La Liga 2024-25 predictions: What to expect as the new season begins

La Liga is here for 2024-25, with one of the world's most entertaining soccer leagues set to capture global attention from August 2024 to May 2025.

Two of the world's great soccer teams, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, headline La Liga and will once again be the favorites to claim glory in Spain's top flight. Superstars like Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Junior, Robert Lewandowski, and teenage phenom Lamine Yamal will be giving it everything to claim supremacy in what is arguably the greatest rivalry in the soccer world.

However, La Liga is more than just its top teams. Atlético Madrid spent big trying to crash the party at the top, while institutions like Sevilla and Valencia will want to build themselves back up after disappointing play last season.

Here's what you need to know for the 2024-25 La Liga season:

Real Madrid, Barcelona rivalry to determine La Liga winner

La Liga is full of underrated storylines, drama and rivalries, but the champion in this 2024-25 season will once again come down to the league's two true giants.

Between them, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have finished first in nine of the last 10 La Liga seasons, and there's little evidence that trend is going to change this year.

However, with los Blancos completing the long-awaited addition of France superstar Kylian Mbappé to a front line that was already incredibly talented, manager Carlo Ancelotti's side is a solid favorite to defend its title from last year. Barça, under new coach Hansi Flick, will be hoping Spain winger Dani Olmo is enough of a boost to get back on top of the table.

La Liga: 16-year-old Lamine Yamal becomes youngest player in European Championship history

Can Atlético Madrid make it a three-horse race?

The capital city's second team, Atlético Madrid, is certainly not content after 2023-24. Expectations were on a top-three finish at worst, but Atléti slipped to fourth behind surprise package Girona. In the end, Real Madrid finished 19 points ahead of its city rival.

Atlético responded with some aggressive summer transfers. Argentina star Julián Álvarez was brought in in an $83 million deal with Manchester City, while target striker Alexander Sørloth ($35 million) and defender Robin Le Normand ($38 million) are also high-profile additions.

Pressure will be on manager Diego Simeone not only to improve his side's performance, but also to genuinely challenge the top dogs in both La Liga and in the Champions League.

Basque clubs hope to push for Champions League berths

After a few lean years among clubs hailing from the Basque Country, times are changing. Athletic Club brought the Copa del Rey to Bilbao, setting off a raucous celebration on the Nervión river last May, while Real Sociedad has managed five straight top-six finishes.

Both teams will be in the Europa League after finishing fifth and sixth, respectively, and will be hoping to take the next step this season. With Le Normand leaving Real Sociedad for Atlético, the advantage might skew towards Bilbao, where brothers Nico and Iñaki Williams seem poised to lead a potent attack.

Promoted clubs aspire to stay in La Liga

Down at the bottom, promoted sides Leganés, Valladolid, and Espanyol will all be hoping they can secure a longer-term future in the top flight after success in the second tier during the 2023-24 season.

While the race for the title may end up involving few teams, the bottom of the league tends to be more tightly packed, with even big-name clubs like Sevilla and Valencia flirting with the drop zone in recent seasons. Las Palmas, Rayo Vallecano, Mallorca, and Celta Vigo all looked vulnerable last season, and it seems likely that the battle to finish just above the final three places will run down to the wire once again.

With over $20 million in transfer spending bolstering the roster, Valladolid appears to have the best bet to stick around for at least one more season.

La Liga 2024-25 title odds

As of Saturday, Aug. 17, BetMGM offered the following odds for each team's chances at finishing atop the La Liga table this season:

1. Real Madrid: -400
2. FC Barcelona: +350
3. Atlético Madrid: +1000
4. Athletic Bilbao: +3300
5. Real Sociedad: +5000
6. Girona FC: +5000
7. Villarreal CF: +10000
8. Real Betis: +10000
9. Sevilla FC: +15000
10. Valencia: +15000
11. Celta Vigo: +25000
12. CA Osasuna: +50000
13. Getafe CF: +100000
14. Rayo Vallecano: +100000
15. RCD Mallorca: +100000
16. UD Las Palmas: +100000
17. Deportivo Alavés: +100000
18. Espanyol: +100000
19. Real Valladolid: +100000
20. CD Leganés: +100000

How to watch La Liga this season

La Liga's 2024-25 season will be broadcast on ESPN+, with all 380 matches streaming in English and Spanish. ABC and the ESPN family of networks will carry select matches for broadcast throughout the season.

To stream the games, fans will want to get a subscription to ESPN+ .

Follow this season's La Liga action with an ESPN+ subscription

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: La Liga 2024-25 predictions: What to expect as the new season begins