Real Madrid Maintains Perfect Start
Real Madrid continues its formidable start to the 2025-26 La Liga season, extending its winning streak with a commanding 4-1 victory over Levante on Tuesday, September 23. The match, held at Valencia’s Ciutat de Valencia, saw manager Xabi Alonso rotate his squad, giving key players like Dani Ceballos and Arda Güler starting positions. The lineup, which also featured stars Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr., proved too powerful for the home side. This latest triumph follows a solid 2-0 win against Espanyol in matchweek five, cementing their position at the top of the league table as they remain undefeated.
Barcelona Keeps Pace with Convincing Win
Just behind them, FC Barcelona is ensuring the title race remains competitive. The Catalan club secured a decisive 3-0 victory against a tough Getafe side on September 21. The match was notably played at the 6,000-seat Estadi Johan Cruyff, as renovations continue at the iconic Camp Nou. Ferran Torres was the star of the show, scoring a brace after being a last-minute addition to the starting lineup for a tardy Marcus Rashford. Dani Olmo added a third goal to seal the three points, keeping Barcelona within striking distance of their rivals.
Off-Pitch Tensions: Real Madrid’s Ballon d’Or Boycott
While dominating on the field, Real Madrid is also making headlines for its off-field stance. The club has confirmed it will extend its boycott of the Ballon d’Or ceremony, refusing to send an official delegation to the 2025 event in Paris. This decision stems from a lingering dispute with the organizers, L’Équipe and UEFA, over what the club perceives as a “brutal snub” of Vinicius Jr. for the 2024 award, which was ultimately won by Manchester City’s Rodri.
Despite the institutional boycott, Real Madrid boasts an impressive seven nominees across various categories:
- Men’s Ballon d’Or: Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr.
- Women’s Ballon d’Or: Caroline Weir
- Kopa Trophy (Best Young Player): Dean Huijsen
- Women’s Kopa Trophy: Linda Caicedo
- Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper): Thibaut Courtois
The nominated men’s players were expected to miss the ceremony regardless, as it coincided with their league fixture against Levante. According to a report from digitaltrendstoday.com, club executives stated, “The Ballon d’Or and UEFA do not respect Real Madrid, and Real Madrid will not go where it is not respected.”
Around La Liga: Mixed Fortunes for Contenders
The latest round of matches saw mixed results for other top clubs. Atlético Madrid’s difficult start to the season continued with a 1-1 draw against Real Mallorca, leaving them with only one win from their first five games. The match was further marred by a rare penalty miss from Argentine star Julián Álvarez. In contrast, top-four hopefuls Villarreal and Real Betis both secured crucial victories against Osasuna and Real Sociedad, respectively.
In other news, former Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez made his return to La Liga with Sevilla, receiving a classy congratulatory letter from his former club. Meanwhile, Getafe is reportedly close to signing former Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford on a free transfer, adding more intrigue to the season ahead.
