La Liga Daily Report - 2026-09-11

Barcelona’s 2025-26 accounts showed revenues exceeding €1 billion, making the club only the second in football history to reach that mark after Real Madrid. Despite that income, the Catalan club recorded a post-tax loss of €17.8 million. The accounts, obtained ahead of their approval by members on 19 September, also showed that the remodelling of Camp Nou remained unfinished while the club’s debts continued to increase. Barcelona nevertheless secured a second successive La Liga title in May, beating Real Madrid 2-0 in the decisive Clásico, and retained the Supercopa de España under Hansi Flick.

LaLiga’s newly published squad-cost limits offered a more positive short-term picture, with Barcelona’s spending capacity rising from €432 million to €582 million. Real Madrid remained well ahead on €832 million, but the increase suggested that Barcelona’s financial position had improved sufficiently to create greater room for squad planning. The contrast between stronger permitted spending and another annual loss underlined the club’s continuing financial complexity. President Joan Laporta, re-elected in March, now faces the task of balancing sporting competitiveness with the Camp Nou project, debt obligations and the need to restore sustainable profitability.

Raúl Asencio was included in Real Madrid’s squad for Saturday’s La Liga visit to Rayo Vallecano after spending roughly a month and a half sidelined. The defender first suffered a muscular injury in the rectus femoris and then experienced a further setback involving his shin bone. According to Goal, Asencio had returned to group training in recent days and completed the sessions before the match without problems. He had yet to play under José Mourinho, but his availability gave the manager another central-defensive option during a congested period that included a midweek Champions League fixture against Inter Milan.

Asencio’s return came as Madrid sought a response to last weekend’s 1-0 defeat by Real Betis. The club followed that loss with a narrow Champions League victory over Inter, leaving Mourinho’s side needing greater consistency in domestic competition. Dean Huijsen, another centre-back, said Mourinho had helped him discover his best form and praised the manager’s support and defensive demands. The imminent return of Asencio increased competition in the back line and gave Madrid more depth before a fixture that Huijsen described as difficult, particularly with Rayo presenting another test immediately after European action.

Athletic Club forward Inaki Williams announced his retirement from international football with Ghana on Friday, ending a four-year spell with the Black Stars. The 32-year-old made 28 appearances and scored two goals after switching allegiance from Spain in 2022. Williams represented Ghana at the 2022 and 2026 World Cups and the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. He had previously played once for Spain, but chose to represent his mother’s homeland after visiting Ghana with his younger brother Nico. Williams said he was leaving happy and proud, having given everything whenever he wore the national shirt.

The decision closed an important international chapter while allowing Williams to concentrate fully on Athletic Club during the later stages of his career. He said Ghana had given him more than football by bringing him closer to his roots and allowing him to represent the country. His retirement also leaves Nico, who plays for Spain, as the international representative of the Williams family. For Athletic, the announcement removed the uncertainty surrounding the forward’s international future and should enable a clearer focus on his club responsibilities at San Mamés and beyond.

LaLiga and French streamer Canal+ signed an anti-piracy agreement covering nearly 50 countries on Friday. The partnership applies to markets in Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti where Canal+ broadcasts Spanish football. It will combine the companies’ anti-piracy technology with joint investigations and lobbying work, although no financial terms were disclosed. Canal+ chief executive Maxime Saada said the immediate step would be to bring the two organisations’ teams together. LaLiga president Javier Tebas said the agreement had been months in preparation and was designed to respond more effectively to criminal networks that continually change their methods.

The deal reflected the growing importance of broadcast protection to clubs across Spanish professional football. LaLiga said audiovisual revenue fell 5.2 per cent to €1.43 billion in 2024-25, while commercial income rose to €1.58 billion and became the league’s largest revenue source. Tebas argued that piracy directly affected clubs’ fundamental income stream by undermining the value of television rights. Coordinated enforcement across almost 50 territories gives LaLiga and Canal+ a broader platform for identifying illegal services, pursuing investigations and pressing governments for stronger action.

Atlético Madrid midfielder Lee Kang-in was named the Spanish league’s best-goal winner for August after scoring on his debut for the club. The South Korea international joined Atlético from Paris Saint-Germain before the season and immediately made an impact with a spectacular strike. His arrival followed Antoine Griezmann’s departure to Orlando, with Atlético viewing Lee as a long-term replacement for the French forward. Reports cited by Chosun said the transfer involved a €35 million base fee plus a potential €5 million in add-ons, taking the possible total to €40 million.

The award strengthened the early impression that Lee could become a central attacking figure for Diego Simeone’s side. Atlético invested heavily in the move because the club needed creativity and production after losing Griezmann, and a debut goal offered an encouraging first return on that commitment. Lee’s recognition also increased attention on his adaptation to LaLiga and the expectations attached to his role. His performances will now be judged not only by individual moments but by whether he can consistently contribute to Atlético’s attack across the season.

Elche coach Martín Anselmi defended goalkeeper Matías Dituro before Saturday’s visit to Athletic Club at San Mamés. Dituro had faced scrutiny after several mistakes during Elche’s opening four matches, but Anselmi said the team remained in a construction phase and that it was too early to define its final version. The coach described the week’s training as positive and said the squad was eager to improve. Elche had shown they could compete during spells, yet occasional errors had left them playing from behind and reduced the value of those stronger periods.

Anselmi’s message placed the emphasis on collective improvement rather than singling out the goalkeeper. He called for Elche to remain competitive for the entire match, minimise unforced errors and stay connected to the contest beyond isolated phases. Athletic’s home ground presented a demanding setting, making concentration particularly important for a developing side. The fixture offered Elche an opportunity to convert the progress seen in training and intermittent match spells into a more complete performance, while Dituro’s handling of the pressure remained one of the clearest individual storylines.