Scoreline

The 2025-26 La Liga season is here, as Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are fighting to retake the division crown from Barcelona.

In response, club president Florentino Perez hired Alonso and sanctioned around €180million (£155m; $210.5m) to be spent on new players, including defenders Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras and Trent Alexander-Arnold, along with exciting young Argentine playmaker Franco Mastantuono.

This article was originally published on www.si.com as The Bernabeu Beckons: Real Madrid Enter New Era Determined to Erase Summer Failure. Only 41 days stand between Real Madrid’s FIFA Club World Cup exit and the start of their 2025–26 La Liga campaign.

Our Real Madrid writers guide you through the biggest talking points at the Spanish club, in a new weekly series

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe scored 31 La Liga goals in the 2024-25 La Liga season, but did not register a goal against two teams.

Despite just arriving at the club, Franco Mastantuono already brings excitement to Real Madrid fans. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder arrives this summer after impressive performances with River Plate. Mastantuono is one of the best talents from South America.