The 2024-25 La Liga season, officially named LaLiga EA Sports due to sponsorship, is set to kick off on Thursday, marking the 94th edition of Spain’s top football league. As the new season approaches, excitement and speculation are rife about which team will claim the championship, which clubs will face relegation, and who will secure spots in European competitions.
Defending champions Real Madrid enter the season with high expectations after winning their 36th title last campaign. The season will run from August 15, 2024, to May 25, 2025, with the fixture schedule released on June 18, 2024.
In forecasting the season’s outcomes, much attention has turned to Opta’s supercomputer, which combines market betting odds and Opta Power Rankings to simulate the season thousands of times. This model evaluates both historical and recent performances to predict the final standings.
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According to the supercomputer’s analysis, Real Madrid is heavily favored to defend their title, projected to finish with 89 points. The addition of Kylian Mbappé to their squad plays a crucial role in this prediction, giving Madrid an 86% chance of securing the championship. Barcelona is expected to finish second but will trail significantly, with a predicted total of 76 points.
Atlético Madrid and Girona are forecasted to round out the top four, both earning spots in the Champions League with projected point totals of 69 and 65, respectively. Girona’s strong showing last season has made them a team to watch. Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad are also in the mix, competing for European positions in a fiercely contested race.
The competition for Europa League and Conference League spots is anticipated to be intense, with Villarreal, Real Betis, and Sevilla among the contenders. They will face stiff competition from Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad, as the fifth-placed team secures a Europa League spot and the sixth-placed team qualifies for the Conference League. The margin for error is slim, with four teams expected to finish within ten points of the two available European slots.
On the other hand, clubs like Valencia and Celta Vigo are predicted to struggle, finding themselves closer to the relegation zone than to European qualification. The battle for the fourth Champions League spot will be particularly competitive, with Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad trailing Girona by just three and two points, respectively.
At the bottom of the table, the supercomputer forecasts a challenging season for the newly promoted teams. Leganés, Valladolid, and Espanyol are predicted to occupy the last three positions, with little separation in points among them. These clubs are expected to be closely matched, leading to a tight relegation battle.
Additionally, teams like Las Palmas, Rayo Vallecano, and Getafe are projected to finish just above the relegation zone, potentially facing a tense struggle for survival until the final matchday. According to Opta, these teams are likely to end the season within three points of the relegation line, underscoring the precarious nature of their positions.
Overall, the supercomputer’s predictions suggest a highly competitive season at both ends of the La Liga table. While Real Madrid is expected to dominate, the race for European spots and the battle against relegation will likely create plenty of drama throughout the campaign.
