FC Barcelona ended Matchday 1 of the 2025–26 La Liga season as league leaders on goal difference after Saturday’s 3–0 win at Son Moix. The opening round wrapped up on Tuesday, August 19, when Real Madrid beat Osasuna 1–0 on a Kylian Mbappé penalty.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Madrid’s win at the Bernabéu included refereeing controversy, including a late straight red for Osasuna’s Abel Bretones. Barça, meanwhile, started the new campaign where they ended the last one: first. Hansi Flick’s side topped a group of eight teams on three points thanks to the goal-difference margin earned in Mallorca.
Opening weekend snapshot
Rayo Vallecano are second after a 3-1 win away at Girona. Getafe won 2-0 in Vigo and Villarreal beat Oviedo 2–0 to complete the early top four. In the next spots, Athletic Club beat Sevilla 3-2 and Alavés edged Levante 2-1. Espanyol sit seventh and Real Madrid are eighth following their narrow home win.
What’s next
Looking ahead, Barcelona visit newly promoted Levante on Matchday 2; Levante opened with a defeat away to Alavés. It’s only August and the standings are purely circumstantial, but Flick’s side have banked what they could on opening weekend—and they take the league lead into the second round.
