Archive · 8 Oct 2026
La Liga Returns Amid Injury and Fatigue Concerns
La Liga football starts again on Friday after players spent almost three weeks playing for their countries.
Some players have returned injured, and others may be tired.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are among the teams checking whether important players can play.
Atletico Madrid and Athletic Club also have injury problems.
Rayo Vallecano will play at its renovated home stadium for the first time this season.
Valencia has a new coach, Javier Aguirre, who makes his debut on Sunday.
The matches continue through Monday, when Levante hosts Sevilla.
La Liga resumes Friday after a nearly three-week international break, with clubs assessing player fitness and fatigue.
Barcelona faces doubts over Raphinha and Eric Garcia, while coach Hansi Flick must decide whether Lamine Yamal should start.
Real Madrid could be without Kylian Mbappe against Villarreal after his knee injury recurred during the international break.
Atletico Madrid has injury doubts over Alex Grimaldo and Pablo Barrios; Athletic Club will be without injured winger Nico Williams.
Valencia coach Javier Aguirre makes his debut against Racing Santander on Sunday, with four players listed as injury concerns.
- Who
- La Liga clubs and players returning from international duty, including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Valencia.
- What
- The league resumes with a round of matches amid injury concerns and possible player fatigue.
- When
- The round begins Friday after an almost three-week international break and concludes Monday.
- Where
- Matches are being played at venues across Spain, including Rayo Vallecano's Vallecas Stadium and El Sardinero.
- Why
- The competition is restarting after the international break, leaving clubs to manage players' injuries and workload.
Fixture and player concerns
Club plans and opportunities
Managing returning players
Fixture and player concerns
Several clubs face injury doubts or possible fatigue after players spent nearly three weeks on international duty.
Club plans and opportunities
Coaches must decide which players are fit to feature, while some clubs may welcome players back; Espanyol could have Javi Puado on the bench.
Valencia's new coach
Fixture and player concerns
Javier Aguirre faces injury concerns over Arnaut Danjuma, Umar Sadiq, Luis Rioja and Diego Lopez.
Club plans and opportunities
Aguirre has had nearly three weeks to work with the squad and is looking to organise a more compact side.
- Competition restart
- Friday, following a lengthy international break
- Break duration
- Nearly three weeks
- Opening match
- Malaga hosts Espanyol
- Barcelona fixture
- Barcelona hosts Getafe
- Real Madrid fixture
- Real Madrid hosts Villarreal
- Rayo Vallecano fixture
- Rayo Vallecano hosts Athletic Club at Vallecas Stadium
- Final fixture
- Levante hosts Sevilla on Monday
- Valencia coach
- Javier Aguirre makes his coaching debut against Racing Santander on Sunday