When Europe’s top leagues and competitions return

With the FIFA World Cup now behind them, Europe’s footballing giants are ready to turn their attention back to the domestic game. The continent’s top five leagues are set to return one after another, with La Liga leading the way on August 15. The Premier League and Ligue 1 follow before Serie A joins the action, while the Bundesliga completes the return of the big five at the end of the month. Before the league campaigns settle into their familiar rhythm, traditional curtain-raisers will offer the first taste of silverware for the new season.

La Liga

League starts: August 15 (11:30pm Bangladesh time)

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Defending champions: Barcelona

Supercopa de Espana: January 2027

Spain will be the first of Europe’s big five leagues to return, with the new La Liga season beginning on August 15 with Alaves hosting Getafe at 11:30pm Bangladesh time.

Barcelona enter the campaign as defending champions. Their opening fixture against Athletic Bilbao, however, has been postponed until August 27 because of the number of players involved in the World Cup. The Spanish Super Cup, or Supercopa de España, is scheduled for January 2027.

Premier League

League starts: August 22 (1:00am Bangladesh time)

Defending champions: Arsenal

Community Shield: August 16 (8:00pm Bangladesh time)

The Premier League follows, with defending champions Arsenal opening their title defence against newly promoted Coventry City on 22 August at 1 am Bangladesh time.

Five days earlier, Arsenal will face Manchester City in the Community Shield at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. The traditional curtain-raiser is scheduled for 8:00pm Bangladesh time.

Ligue 1

League starts: August 22 (12:45am Bangladesh time)

Defending champions: Paris Saint-Germain

Trophée des Champions: August 17 (12:45am Bangladesh time)

France’s Ligue 1 actually gets underway on August 22, with Marseille hosting Strasbourg at 12:45am Bangladesh time. PSG, meanwhile, begin their title defence at home against Rennes on August 24 at 12:45am.

Before the league campaign, PSG will face Lens in the Trophée des Champions on August 17. The match kicks off at 12:45am.

Serie A

League starts: August 22, (10:30pm Bangladesh time)

Defending champions: Inter Milan

Supercoppa Italiana: January 2027

Italy’s Serie A begins on August 22, with the first two matches, Inter Milan against Monza and Udinese against Como, kicking off simultaneously at 10:30pm Bangladesh time.

Inter enter the new campaign as defending champions. The Supercoppa Italiana, however, is scheduled for January 2027 and will therefore not serve as the league’s opening curtain-raiser.

Bundesliga

League starts: August 29 (12:30am Bangladesh time)

Defending champions: Bayern Munich

DFL-Supercup: August 23 (12:30am Bangladesh time)

Germany will be the last of Europe’s top five leagues to return, with Bayern Munich opening the Bundesliga season at home to VfB Stuttgart on August 29. The match is scheduled for 12:30am Bangladesh time.

Bayern will defend their Bundesliga crown, while the DFL-Supercup will provide the first competitive action of the German season on August 23. Bayern, who won both the Bundesliga and DFB Cup last season, will face runners-up Borussia Dortmund at 12:30am Bangladesh time.

UEFA Super Cup

Match date: August 13 (1:00am Bangladesh time)

Matchup: Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa

Before the major European league phases get fully underway, the traditional European curtain-raiser will see the continent's heavyweights collide. The 2026 UEFA Super Cup is scheduled for August 13 with a 1:00am kickoff. The match, held at the Red Bull Arena in Austria, will see defending Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain take on Europa League holders Aston Villa for the first continental silverware of the season.

UEFA Champions League

League phase start: September 8-10

Defending champions: Paris Saint-Germain

The revamped UEFA Champions League returns to action shortly after the first international break of the season. The expanded league phase will begin on September 8 and run through September 10 for a packed Matchday 1 calendar. Paris Saint-Germain enter the 2026-27 campaign as the defending champions and the team to beat in Europe's premier club competition.

UEFA Europa League

League phase start: September 16-17

Defending champions: Aston Villa

Following the Champions League, the UEFA Europa League will kick off its own league phase the following week. Matchday 1 fixtures are scheduled to be played across September 16 and September 17.