Raphinha's goal rush, Vinicius Jr's struggles, Alvarez fury: The La Liga season so far
Club football in Europe comes to a halt this week as the season pauses for the first international break of the 2026/27 campaign. In La Liga , it is back-to-back title winners Barcelona who look red-hot favourites to make it three on the spin after an electric run of results. Atletico Madrid and Real Betis sit directly under Barca, one point behind, with Jose Mourinho 's Real Madrid a point and a…
La Liga's 2026/27 season takes a pause as the first international break arrives. In Spain's top flight, Barcelona, the back-to-back title winners, are currently the clear favorites to win their third consecutive championship. Just one point behind Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Real Betis sit in the second and third positions respectively, while Real Madrid trails a point and a place further behind.
At the opposite end, Malaga remains the only team without a single win, sitting at the bottom of the table after seven matches.
Barca's unrivaled performance has been led by Raphinha, who has scored a remarkable 12 goals in just seven matches. The Brazilian attacker has had a stunning season, leading the league in goals scored. Coach Hansi Flick has rearranged Raphinha's position from the wing to a false nine role, a move that is proving highly effective, with only Echevarria and Cristiano Ronaldo registering more goals in the first seven matches of a season.
Vinicius Junior, one of the major headlines of the summer, is struggling at Real Madrid. After agreeing to a new deal that keeps him at the Spanish capital until 2032, Vinicius has managed to score only once in the Liga while providing three assists. He has faced criticism from fans and teammates alike, with manager Jose Mourinho having to defend his player during the Champions League win over Inter Milan.
In Atletico Madrid, another South American forward, Julian Alvarez, has faced significant challenges. The 26-year-old Argentine striker has played only 173 minutes this season, starting just one game. Despite his lack of playing time, Alvarez remains a key player for Atletico, with manager Diego Simeone expressing his determination to get Alvarez integrated into the team.
Zabiri, the 21-year-old Moroccan forward on loan at Racing Santander, has made a tremendous impact with six goals in the league, including a hat-trick and a double. His impressive start has caught the attention of his home country, with Zabiri expressing his desire to play for Barcelona in the future.
Written by urgent.news from The National Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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