The new Spanish soccer season officially kicks off this Friday, with Girona vs Rayo Vallecano and Villarreal vs Real Oviedo opening the 2025–26 La Liga campaign. With that in mind, World Soccer Talk consulted ChatGPT to simulate the full season—and it anticipates a fierce race between Kylian Mbappe’s Real Madrid and Lamine Yamal’s Barcelona.
According to the AI, the favorites to win the title are Barcelona. The Catalan side comes into the season as reigning champions and not only retained head coach Hansi Flick and the core of their roster but also added major reinforcements, including Marcus Rashford.
That, combined with the continued development of rising stars like Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Gavi, Pau Cubarsi, and Fermin Lopez, gives Los Blaugranas a strong chance of winning their 29th league title.
ChatGPT projects Barcelona to finish atop the standings with 81 points, narrowly edging out Real Madrid, who are predicted to finish second with 78. That would mark a second straight season in which Los Blancos fall short of their eternal rivals, which would be a tough blow for new head coach Xabi Alonso.
What does the AI say about the Real Madrid vs Barcelona matchups?
In a league where the title race is often decided by a few points, the two Clasicos can carry massive weight in shaping the final outcome. According to ChatGPT, Barcelona will come out on top in the head-to-head matchups, which ultimately makes the difference in the title race.
In the first Clasico of the season—Matchday 10 at the Santiago Bernabeu in late October—Los Blaugranas are projected to claim a thrilling 3–2 away win. In the return fixture, expected to be played in Catalonia around May 10, 2026, Real Madrid won’t manage to take revenge, instead settling for a draw.
Yamal or Mbappe—who will shine brighter in 2025–26?
Beyond team results, Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal are expected to deliver an electrifying battle for La Liga’s spotlight. According to AI projections, the French striker is the clear favorite to win the Golden Boot with an estimated total between 30 and 35 goals.
Yamal’s goal tally is projected to be slightly lower, with 20 to 25 goals expected over the course of the season. However, the young Spanish winger is forecasted to lead La Liga in assists, with more than 20—double Mbappe’s estimated total of around 10.
Other La Liga 2025–26 predictions
With Barcelona crowned champions and Real Madrid finishing as runners-up, ChatGPT predicts Atletico Madrid will claim third place, while Villarreal will round out the top four and secure the final UEFA Champions League spot.
Athletic Club are expected to qualify for the UEFA Europa League, and Real Betis are set to earn a place in the UEFA Conference League. As for relegation, the AI forecasts that Real Oviedo, Elche, and Levante will be the three clubs to drop to the second division.