The 2024/25 La Liga came to a close this weekend to cap off a sensational season of football in the Primera Division, with Barcelona defying the pre-season La Liga 2025 betting odds to deservedly lift the title.
Hansi Flick’s men were outstanding in their domestic business, also winning the Copa del Rey and the SuperCopa to pick up a treble, but they fell short in Europe, losing a thrilling Champions League semi-final to Inter Milan, while the Europa League final was fought out between two Premier League sides as Tottenham Hotpsur beat Manchester United 1-0.
There is still a chance of Euro silverware for a Spanish club though, as Real Betis take on Chelsea in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday, a match we’ll be all over there at SBOTOP. So Betis carry the La Liga hopes in Europe this season, but which teams will be on the charge in 2025/26?
The five Champions League places were resolved last week as Champions Barcelona were joined by Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao and Villarreal. The Yellow Submarine confirmed their place in style, winning 3-2 away to the Blaugrana, fighting back from a 2-1 deficit to win thanks to a late Tajon Buchanan strike. Barca and the two Madrid clubs were comfortable in place in the top three positions, while Athletic Bilbao stormed into the top four with four wins and a draw from their last five games.
La Liga has produced the Champions League winners 20 times in history, Los Blancos collecting their 15th title in 2024 while Barcelona have been kings of Europe five times and both, along with Atleti will be in amongst fancied clubs in 2026.
With the top five all settled there is a chance to see an exhibition match on Sunday night when Athletic Club host Barcelona, before they each book their much needed summer holidays. It may the last time Bilbao fans see Nico Williams in their line-up as speculation mounts regarding a potential summer exit for the La Roja winger.
Vigo and Vallecano pack their bags for a European tour
Despite picking up only three points from their last four games, Real Betis took sixth place pretty much unchallenged and a top-five place slipped from their grasp as Villarreal finished with five wins on the bounce. But there was quite a battle for the remaining two European slots, in seventh and eighth, which were eventually picked up by Celta Vigo and Rayo Vallecano.
Real Mallorca had long been in the frame while Valencia made a late run but, on the final day Osasuna was the team most likely to sneak in. Vigo did their bit, winning 2-1 away to Getafe, coming from a goal behind as the experienced strike pair of Borja Iglesias and Iago Aspas did the business. Vallecano were held 0-0 at home to Mallorca but Osasuna could only earn a 1-1 draw away to Deportivo Alaves and they were the team to miss out.
After finishing 13th last season, this has been a good comeback for Celta Vigo who were in the Europa League semi-final as recently as 2017 but have since struggled in the lower reaches of the Primera Division. Qualification is even more impressive for Vallecano, managed by Inigo Perez. Los Franjirrojos finished 17th last term and have been a yo-yo club over the past decade; but now they are back in Europe after a 24 year absence.
Espanyol pull clear of the drop
Following a dreadful run of La Liga 2025 results, Manolo Gonzalez’ Espanyol finally picked up a long-awaited victory with a final day 2-0 win over relegated Las Palmas. This result doomed Leganes to relegation, alongside Los Amarillos and long gone Real Valladolid to a return to the Segunda Division. Espanyol lost five games in a row, including a 3-2 defeat to Leganes, two weeks ago, followed by 2-0 losses to in the Barcelona derby and then away to Osasuna to leave them in real peril on the final day.
And it was a nervy affair at the RCDE Stadium with a goalless first half in front of 32,000 nail-biting fans. Las Palmas had more possession, more shots and more shots on target but without a bite, and the panic for Espanyol fans began to subside when Javi Puado converted a penalty, mid way through the second half. And when Puado set up Pere Milla for an 82nd– minute second the relief in the stadium was palpable.
It was tough on Leganes, who beat Valladolid 3-0 to finish the campaign with three wins in four, but the Madrid minnows had given themselves just too much to do.
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