When do the major European leagues start and what are the big stories?
BBC Sport looks at the big stories in Europe heading into the 2026-27 season.
The new football season in Europe is already underway, with La Liga, Ligue 1, Serie A and the Bundesliga set to commence in the coming weeks. BBC Sport has compiled a list of notable matches and storylines to look forward to.
La Liga kicks off this Saturday, August 15th, with Alaves facing Getafe at 18:30 BST. Jose Mourinho is set to return to his former club Real Madrid, 13 years after he first managed the team. The addition of new signings Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, and Bernardo Silva could help stabilize the team, which struggled defensively last season. Vinicius Junior has also sealed a new contract.
Hansi Flick's Borussia Dortmund, known for their impressive attacking play, return to the Bundesliga on Friday, August 28th, against VfB Stuttgart. Bayern Munich, featuring a potent attacking lineup led by Harry Kane, look to defend their domestic double.
In Ligue 1, Paris St-Germain are expected to secure their 13th title in 15 seasons, despite losing six league games last season. Marseille will face Strasbourg on Friday, August 21st, at 19:45 BST.
Serie A's defending champions Inter Milan are favored to retain their title, but many teams will find it difficult to challenge them. Napoli, AC Milan, Atalanta, and Lazio are all new to managerial positions, while Juventus and Milan face pressure after missing the top four last term. Roma aims to finish third again and win their first Scudetto since 2001.
The Bundesliga's first match is Bayern Munich versus VfB Stuttgart on Friday, August 28th, at 19:30 BST. Meanwhile, Schalke 04, who have returned to the top flight after three years in the regionalized fourth tier, will look to re-establish themselves as a top side, with a potential Revier derby against Dortmund.
Lastly, Ligue 1 will inspect Celta Vigo's pitch after a fungus outbreak. Alexander-Arnold is rumored to be a key figure at Real Madrid, while Inter Milan's Cesc Fabregas side will face a challenging debut in the Champions League.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Sport's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
