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

The 2026.27 Spanish La Liga season commenced this weekend with a resurgence of rivalries among Barcelona, trophyless Real Madrid, and underdogs Atletico Madrid, all vying for the title. In this new season, Nigerian players are poised to contribute significantly, despite a reduction in the number of Nigerian players from five to three, following the departures of Akor Adams and Christantus Uche.

Ademola Lookman, a former Atalanta forward, has emerged as the standout Nigerian player in La Liga. Signed by Atletico Madrid in January, he has delivered impressive performances, including a crucial goal against Barcelona, which helped knock them out of both UCL and Copa Del Rey. Lookman has scored four league goals in 12 appearances and has been assigned the number 11 shirt, signifying his importance to the team.

Another Nigerian player, Chidera Ejuke, is expected to play a pivotal role in the upcoming season. His contributions to Sevilla's fight against relegation last year have been noteworthy, and he is anticipated to elevate the club away from the relegation struggle this season. However, the future of Nigerian striker Umar Sadiq remains uncertain at Real Sociedad.

Sadiq's six-month tenure at Valencia last season yielded four goals and two assists in 20 matches, but an injury prematurely dropped him from the pre-season squad. His future remains unclear, with the possibility of him becoming the main striker at Sociedad or joining another La Liga club.

The football world is also abuzz with the potential return of Jose Mourinho as coach at Real Madrid, following his successful tenure with Benfica last season. Mourinho's appointment comes at a crucial time for Real Madrid, as they struggle to win trophies and maintain team unity. Mourinho is set to join a star-studded Real Madrid lineup, which includes Ivory Coast's record signing Yan Diomande, along with Vinicius Jr., Brahim Diaz, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappe.

Football pundits predict that Real Madrid will clinch the league title, while Barcelona is anticipated to win the Copa Del Rey.