Opta reveals the favorite to win La Liga

As the 2025-26 La Liga season approaches, football fans around the world are anticipating the return of the classic rivalry between defending champions Barcelona and their traditional rivals, Real Madrid, along with Atlético Madrid, who remain a formidable force in the title race. Under German coach Hansi Flick, Barcelona enjoyed an exceptional season last year, achieving the domestic treble (La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Super Cup) for the first time in the club's history, securing a strong return to the top of Spanish football. According to the Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona enters the new season as the favorite to retain the title, based on Opta's computer predictions, which give the Catalan club a 46.5% chance of winning La Liga again. Real Madrid, the favorites a season ago, have seen their chances decline, especially after signing French star Kylian Mbappé, with their predicted title win rate not exceeding 32.5%. Atlético Madrid, meanwhile, came in third with an 11.7% chance. After a year in which all predictions indicated Real Madrid's advantage, Barcelona proved otherwise on the pitch, making the upcoming La Liga season a major focus of attention, as everyone awaits whether Flick will continue his domestic dominance or whether the title race will change direction.