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Original arguments about the teams, decisions and moments shaping the season.
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La Liga desk
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La Liga Analysis
Málaga · September 1, 2026
Cajuste Should Protect Málaga's Courage, Not Replace It
Málaga's loan for Jens Cajuste should preserve the brave buildup seen for 16 minutes at Real Madrid while giving the academy core protection after possession turns.
Read Elena Marquez’s column
Also newFrom the desk La Liga Analysis · Sep 1
Seven Points, Then the Alavés Translation
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Can Athletic Rotate Without Losing the Press?
Athletic Bilbao · 5 min read
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Make Deportivo's Supporter Talks Routine After the Win
Deportivo de A Coruña · 5 min read
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What Kind of Forward Fits Levante After Five Different Goals?
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La Liga
Latest stories
La Liga
After Zabiri's Hat Trick, Racing Should Reinforce Behind Him
Yassir Zabiri's first Racing start produced a 20-minute hat trick against Elche. The club should use the remaining transfer window to protect that attack, not crowd it.
Racing de Santander · By Sofia Bellini · 5 min read
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La Liga
Define Livaković's First Season Before Counting the Savings
Barcelona signed Dominik Livaković through 2030 for a reported fee of up to €4 million. The low price does not excuse an undefined first-season role.
Barcelona · By Sofia Bellini · 5 min read
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La Liga
Can Madrid Create the Space Before the Match Opens?
Real Madrid scored three second-half goals to beat Real Sociedad 4-1. The burst showed the ceiling; the first-half discomfort showed Mourinho's next job.
Real Madrid · By Adrian Cole · 5 min read
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La Liga
Four Minutes Gave Betis a Central Role for Pablo García
Pablo García entered at Mestalla and scored four minutes later. Betis should develop that central late-game role without turning one volley into a promotion order.
Real Betis · By Malik Thompson · 5 min read
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La Liga
What Are 45 Minutes of Ejuke Worth to Sevilla?
Chidera Ejuke came on at halftime and scored five minutes later in Sevilla's 3-1 win. His game-state value should outweigh a tidy late-window exit.
Sevilla · By Sofia Bellini · 4 min read
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La Liga Analysis
Ten Minutes Earned Carlos Espí Another Ten
Carlos Espí's 90th-minute winner rescued Real Madrid at Espanyol. His reward should be another meaningful role, without making one finish carry the whole attack.
Real Madrid · By Malik Thompson · 5 min read
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La Liga Analysis
Sociedad Found Urgency One Goal Too Late
Real Sociedad created its clearest chances only after falling behind at Betis. With Real Madrid next, urgency must become a starting condition.
Real Sociedad · By Adrian Cole · 4 min read
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La Liga Analysis
Thirty Minutes of Isco, Ninety Minutes of Betis
Isco sharpened Betis after entering the 1-0 win over Real Sociedad, but Manuel Pellegrini's 30-minute limit should shape the team rather than bend to it.
Real Betis · By Malik Thompson · 5 min read
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Supporter Culture
Alavés Is Right to Leave the Directors' Box Empty
Alavés refusing the Butarque directors' box supports away fans denied a workable ticket allocation, but La Liga still needs a remedy stronger than symbolism.
Deportivo Alavés · By Elena Marquez · 5 min read
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Tactical Analysis
Atlético's Makeshift Opener Is Still a Test of Its New Hierarchy
Injuries and late returns have scrambled Atlético's first lineup, but the choices against Málaga can still reveal who carries the attack now.
Atlético Madrid · By Elena Marquez · 5 min read
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Season Opener
Málaga's La Liga Return Begins With Keeping Its Nerve
Málaga return to Spain's top flight at Atlético Madrid after eight years away. Survival will require pragmatism without erasing the identity that earned promotion.
Málaga · By Elena Marquez · 5 min read
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Tactical Analysis
Elche Controlled Riazor. The Box Still Set the Terms.
Elche held 61.4 percent possession and drew 1-1 at Deportivo, yet needed Marc Aguado's late header. The identity traveled; the final action still needs a sharper solution.
Elche · By Sofia Bellini · 5 min read
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Tactical Analysis
Villarreal's Four-Minute Escape Left the Bigger Problem Intact
Pape Gueye and Nicolas Pépé erased a two-goal deficit before halftime at Racing, but Villarreal's early transition failures remain the urgent issue before Atlético Madrid.
Villarreal · By Sofia Bellini · 4 min read
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Match Analysis
Espanyol Built a Real Madrid Test Out of Pressure and Roberto
Espanyol's 3-0 opening win over Levante joined an intense press to Roberto Fernández's penalty-box instincts, creating a repeatable method before Real Madrid visits.
Espanyol · By Elena Marquez · 4 min read
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Match Analysis
Rayo Lost the Match Before the Final Penalty
Rayo Vallecano can dispute the stoppage-time decision at Sevilla, but the deeper failure was allowing an early lead and late numerical advantage to dissolve into a 2-1 defeat.
Rayo Vallecano · By Adrian Cole · 5 min read
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Full archive12 older stories, newest first Browse all
- The Red Card Helped Alavés; the Response Defined Them Deportivo Alavés · Elena Marquez →
- A Ferran Sale Must Buy Barcelona Role Clarity Barcelona · Sofia Bellini →
- Athletic's European Quality Needs a Domestic Definition Athletic Bilbao · Elena Marquez →
- Sevilla's Opener Must Define the Midfield Before the Market Does Sevilla · Adrian Cole →
- Teruel Exposed the Cost of Valencia's Emergency Shape Valencia · Elena Marquez →
- Enes Unal's Getafe Return Needs New Instructions Getafe · Adrian Cole →
- The Romero Agreement Must Change the Height of Atletico's Defense Atlético Madrid · Sofia Bellini →
- Two Academy Goals Just Complicated Madrid’s Expensive Hierarchy Real Madrid · Sofia Bellini →
- Dumfries Versus Trent Must Be a Choice About Space, Not Status Real Madrid · Malik Thompson →
- Barcelona Have Collected Options. Now Somebody Has to Build a Defense. Barcelona · Elena Marquez →
- Rodri Choosing Barcelona Would Be the Beginning, Not the Transfer Barcelona · Elena Marquez →
- Keeping Julián Álvarez Is Not the Same as Winning the Standoff Atlético Madrid · Elena Marquez →
