MADRID — Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso has praised the maturity of teenager newcomer Franco Mastantuono and downplayed the player's choice of former Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi as the world's best player.

The new LaLiga season is upon us! Will Barcelona and Real Madrid dominate? Will Atlético spoil the party? Will Mbappé or Yamal shine brightest?

Real Madrid got their 2025026 La Liga campaign underway, beating Osasuna 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu. It was an average performance from the white team, but it

LaLiga 2025/26 kicked off with Barcelona cruising to victory, Atlético Madrid stumbling, and Real Madrid grinding out a narrow win—early signs of the battles ahead this season. The 2025/26 LaLiga season is officially underway.

CNN World Sport’s Amanda Davies previews Spain’s new league season with Football España editor Ruairidh Barlow.

Barcelona and Real Madrid are by far the most successful Spanish teams by trophies won — Madrid have 101, Barcelona have 99. Third-placed Athletic Bilbao have just 35.

Still, Madrid rose above the occasion with a drop of that coolness amongst the heat that they’ve become associated with over the years. March 1, 2020: Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona IMAGO / Newscom World

In 228 competitive meetings between the sides, Real Madrid have won 91 to Barcelona's 88. In those games, Real Madrid lead the scoring 385 to 371, with Barcelona closing the gap in recent times.

Barcelona vs Real Madrid was by now must-watch TV for a supposed global audience of more than 500 million, who tuned in for meetings between the two best club teams on the planet as Messi, Xavi ...

Los Blancos will kick off their La Liga season on Tuesday against Osasuna, after the league began over the weekend

Real Madrid, as mentioned in the previous slide, ran away with La Liga in 1988, although Barcelona still made sure they got the better of the champions elect when they visited Camp Nou.