La Liga predictions: AI makes pick between Barcelona and Real Madrid

We asked Google Gemini to predict the results of the new La Liga season, with Spain’s domestic soccer campaign kicking off on Saturday, Aug. 15.

Barcelona won its 29th championship last season, the Catalan giants’ second title in a row and third in four years, finishing ahead of rival Real Madrid. The AI tool predicts that Barcelona will win the league yet again in 2026-27, with Real Madrid finishing runner-up, Villarreal in third and Atlético Madrid rounding out the projected top four.

With the exception of Atletico Madrid in 2014 and 2021, Barcelona and Real Madrid have won the league every year dating to 2005. Real Madrid’s 36 top-flight titles are the most of any club in Spain.

Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe has won the golden boot as La Liga’s top scorer in each of his first two seasons in Spain, and Gemini predicts that the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer will claim the award for the third year in a row.

Spain fans pack Cibeles Square in Madrid on July 20, 2026, as they await the arrival of Spain’s players one day after the national football team won their second World Cup title following a 1-0 victory against Argentina. Spain’s World Cup winners come back home to a heroes’ welcome in Madrid, where a million fans are expected to greet them after a night of raucous celebrations across the country.

Spain fans pack Cibeles Square in Madrid on July 20, 2026, as they await the arrival of Spain’s players one day after the national football team won their second World Cup title following a 1-0 victory against Argentina. Spain’s World Cup winners come back home to a heroes’ welcome in Madrid, where a million fans are expected to greet them after a night of raucous celebrations across the country.

Spain’s Mikel Merino, Fabian Ruiz, Rodri and teammates celebrate with the World Cup trophy during the victory parade.

1. Barcelona

2. Real Madrid

3. Villarreal

4. Atlético Madrid

5. Real Betis

6. Celta Vigo

7. Athletic Bilbao

8. Real Sociedad

9. Getafe

10. Valencia

11. Osasuna

12. Sevilla

13. Rayo Vallecano

14. Alavés

15. Las Palmas

16. Espanyol

17. Real Valladolid

18. Racing Santander

19. Deportivo A Coruña

20. Málaga

• Deportivo Alavés vs. Getafe CF – 1:30 p.m. ET

• Sevilla FC vs. Rayo Vallecano – 3:30 p.m. ET

Deportivo Alavés vs. Getafe CF – 1:30 p.m. ET

Sevilla FC vs. Rayo Vallecano – 3:30 p.m. ET

• Real Racing Club vs. Villarreal CF – 11 a.m. ET

• RCD Espanyol vs. Levante UD – 1 p.m. ET

Real Racing Club vs. Villarreal CF – 11 a.m. ET

RCD Espanyol vs. Levante UD – 1 p.m. ET

Deportivo La Coruña vs. Elche CF – 3 p.m. ET

Atlético Madrid vs. Málaga CF – 3 p.m. ET

Real Betis vs. Real Sociedad – 3 p.m. ET

• Athletic Club vs. Sevilla FC – 11 a,m. ET

• Valencia CF vs. RC Celta de Vigo – 1:30 p.m. ET

• RCD Espanyol vs. Real Madrid – 3:30 p.m. ET

Athletic Club vs. Sevilla FC – 11 a,m. ET

Valencia CF vs. RC Celta de Vigo – 1:30 p.m. ET

RCD Espanyol vs. Real Madrid – 3:30 p.m. ET

Elche CF vs. FC Barcelona – 3:30 p.m. ET

CA Osasuna vs. Levante UD – 1:30 p.m. ET