinha headed them into an early lead from close range.
The luckless hosts went close to an equaliser a few times but never managed to draw level and Ferran Torres added a second soon afterwards, smashing a superb shot into the top corner.
With a home player down injured, the goal probably should have been disallowed and, from that moment on, Mallorca lost their cool and there was no way back.
Two goals down, they were quickly two men down. An outrageous turn and run from Lamine Yamal began on the halfway line and ended on the edge of the Mallorca area where Manu Morlanes clipped him and was show a second yellow card.
That was on the half hour; within nine minutes, another man walked. Vedat Muriqi was originally shown a yellow card for his challenge on debutant goalkeeper Joan García (one of a number of players who smaller Spanish clubs have struggled to hold on to this summer) but, freeze-framed, it looked worse on the video assistant referee screen: a set of studs in the keeper’s face led to the yellow being upgraded to a red.
That was that and the game petered out with Yamal adding a third deep in stoppage time.
This was the first of three away games for Hansi Flick’s side with trips to Levante and Vallecano up next before their first scheduled home fixture against Valencia as extensive renovation to the club’s Camp Nou stadium draws to a close.
While Real have yet to play their league opener, Atletico have and showed why they are not quite going to be at the races.
The summer arrivals have given Diego Simeone’s side a completely new look with the likes of Alex Baena (from Villarreal), Thiago Almada (Botafogo), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), David Hancko (Feyenoord) and Matteo Ruggeri (Atalanta) all handed a place in the starting XI at Espanyol, while Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli) and Marc Pubill (Almeria) were named among the substitutes – the former coming on for the final quarter.
Former Man City man Julian Alvarez showed his quality seven minutes before the break when he curled a superb free-kick into the top corner to give Atlético the lead.
The Argentinian came close again in the second half when he collected the ball inside the box, skipped past two defenders and fired a shot against the crossbar.
It must have frustrated Simeone that his side couldn’t hold on to show again why they are not quite at the level of the top two (nor should they be given their differing resources).
First, Espanyol’s Miguel Rubio raced through and slid the ball past goalkeeper Jan Oblak. Then, six minutes from time, Pere Milla delivered a spectacular winner with a diving header that arched over Oblak and nestled inside the far post.
There were winning starts for the other two clubs who have qualified for the Champions League.
A Robert Navarro double helped Athletic Bilbao edge to a 3-2 victory over Sevilla.
A Nico Williams penalty and Maroan Sannadi’s strike had the hosts 2-0 in front at the break, but Dodi Lukébakio and Lucien Agoumé levelled it up, only for Navarro to win it nine minutes from time.
Meanwhile, Villarreal were comfortable 2-0 winners over after two goals in seven first half minutes from Etta Eyong and Pape Gueye saw off newly promoted Oviedo who had, by then, been reduced to 10 men. Another promoted side began life in the top flight with a defeat as Levante suffered last-gasp heartache at Alaves, but at least Elche had something to cling onto as German Valera scored an 81st minute equalise to earn them a point at home last seasons defeated Europa Conference finalists, Real Betis.
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