After the 2025–26 La Liga season kicked off with exciting performances and intense competition, the rivalry between traditional giants Barcelona and Real Madrid remains fierce, with both sides tied at the top of the table on six points after just two rounds.
Barcelona enters the season as the defending champion, determined to retain the title with the passion of its players and fans. Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso faces the difficult task of restoring the club’s dominance, amid tactical and personal efforts to bring the title back to Madrid.
Related topics
Amid widespread controversy and unprecedented criticism, Carlo Ancelotti’s surprise Brazil squad announcement has sparked mixed reactions among Barcelona fans and officials. This reaction came particularly after the exclusion of several Real Madrid stars in favor of a prominent player from the Catalan club.
This move has raised many questions regarding the reasons behind the sudden omission of Real Madrid trio Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo Goes, and Éder Militão, while Raphinha has emerged as the primary choice to lead the Seleção’s attack.
The Spanish newspaper Sport reported that this decision could have major implications for Xabi Alonso, who had previously emphasized the need to give certain players carefully managed rest periods.
Carlo Ancelotti explained that he is looking to identify new talents within the national team, expressing his desire to evaluate players who have not yet had the opportunity to work under his management. This, he noted, accounts for some of the surprises in the squad selection.
