MADRID, 16 (EUROPA PRESS)
Athletic Club kicks off the 2025-26 LaLiga EA Sports season at San Mamés this Sunday (7:30 p.m.), hoping to build on last season's strong performance against Sevilla FC, who are starting the Matías Almeyda era. The first matchday sees RC Celta host Getafe CF (5:00 p.m.), the very rival they secured their return to Europe against last season.
Ernesto Valverde's team's fourth-place finish, behind only Barça, Real Madrid, and Atlético Madrid in the table, will allow them to compete in the Champions League this season. Combining LaLiga with the top continental competition will be a major challenge for the Lions, who are aiming to secure two consecutive Champions League qualifications for the first time since 1985.
To achieve this, they will be able to continue counting on one of their key attacking players, Nico Williams, who resisted the siren call of Barça and will once again lead a project that includes players like Robert Navarro and Jesús Areso. Unai Álvarez's doping ban is also added this Sunday to the injured Unai Egiluz, Oihan Sancet, Unai Gómez, and Beñat Prados.
Meanwhile, Sevilla is making its debut under Argentine manager Matías Almeyda, hoping to put aside the difficulties that plagued it last season, when the club's sporting problems were compounded by a turbulent institutional situation. Nor are they left without financial difficulties this season, which have only allowed them to strengthen with Gabriel Suazo and Alfon González, and which have left up to ten players unregistered.
Furthermore, the departures of Juanlu Sánchez and Loïc Badé appear to be on track, forcing the Nervion team to seek reinforcements. In addition to those not registered, Ramón Martínez, Joan Jordán, and Tanguy Nianzou will be out in Bilbao due to injury, while Ruben Vargas is doubtful.
At ABANCA Balaídos, where the European anthem will once again be played eight years later with the team's entry into the Conference League, Celta hopes to kick off this exciting season in the best possible way against Getafe, and to do so, they need to guarantee their solid home form.
Despite the departure of one of their most promising players, Fer López, Claudio Giráldez's team has managed to secure Borja Iglesias's future, making the loan from Real Betis a permanent deal. The signings of Ferran Jutglà and Bryan Zaragoza also excite the club's fans.
Opposite them, José Bordalás's team begins another year in which they hope to suffer less than last season, when they were flirting with relegation until the final days. With the arrivals of players like Davinchi, Yvan Neyou, Javi Muñoz, Álex Sancris, Adrián Liso, and Kiko Femenía, the Azulones are looking to take another step forward.
The Galicians and Madrid players will face each other again after facing each other precisely on the last day of last season, a duel at the Coliseum in which Celta, who won both matches that season against Getafe, secured their presence in the Conference with goals from Borja Iglesias and Iago Aspas (1-2).
–SUNDAY PROGRAM ON LALIGA EA SPORTS.
RC Celta – Getafe CF 17.00.
Athletic Club – Sevilla FC 7:30 p.m.
RCD Espanyol – Atlético de Madrid. 9:30 p.m.
