Odds courtesy of TonyBet.
2026-27 LaLiga Futures - Outright Winner
Barcelona sits as a -139 favorite at soccer betting sites. Real Madrid, who finished eight points back last term, aren't far off with +110 odds. Atletico Madrid (+1399), Real Betis Seville (+5000), and Villarreal CF (+6590) round out the next tier of contenders.
Barcelona
The Catalans closed out last season with 94 points, 31 wins, and just six defeats, clinching the title with a win over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu with three games to spare. It was Hansi Flick's second straight championship, and the club rewarded him with a new deal through June 2028. Lamine Yamal remains the focal point of an attack that led LaLiga in scoring last season, and with the club's financial picture stabilized, Barcelona head into the campaign with the kind of continuity and squad depth that made them favorites in the first place. Defending back-to-back titles is never simple, but few sides look better equipped to do it. However, Madrid is a real threat.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid enters the season under a familiar face, with Jose Mourinho returning to the Bernabeu for a second spell after back-to-back trophyless campaigns left the club searching for a reset. President Florentino Perez moved quickly in the market, wrapping up several senior signings before preseason even began. Bernardo Silva arrived on a free transfer after leaving Manchester City, bringing Premier League pedigree and versatility across midfield, while Carlos Espi joins from Levante after a breakout campaign that saw him score 11 LaLiga goals. Yan Diomande is also on the verge of joining the club after his monumental rise over the last year. Mourinho inherits a talented squad and a mandate to close the gap on Barcelona immediately. The talent is certainly there to win it all.
Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone remains the defining figure at Atletico, and the club strengthened its attack back in January when it added Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman from Atalanta on a deal through 2030. The bigger storyline all summer, though, was Julian Alvarez, who drew serious interest from both Barcelona and Real Madrid before Atletico held firm and refused to strengthen either rival. Keeping Alvarez was a statement of intent, but with Lookman now a full season into life in Spain, Simeone will be looking for more consistent output from his attack. His sides have never lacked defensive organization or competitive edge, and if the attack clicks, Atletico remains the most likely side to cause problems for Barca and Real Madrid.
Real Betis
Manuel Pellegrini continues to provide stability at Betis, and the club enters the season back in the Champions League after a strong domestic campaign. The squad has been retooled through the middle of the park, with goalkeeper Diego Conde arriving from Villarreal among the notable additions. Balancing a deeper European schedule with the demands of LaLiga will be the challenge for Pellegrini's group, but the experienced manager has shown before that he can manage a squad through a heavier fixture list without letting domestic form slip.
Villarreal CF
Villarreal finished third last season, their highest league position since 2013, but they parted ways with longtime boss Marcelino and handed the reins to Inigo Perez, who arrives after leading Rayo Vallecano to a Conference League final. It is Villarreal's second consecutive Champions League campaign, a first in the club's history. Pape Gueye anchors the midfield alongside Santi Comesana, while Gerard Moreno and Georges Mikautadze lead the attack up front. Villarreal were eliminated at the bottom of last year's expanded Champions League group phase, so Perez will be balancing continued LaLiga contention with getting European results this side hasn't managed yet.
2026-27 LaLiga Picks
It's still early, and plenty can change once the season gets underway, but Barcelona's continuity, depth, and Yamal's continued rise make the Catalans deserving favorites. Real Madrid, freshly reinforced under Mourinho, should be their closest challenger all season. Both deserve to be in the mix.
Picks: Barcelona (-139), Real Madrid (+110)/TonyBet
