La Liga Daily Report - 2026-09-09

Barcelona made a perfect start to their La Liga campaign, winning each of their opening four matches and scoring 17 goals while conceding only two. Their latest league result was a 5-0 victory away to Valencia at Mestalla, following wins over Elche, Athletic Bilbao and Rayo Vallecano. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring against Valencia after six minutes, while Raphinha, Fermín López and other attacking players have also contributed heavily. Valencia remained near the bottom of the table with one point, adding to pressure around the club and its ownership.

The early numbers have raised expectations around Barcelona’s title defence, particularly because the side has combined a high scoring rate with a strong defensive record. Raphinha was reported to have scored six goals in the opening phase of the season, while Yamal had added four in recent matches. The form also created a demanding standard for the squad as it moved into European competition. Barcelona’s ability to maintain that attacking efficiency against stronger opposition is likely to shape the early debate around their prospects domestically and in the Champions League.

Barcelona opened their Champions League campaign with a 5-1 win over Feyenoord on Wednesday. Raphinha scored twice, opening the match after three minutes before adding his second in the 57th minute. Karim Adeyemi also scored for the hosts, while Lamine Yamal and Gabriel Jesus completed the victory after Feyenoord pulled one goal back through Sem Steijn. Yamal supplied the pass for Raphinha’s first goal and later scored from a free-kick, continuing Barcelona’s impressive start across domestic and European football.

Raphinha’s double took his European-season tally to eight goals when combined with his six in La Liga, according to the Associated Press report. His form gave Barcelona a decisive attacking outlet in their first league-phase fixture, while Yamal again played a prominent role in the final-third work. The result also extended the momentum created by the club’s four consecutive league wins. Barcelona’s next challenge will be preserving that fluency as opponents adjust to an attack currently producing goals from several positions rather than relying on one recognised striker.

Real Madrid began their Champions League league-phase campaign with a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday. Kylian Mbappé and Federico Valverde scored for the Spanish side, who secured the win in José Mourinho’s first Champions League match since returning for a second spell as manager. The match was described as an open contest, with 37 shots recorded between the teams and Inter registering 21 attempts away from home. Madrid’s result came after their 1-0 La Liga defeat by Real Betis on September 4.

The victory offered Madrid an important European response after their domestic setback, although the match also underlined the attacking threat they faced from Inter. Mbappé’s opening Champions League goal of the season reinforced his role as the club’s main attacking reference, while Valverde supplied the other decisive contribution. Mourinho’s return to the Bernabéu remains a major storyline around the club, but the immediate significance was practical: Madrid collected three points in a demanding opening fixture and gave themselves an early platform in the expanded league phase.

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal was included among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, securing a third successive nomination before his 20th birthday. According to TVC News, he became the first player to reach three nominations at that age. Yamal was first shortlisted in 2024 at 17, when he also became the youngest player ever nominated. The 19-year-old has continued to feature prominently for Barcelona and Spain, adding four goals during the club’s recent run of matches and scoring in the Champions League win over Feyenoord.

The nomination placed Yamal among the leading individual performers in world football despite his age. His record reflects both sustained production and the speed of his rise from teenage prospect to central Barcelona figure. The 2026 shortlist also included several other players connected with Spanish football, including Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé and Barcelona’s wider group of established stars. Yamal’s third appearance is especially significant because it shows that his recognition has not been a one-season anomaly; he is now a recurring contender while still at the beginning of his senior career.

Málaga were reportedly considering a move for former Manchester United forward Anthony Martial as they searched for attacking reinforcements. The club had collected two points from their first four matches after returning to Spain’s top flight and had scored only once, prompting the board to examine free-agent options after the transfer window closed. Yahoo Sports Canada reported that Málaga were considering an offer involving Martial, who can play as either a winger or forward. The Frenchman has been without a club since terminating his contract with Mexican side Monterrey in June.

Inside Futbol also reported that Martial had been offered to Málaga as an option, while noting that Everton were interested in the 30-year-old. His availability made him a possible short-term solution for a side seeking greater attacking output outside the normal transfer window. Martial’s previous spell at Monterrey was disrupted by injuries and poor form, with the report stating that he made 20 appearances before the contract termination. Any move would therefore represent a calculated attempt by Málaga to add experience while addressing an immediate scoring problem.