3 biggest threats to Real Madrid winning La Liga this year

Real Madrid are the favorites to win La Liga this year, but Los Blancos will have to best their biggest threats and rivals to secure their first back-to-back Spanish league titles in over a decade.

Real Madrid are the reigning Spanish soccer champions after earning 95 points and going on a 32-game unbeaten run in the 2023/24 La Liga season. Carlo Ancelotti's men also ended the year with the club's record 15th Champions League trophy.

Los Blancos will hope to replicate their domestic (and European) success from last season, especially with the additions of Kylian Mbappe and Endrick to their squad. Securing consecutive La Liga titles is harder than it might sound, though, even for Real Madrid; in fact, the last time they managed such a feat was back in 2008, and today's La Liga is more competitive than ever before.

Here's a breakdown of the three biggest threats to Real Madrid going back-to-back in Spain this year.

3 biggest threats to Real Madrid winning La Liga this year

3. Athletic Bilbao

Athletic Bilbao are the dark horses in La Liga this year. Ernesto Valverde's squad has the potential to best their fifth place finish from last year, especially after Girona lost Savio to Manchester City. Plus, after winning the 2024 Copa del Rey, knocking out both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid along the way, Athletic Bilbao have a renewed confidence heading into this season.

The reigning Copa del Rey champions also managed to retain star winger, Nico Williams, amid Barcelona interest, and will look to their new No. 10 to continue his elite form after Euro 2024.

2. Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid might have finished fourth in La Liga last season, a full 19 points behind Carlo Ancelotti's side, but they did something no other Spanish club did—defeat Real Madrid. Not only did Diego Simeone's men hand Los Blancos their sole loss in their 2023/24 La Liga campaign, but they also eliminated Real Madrid from the Copa del Rey in the Round of 16.

Los Colchoneros always rise to the occasion against Real Madrid, and their starting XI is looking stronger than ever; Atletico Madrid signed Robin Le Normand, part of Spain's winning backline at Euro 2024, and Julian Alvarez, fresh off his Copa America 2024 title with Argentina.

For the first time since 2021, Simeone has the squad that can go all the way.

1. Barcelona

Of course, Barcelona are always the biggest threat to Real Madrid winning La Liga. In the last decade, every time Los Blancos have become the Spanish soccer champions, their rivals have finished second in the standings.

Last season, Barcelona finished ten points behind Real Madrid, leading to Xavi Hernandez's dismissal after just three seasons in charge. Now, former Bayern Munich manager, Hansi Flick, will lead the Catalans in the 2024/25 season.

Despite their coaching change, the five-time Champions League winners have plenty of talent on the pitch to contend with Los Blancos, including Robert Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan, and Lamine Yamal, who at just 17 years old, helped Spain win Euro 2024. Plus, Pau Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, and Fermin Lopez were instrumental in Spain's gold-winning campaign at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

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