2024-25: La Liga Futures: Real Madrid heavily favored to repeat

After a summer full of international competition, the upcoming domestic campaigns across Europe are right around the corner. In La Liga, there’s a clear favorite to lift the grand prize and that’s title-holders Real Madrid. The European champions are even better now as well after signing Kylian Mbappe to join their already-loaded attack this season. Below, we’ll preview the 2024-25 La Liga futures.

Real Madrid

Los Blancos ran away with the title last term, finishing 10 points above Barcelona at the top of the table. Plus, they also won their record 15th Champions League trophy, beating Borussia Dortmund in the showpiece at Wembley. Madrid is absolutely stacked from top to bottom and truly has the most devastating frontline in the world. Mbappe is now a Los Blancos player, accompanying Brazilian duo Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior. Jude Bellingham meanwhile is a workhorse on both ends of the pitch and Antonio Rudiger is as solid as can be defensively. There’s a reason Real is a -250 favorite at 888sport.

Barcelona

Barca will have a difficult time dethroning Madrid, but they can’t be overlooked, either. This is a very talented squad with a nice mix of youth and experience. Lamine Yamal is coming off a life-changing summer where he helped guide Spain to a European Championship. Robert Lewandowski is also still a killer in the final third, bagging 19 goals in 2023-24. It will be interesting to see how the Catalans fare with a new manager after Hansi Flick took over for Xavi. Dani Olmo signed with the club this summer from RB Leipzig but Barca is dealing with a plethora of injuries to key players including Pedri, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, and Ronald Araujo. They’ve won just one title in the last five seasons.

Atletico Madrid

Atletico last lifted the La Liga title in 2020-21 but it feels unlikely they will do so again anytime soon. Although adding Julian Alvarez from Manchester City will surely benefit the club, it’s hard to imagine them competing with their city rivals when it comes to the title race. Diego Simeone’s men finished in fourth spot last season with a 24-4-10 record and a whole 19 points behind Madrid. Alvaro Morata left for AC Milan, but Atleti did bring in the likes of Alexander Sorloth and Robin Le Normand. Conor Gallagher is also on the verge of completing a move to the Spanish capital from Chelsea. A top-four finish should be in the cards for Atleti, who have the third-best title odds at soccer betting sites.

Girona

Who? Yes, Girona surprised all of Europe last term when they finished in third place and only four points behind second-place Barcelona. However, qualifying for Champions League football may be difficult in 23-24. The Barca-based outfit has lost several important players to bigger clubs including Aleix Garcia, leading goal scorer Artem Dovbyk, Savio, and Yan Couto. Girona will have a much different look.

La Liga title history

Madrid’s 36 titles are the most ever. Barcelona meanwhile has won 27. Los Blancos has lifted the trophy in three of the last five years. Given how they’re built for the future, it will be a massive task for anyone in the Spanish top flight to snatch the title away from them anytime soon.