When Do Europe’s Top Leagues Start – And Who Are the Stars to Watch?

 

The Club World Cup in the United States only finished on 13 July, attention now turns back to the domestic front as Europe's top leagues gear up for the 2025-26 season. The Dutch Eredivisie kicks off on 8 August, followed closely by the Portuguese Primeira Liga and Spain’s La Liga. France’s Ligue 1, Germany’s Bundesliga, and Italy’s Serie A will get underway later in the month. TRENDINGBLOG247 Sport takes a closer look at the six major European leagues, key fixtures, and the players and storylines to follow:


🇫🇷 Ligue 1 – France Season begins: 15 August Defending champions: Paris Saint-Germain (13 titles) European representatives: Champions League: PSG, Marseille, Monaco UCL qualifying: Nice Europa League: Lille, Lyon Conference League: Strasbourg (play-off) Promoted: Lorient, Metz, Paris FC Relegated: Montpellier, Saint-Etienne, Reims Notable signings: Joaquin Panichelli (Strasbourg) – £14.3m Jonathan Rowe (Marseille) – £12.5m Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Marseille) – £11.7m Angel Gomes (Marseille) – Free Eric Dier (Monaco) – Free Olivier Giroud (Lille) – Free Expert insight – Raphael Jucobin: While PSG remain firm title favourites, they are expected to face stronger domestic competition in 2025-26. Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille have reinforced well, notably signing Angel Gomes and Facundo Medina. Monaco bring international flavour with names like Pogba, Dier, and Ansu Fati, while Paris FC will feature in their first top-flight derby with PSG since the 1980s. Strasbourg and Lens could challenge for European places as Lyon and Lille appear weakened.


🇩🇪 Bundesliga – Germany Season begins: 22 August Defending champions: Bayern Munich (33 titles) European representatives: Champions League: Bayern, Leverkusen, Frankfurt, Dortmund Europa League: Freiburg, Stuttgart Conference League: Mainz (play-off) Promoted: Cologne, Hamburg Relegated: Bochum, Holstein Kiel Notable signings: Luis Diaz (Bayern) – £65.5m Jarell Quansah (Leverkusen) – £35m Jobe Bellingham (Dortmund) – £27m Yan Couto (Dortmund) – £25.3m Malik Tillman (Leverkusen) – £35m Expert insight – Constantin Eckner: Despite a quiet summer in attack, Bayern remain the team to beat. Dortmund, spearheaded by emerging talent Jobe Bellingham, are best placed to mount a challenge. Ibrahim Maza, 19, could also emerge as a breakout star for Leverkusen following Florian Wirtz’s departure.


🇮🇹 Serie A – Italy Season begins: 23 August Defending champions: Napoli (4 titles) European representatives: Champions League: Napoli, Inter, Atalanta, Juventus Europa League: Roma, Bologna Conference League: Fiorentina (play-off) Promoted: Cremonese, Pisa, Sassuolo Relegated: Monza, Venezia, Empoli Notable signings: Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli) – Free Luka Modric (AC Milan) – Free Jonathan David (Juventus) – Free Francisco Conceicao (Juventus) – £27.7m Noa Lang (Napoli) – £21.6m Expert insight – Daniele Verri: The title race appears poised between Napoli and Inter. Antonio Conte’s Napoli are reinforced with De Bruyne, Lang, and more. Inter remain formidable, while AC Milan look promising with potential new arrivals like Dusan Vlahovic. Roma, Juventus, and newcomers Como with a €200m transfer spend add further intrigue. De Bruyne and Modric are marquee names to follow.

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🇳🇱 Eredivisie – Netherlands Season begins: 8 August Defending champions: PSV Eindhoven (26 titles) European representatives: Champions League: PSV, Ajax UCL qualifying: Feyenoord Europa League: Go Ahead Eagles, Utrecht Conference League: AZ Alkmaar (second qualifying round) Promoted: Excelsior, Telstar, Volendam Relegated: Almere City, RKC Waalwijk, Willem II Notable signings: Ruben van Bommel (PSV) – £13.7m Raul Moro (Ajax) – £9.5m Sem Steijn (Feyenoord) – £8.7m Yarek Gasiorowski (PSV) – £8.5m Expert insight – Arthur Renard: PSV enter the season as favourites, led by new signing Ruben van Bommel. Ajax, under John Heitinga, look to bounce back, while Feyenoord face a transitional year under Robin van Persie. Utrecht and AZ Alkmaar could disrupt the traditional top three. The player to watch is AZ’s Kees Smit, standout performer at the U19 Euros.


🇵🇹 Primeira Liga – Portugal Season begins: 8 August Defending champions: Sporting CP (21 titles) European representatives: Champions League: Sporting UCL qualifying: Benfica Europa League: Porto, Braga Conference League: Santa Clara (second qualifying round) Promoted: Alverca, Tondela Relegated: Boavista, Farense Notable signings: Richard Rios (Benfica) – £23.4m Luis Suarez (Sporting) – £19.2m Victor Froholdt (Porto) – £17.3m Gabri Veiga (Porto) – £13m Expert insight – Diogo Pombo: Sporting must adapt to life without star striker Viktor Gyokeres. Porto look tactically advanced under coach Francisco Farioli, with a standout midfield trio of Varela, Froholdt and Veiga. Benfica, meanwhile, need more creativity in midfield to reignite their title push.


🇪🇸 La Liga – Spain Season begins: 15 August Defending champions: Barcelona (28 titles) European representatives: Champions League: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico, Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal Europa League: Real Betis, Celta Vigo Conference League: Rayo Vallecano (play-off) Promoted: Elche, Levante, Real Oviedo Relegated: Valladolid, Las Palmas, Leganes Notable signings: Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid) – £50m Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid) – £38.9m Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid) – £36.3m Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan) Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid) – £8.4m Expert insight – Guillem Balague: Real Madrid, led by new boss Xabi Alonso, are favourites following defensive reinforcements and marquee youth additions. Barcelona remain a threat under Hansi Flick, now bolstered by Marcus Rashford. Atletico have been aggressive in the market and, under Diego Simeone, will aim to compete for both La Liga and Champions League glory.

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