La Liga: Barcelona key talking points heading into new 2026-27 season

What the report says

Barcelona enter the new La Liga season as the team to beat, with Al Jazeera reporting that the club is trying to become the first side to win three straight Spanish league titles since Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona did so from 2008-11. The article says the Catalan club has dominated Real Madrid over the past two seasons, while Madrid have responded by bringing back Jose Mourinho as manager for a fourth coaching change in 12 months.

The piece focuses on the main questions facing Hansi Flick’s squad. In defence, 19-year-old Pau Cubarsi is expected to take on a bigger leadership role after Ronald Araujo’s departure to Liverpool. Up front, Barcelona have lost Robert Lewandowski to Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire, but Ferran Torres is being viewed as the likely focal point after a productive season. The article also raises the possibility of a faster rise for 18-year-old Egyptian forward Hamza Abdelkarim, who joined the club on loan ahead of a permanent move.

Al Jazeera also highlights Lamine Yamal as a central figure. The winger, last season’s La Liga player of the year, scored 16 league goals and 24 in all competitions, though injury management could be important after a busy schedule that included the World Cup. The report notes that Barcelona have added more depth on the wings, including Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon, to support Flick’s system.

Health and availability may shape the campaign. Fermin Lopez and Raphinha have recovered from injuries, Gavi is fit again, but Frenkie de Jong is out until November and Roony Bardghji is sidelined for the season. More broadly, the article suggests Barcelona’s young, title-winning core gives them momentum, even as Madrid’s renewed challenge could define the race.