Barcelona enter the 2026-27 season with historic ambitions: to become the first team since Pep Guardiola's 2008-2011 era to win three consecutive La Liga titles. Their dominant record against Real Madrid over the past two seasons, coupled with Spain's 2026 World Cup triumph fueled by young Barcelona players, has laid the groundwork for this quest.
The summer saw Jose Mourinho return as Real Madrid head coach, with the Spanish giants handing the Portuguese tactician a three-year contract. This is widely seen as the biggest challenge to Barcelona's three-peat hopes.
The Camp Nou side have won La Liga 13 times in the last 25 seasons, compared to Real Madrid's seven. However, the all-time title gap remains wide: Real Madrid have 36 league crowns against Barcelona's 29.
Pau Cubarsi – new defensive leader
The departure of Ronald Araujo (to Liverpool) leaves a big void in defense. However, Barcelona place their trust in Pau Cubarsi, a 19-year-old centre-back who showed remarkable maturity at the World Cup. Cubarsi relies on reading the game and intelligent positioning rather than physical power, and is a quintessential La Masia product. He will partner Andreas Christensen at the heart of the backline.
Ferran Torres – Lewandowski's successor
With Robert Lewandowski leaving for Chicago Fire in MLS, Barcelona did not splash out on a big-money striker, instead backing Ferran Torres. The Spanish forward scored 21 goals last season and netted the decisive strike in the World Cup final. Additionally, 18-year-old Egyptian talent Hamza Abdelkarim is expected to serve as backup after joining on loan with an option to buy.
Lamine Yamal and the workload puzzle
Last season's La Liga Player of the Season, Lamine Yamal, is the most important piece. He scored 24 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions but missed 10 La Liga games due to injury, including the final six matches. To ease the burden on Yamal, Barcelona signed Karim Adeyemi from Dortmund, who can operate on either flank or as a central striker.
Sprinter signings: Adeyemi and Gordon
Head coach Hansi Flick not only has Adeyemi but also Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United. Gordon, who scored 17 goals last season, was ranked by CIES Football Observatory as the fastest player in the Champions League. The arrival of these two gives Barcelona extra pace and unpredictability in their familiar possession-based style.
Squad situation
Barcelona enter the season with nearly a full squad. Fermin Lopez and Raphinha have recovered from injuries, and Gavi has also returned after a lengthy layoff. However, Frenkie de Jong is sidelined until November with a knee injury, while Roony Bardghji will miss the entire season. With Wojciech Szczesny (36) the only player over 30, Barcelona's youthful squad is an advantage but also a challenge for coach Flick in managing fitness.
