What has been going on in LALIGA this past week? Here are 10 of the top stories, from the final transfers of the summer to the group stage draws of LALIGA's European representatives.
The past week was a particularly busy one for Spanish clubs, as the summer transfer window reached its conclusion, as the group stage draws for the Champions League and Europa League took place and as Matchday 4 of LALIGA EA SPORTS produced some incredible drama and wonderful goals. The main headlines are summarised below.
Real Madrid return home and Bellingham is the hero
Real Madrid returned to the Bernabéu for the first time this season on Saturday, playing under the redeveloped stadium's impressive closed roof when they hosted Getafe CF. Los Azulones made life difficult for Real Madrid and the scoreline was locked at 1-1 until a 95th winner from Jude Bellingham made it a 2-1 victory for Los Blancos. That was the summer signing's first goal in front of his new fanbase and his fifth in total in LALIGA EA SPORTS.
The Catalan clubs are keeping pace with Real Madrid
Having taken 12 points from a possible 12, Real Madrid lead the way in LALIGA EA SPORTS as we enter the September international break, but they're being closely followed by the competition's two Catalan clubs: Girona FC and FC Barcelona. Both these sides are on 10 points thanks to late victories on Sunday, as new signing Portu struck for Girona FC to defeat UD Las Palmas 1-0, while Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty for Barça to take a 2-1 win at CA Osasuna.
Kubo makes history as Real Sociedad secure their first win
Real Sociedad achieved their first victory of the season by overcoming Granada CF 5-3 at home on Saturday, and it was Takefusa Kubo who led the Basque side during that festival of goals. The 22-year-old netted La Real's first two goals of the game, to mean he now has 18 goals in his LALIGA EA SPORTS career, which is now the most of any Japanese player in the history of the competition.
Bellingham is already a LALIGA EA SPORTS Player of the Month
So impressive has Bellingham been to start this new season that the Englishman was the winner of the LALIGA EA SPORTS August Player of the Month prize, which was announced this past week. He scored four goals across his three matches played in August, and now has one in his first fixture of September too.
A busy Deadline Day for FC Barcelona
Friday was the final day of the summer transfer market for LALIGA EA SPORTS clubs, and FC Barcelona completed a lot of business late on. Not only did Barça bring in João Cancelo and João Félix to add extra creativity to Xavi's squad, but they also completed a pair of departures as Eric García signed with Girona FC and Ez Abde joined Real Betis.
The LALIGA EA SPORTS clubs have finalised their squads
It wasn't just FC Barcelona who were busy on Deadline Day. Among the other last-minute deals in Spain that stood out, there was goalkeeper Vicente Guaita's arrival at RC Celta, centre-back César Montes' transfer to UD Almería, striker Mariano Díaz's signing at Sevilla FC, left-back Álvaro Fernandez's move to Granada CF and right-back Álvaro Odriozola's return to boyhood club Real Sociedad.
Fermín López extends his contract to 2027
As well as transfers, there was also an important contract renewal this past week as FC Barcelona extended Fermín López's deal at the Catalan club to 2027. The 20-year-old was one of the stars of Barça's pre-season and has now committed his future to the club.
Spain's five Champions League teams learn their fate
The 2023/24 Champions League group stage features five LALIGA EA SPORTS teams, more than from any other league. The draw was held this past week, so we now know that Sevilla FC have been paired with Arsenal, PSV and Lens, that Real Madrid will face Napoli, Braga and Union Berlin, that FC Barcelona will meet Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and Antwerp, that Atlético de Madrid will come up against Feyenoord, Lazio and Celtic, and that Real Sociedad will battle against Benfica, Inter and Salzburg.
Villarreal CF and Real Betis feature in the Europa League draw
Meanwhile, Villarreal CF and Real Betis were present in the Europa League group stage draw, also held this past week. In the case of Villarreal CF, they were placed in a group with Rennes, Maccabi Haifa and Panathinaikos. As for Los Verdiblancos, they'll come up against Rangers, Sparta Prague and Aris Limassol over the coming months.
Eight LALIGA clubs have players in the latest Spain squad
The latest Spanish national team squad was revealed this past week too, ahead of the September fixtures La Roja will play for Euro 2024 qualification. It is a squad rooted in LALIGA EA SPORTS, with eight different clubs having at least one representative. Those clubs are Athletic Club, Atlético de Madrid, CA Osasuna, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, Valencia CF and Villarreal CF, while one of the players called up for the first time is Barça's 16-year-old talent Lamine Yamal.
