#la-liga

#la-liga

Nevertheless, embarking on a stunning Europa Conference League adventure and cruising their way to a knockout stage ticket, Inigo Perez's men will be searching for some domestic stability. Getting 2026 underway sat way down in 15th-place and holding just a three-point buffer from slipping into the drop zone, Rayo Vallecano will also be excited by their extended rugged success in Madrid.

FC Barcelona are set to enter into 2026 with the league position that Hansi Flick would have hoped for at the beginning of the season. Top of La Liga, 46 points from 18 games and a four-point cushion over Real Madrid make for good reading. The numbers are loud: 51 goals scored already, but the feeling is even louder. This is a team that plays with incisive attacking power, sometimes, even at the cost of defensive solidity.

Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen has reportedly picked up another injury and been ruled out of Sunday's La Liga game with Villarreal. The Dane was back in the starting XI in midweek and also on the scoresheet in the 2-0 victory over Guadalajara. He will no doubt have been hoping for more minutes on Sunday at La Ceramica but was a late withdrawal from the squad after picking up a problem in training on Saturday afternoon.