The new European football season is finally beginning, and while the Premier League is still a week away, several of the continent’s biggest leagues are already preparing to kick off.
La Liga starts this weekend, followed by Ligue 1, Serie A and the Bundesliga later in August. With new managers, major transfers, returning superstars and familiar title battles all on the horizon, the 2026-27 campaign promises plenty of drama.
From Jose Mourinho’s surprise return to Real Madrid to PSG’s attempt to continue their European dominance, here are the biggest stories to watch across Europe’s major leagues.
Quick Overview
| League | First Match | Biggest Story |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | August 15 | Mourinho returns to Real Madrid |
| Ligue 1 | August 21 | PSG chase another title |
| Serie A | August 22 | Can anyone stop Inter? |
| Bundesliga | August 28 | Bayern look to dominate again |
| Turkish Super Lig | August 14 | Salah begins a new chapter |
| Eredivisie | Already underway | PSV chase fourth straight title |
| Primeira Liga | Already underway | Porto defend their crown |
La Liga: Jose Mourinho Returns to Real Madrid
First La Liga match: Alaves vs Getafe, Saturday, August 15
The biggest managerial storyline in Spain is impossible to ignore.
Jose Mourinho is back at Real Madrid.
Thirteen years after his first spell at the Santiago Bernabeu ended, the Portuguese manager has returned to one of football’s biggest clubs.
His first challenge will be rebuilding a team that has struggled to find the right balance despite possessing extraordinary attacking talent.
Real Madrid’s attack contains stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior, but last season exposed defensive weaknesses that left the team vulnerable to counterattacks.
The club has responded with several major additions, including:
- Marc Cucurella
- Ibrahima Konate
- Denzel Dumfries
- Bernardo Silva
Mourinho’s biggest challenge may therefore be less about adding attacking quality and more about turning Real Madrid into a balanced team.
The question is whether the veteran manager can manage the egos of Mbappe, Bellingham and Vinicius while restoring Madrid’s domestic dominance.
Barcelona Remain the Team to Beat
Barcelona may have had a slightly less dominant campaign last season, but they remain the favorites for another La Liga title.
Hansi Flick’s squad contains a remarkable collection of Spanish World Cup winners, while young superstar Lamine Yamal continues to develop into one of the most important players in world football.
The biggest challenge will be replacing Robert Lewandowski’s goals.
Barcelona have responded by adding attacking reinforcements including:
- Anthony Gordon
- Karim Adeyemi
With the first Clasico of the season scheduled for late October, the Mourinho-led Real Madrid against Yamal’s Barcelona could become one of the defining fixtures of the campaign.
Serie A: Can Anyone Stop Inter Milan?
First Serie A matches: Udinese vs Como and Inter Milan vs Monza, Saturday, August 22
Inter Milan enter the new campaign as favorites to defend their Serie A crown.
The main reason is simple: the chasing pack is undergoing significant change.
Napoli, AC Milan, Atalanta and Lazio all have new managers, while Juventus and Milan are under pressure after missing out on Champions League football last season.
One of the most intriguing appointments is Ruben Amorim at AC Milan.
Manchester United supporters will naturally be watching closely to see how the Portuguese coach performs at San Siro.
Meanwhile, Napoli have appointed Max Allegri as they attempt to build another title-winning team.
Como’s Champions League Adventure
One of last season’s most fascinating stories was Como.
Cesc Fabregas guided the club to an impressive league campaign, and now the challenge becomes significantly harder.
Como will compete in the Champions League for the first time.
The club must also race against time to make improvements to its lakeside stadium if it wants to host European matches there.
Fabregas has also promised to give more opportunities to young Italian players, making Como an interesting club to watch both domestically and in Europe.
Bundesliga: Bayern Munich Still the Favorites
First Bundesliga match: Bayern Munich vs VfB Stuttgart, Friday, August 28
The question in Germany remains the same:
Who can stop Bayern Munich?
Vincent Kompany’s side cruised to a domestic double last season while producing some outstanding attacking football.
Harry Kane remains at the center of Bayern’s attack.
The England captain has continued producing extraordinary numbers in Germany, with 98 Bundesliga goals in 94 appearances according to the source material.
Bayern have even more attacking firepower around him.
Michael Olise and Luis Diaz provide additional quality, while Morocco international Ismael Saibari has also joined the squad.
The major question is whether Bayern’s defense can match the quality of their attack.
Manuel Neuer is now 40, while concerns remain about the defensive unit.
Dortmund, Leipzig and Leverkusen Looking for a Challenge
Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen all have enough quality to challenge Bayern.
The problem is consistency.
The chasing teams have repeatedly struggled against stubborn mid-table opponents, allowing Bayern to maintain their advantage.
Meanwhile, Schalke 04 are back in the Bundesliga after three seasons away.
Their promotion also brings back one of German football’s fiercest rivalries:
The Revier derby against Borussia Dortmund.
Even more remarkable is Elversberg’s promotion.
The club was playing in Germany’s regionalized fourth tier as recently as the 2021-22 campaign and will now compete in the Bundesliga for the first time.
Ligue 1: PSG Begin Another Dynasty?
First Ligue 1 match: Marseille vs Strasbourg, Friday, August 21
It is difficult to look beyond Paris Saint-Germain for the Ligue 1 title.
PSG have won the last five league championships and are coming off consecutive Champions League victories.
That makes them the overwhelming favorites once again.
Luis Enrique’s side are not completely unbeatable, however.
They lost six league matches last season, two more than during the previous two campaigns combined.
PSG have strengthened their squad with:
- Maghnes Akliouche
- Lucas Digne
However, there is also uncertainty surrounding Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye, who have attracted interest from Liverpool.
Can Marseille Challenge PSG?
Marseille remain one of the biggest names in French football, but financial difficulties have limited their ability to strengthen the squad.
The club could also lose more important players after Mason Greenwood’s departure.
Lens were PSG’s closest challengers last season, but the appointment of Dino Toppmoller means they may need time to adapt.
Lille face a similar situation after bringing in Davide Ancelotti.
In other words, PSG’s biggest advantage may not simply be their own quality.
It may be the instability among their closest competitors.
Turkey: Mohamed Salah Begins a New Chapter
Turkish Super Lig begins: Galatasaray vs Corum, Friday, August 14
One of the biggest surprises of the European summer has taken place in Turkey.
After leaving Liverpool at the end of his contract, Mohamed Salah has chosen Trabzonspor rather than joining one of Turkey’s traditional giants.
The Egyptian superstar will now attempt to help the 2021-22 Super Lig champions challenge for another title.
For Salah, this represents an entirely new chapter after an extraordinary Liverpool career.
If he can immediately deliver silverware in Turkey, his status among the club’s greatest-ever players could become legendary.
PSV Chase History in the Netherlands
The Eredivisie campaign is already underway, with PSV Eindhoven targeting a remarkable fourth consecutive league title.
Ajax and Feyenoord are hoping to recover after disappointing seasons.
Both clubs have appointed new managers, with Spaniard Michel taking charge at Ajax and former Netherlands captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst returning to Rotterdam.
That could make the Dutch title race considerably more competitive.
Porto Defend Their Portuguese Crown
Portugal’s Primeira Liga is also already underway.
Porto are attempting to defend the championship for the first time since 2013.
Benfica, now managed by Marco Silva, will be one of their biggest challengers.
Meanwhile, Sporting CP are trying to reclaim the title after winning consecutive championships in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Seven European Storylines to Watch
| Storyline | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Mourinho’s Real Madrid return | Can he challenge Barcelona? |
| Lamine Yamal’s rise | Barcelona’s young superstar enters another major season |
| Inter’s title defense | Can the Nerazzurri stay ahead of Serie A’s new-look rivals? |
| Bayern’s dominance | Another Bundesliga title appears within reach |
| PSG’s dynasty | Five straight Ligue 1 titles and two Champions Leagues |
| Salah in Turkey | A new chapter begins after Liverpool |
| Como in Europe | Cesc Fabregas takes the club into the Champions League |
The Biggest Question of the New Season
European football enters 2026-27 with one fascinating theme running through almost every league:
Can anyone stop the dominant teams?
PSG have dominated France.
Bayern remain the team to beat in Germany.
Inter are favorites in Italy.
Barcelona are chasing another Spanish title.
And Porto are attempting to retain their Portuguese crown.
But football rarely follows the script.
Mourinho’s return could completely change the balance in Spain. Amorim could revive AC Milan. Como could surprise Europe. And Salah could turn the Turkish title race into must-watch television.
Key Takeaways
- La Liga begins on August 15 with Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid one of the biggest stories.
- Barcelona remain favorites for another Spanish title.
- Inter Milan are expected to defend their Serie A crown.
- Bayern Munich enter the Bundesliga season as overwhelming favorites.
- PSG are chasing another Ligue 1 title after winning five straight championships.
- Mohamed Salah begins a new chapter with Trabzonspor in Turkey.
- PSV Eindhoven are targeting a fourth consecutive Eredivisie title.
- Porto are attempting to defend their Primeira Liga crown.
- Como will compete in the Champions League for the first time.
Final Thoughts
The 2026-27 European football season already has plenty of ingredients for another unforgettable campaign.
There are returning legends, ambitious young stars, major managerial changes and clubs attempting to break established dynasties.
The biggest storyline may ultimately be whether the continent’s dominant teams can maintain their grip.
Can Mourinho restore Real Madrid’s balance? Can anyone challenge Bayern? Will Inter remain ahead of Serie A’s changing giants? And can PSG turn domestic dominance into an even longer European dynasty?
With the new season beginning across the continent, the answers are about to unfold.
