La Liga has lost some of soccer’s biggest stars over the past few years, but the Spanish top flight still has plenty to offer the global game and will still be must-watch television for many U.S. soccer fans this fall.
Real Madrid and Barcelona are two of the biggest clubs in the world and feature star-studded rosters with some very recognizable names throughout their teams. Losing Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is no doubt a blow to the league’s appeal, but competition at the top with teams like Atletico Madrid and Sevilla have made things competitive every season.
Last season, it was Atletico holding off their city rivals, Real Madrid, to win La Liga for the first time since 2014 under manager Diego Simeone. While Real have been quiet in the transfer market, Barcelona have been very active. That might be the reason Messi is gone, though.
In the United States, La Liga has been a fixture on beIN Sports for years. That changes this year in what could be a huge move for the league.
Let’s break down how Americans can watch La Liga through the 2028-29 season:
How to Watch La Liga in the United States
It was announced in May that ESPN+ will be the new home for La Liga through the 2028-29 season. ESPN+ is now home to MLS, the German Bundesliga, England’s FA Cup and Carabao Cup and much more.
beIN Sports had been the home of La Liga in the United States since the start of the 2012-13 season, but the potential growth to ESPN+ should be massive for the league.
Every La Liga match will be streamed, while some will be featured on television too. Barcelona’s season opener on Sunday, Aug. 15, will be available on ABC. Otherwise, streaming will be fans’ only option to consume La Liga in the United States for the foreseeable future.
La Liga Odds
The Spanish top flight has long been a two-horse race, but Atletico Madrid have inserted themselves every year under Simeone.
Simeone took over at Atletico in 2011, having won the La Liga-Copa del Rey double with the club as a player in 1996. As the manager, he has won La Liga twice and the Copa del Rey once, back in 2013.
Atletico still usually are looking up to Real and Barcelona. Antoine Griezmann made a controversial move to Barcelona before the 2019-20 season, proving that the financial power of the two clubs (at that point) was too much. Obviously, things have changed a bit given both Real and Barcelona’s financial woes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since March 2020, no new “galactico” signings have arrived at the Bernabeu in Madrid. Barcelona took a summer off of big spending before adding the likes of Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia. Their revenue was down so far, though, that they did not have any money left over to re-sign Messi.
The big three are atop the oddsboard at PointsBet, followed by the perennially competitive Sevilla and potential darkhorse Real Sociedad.
Here are the odds, as of Wednesday, Aug. 11:
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| Club | Odds |
|---|---|
| Real Madrid | +100 |
| Barcelona | +225 |
| Atletico Madrid | +275 |
| Sevilla | +1800 |
| Real Sociedad | +5000 |
| Villarreal | +8000 |
| Real Betis | +9000 |
| Athletic Bilbao | +15000 |
| Celta Vigo | +20000 |
| Espanyol | +30000 |
| Getafe | +30000 |
| Granada | +30000 |
| Valencia | +30000 |
| Levante | +30000 |
| Osasuna | +30000 |
| Mallorca | +50000 |
| Alaves | +50000 |
| Cadiz | +50000 |
| Elche | +50000 |
| Rayo Vallecano | +50000 |
La Liga’s Biggest Stars
Real Madrid will rely on striker Karim Benzema heavily this season. Los Blancos also have one of the most illustrious midfields in the world with Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, all three of whom won four Champions League trophies during the 2010s.
Eder Militao and David Alaba will likely have the daunting task of replacing Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, who have moved to PSG and Manchester United. Eden Hazard, meanwhile, needs a healthy season after two injury-riddled campaigns after moving from Chelsea.
Griezmann and Memphis Depay will lead the Barcelona attack without Messi. Look out for youngsters Pedri and Ansu Fati, as well, both of whom will likely be fixtures in the Barcelona team moving forward. Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong is one of the best players in the world at his position.
Atletico’s star man is Luis Suarez, who moved from Barcelona last summer and won La Liga. Joao Felix is a young, promising attacker, while Koke and Saul control the Atletico midfield.
The player to watch outside of the big clubs: Swedish striker Alexander Isak.
Isak scored 17 goals last season for Real Sociedad and looked very promising at Euro 2020 for Sweden. Sociedad are an aesthetically fun team to watch, and Isak’s athleticism and skill up top is a key reason why.