So, you’re looking at the Spanish Primera League fixtures and wondering if the computer that generated them was having a mid-life crisis. You aren't alone. Between the weirdly timed Monday night kickoffs and the fact that we have a title race actually worth watching for once, the 2025/26 calendar is a bit of a maze.
Right now, as of mid-January 2026, Barcelona is sitting pretty at the top with 49 points. Real Madrid is breathing down their necks with 45. Honestly, the four-point gap feels smaller when you look at what’s coming up in the next few weeks. If you’re trying to plan your weekends around the TV or, if you're lucky, a trip to Spain, you need to know that the "winter" stretch is where the league is usually won or lost.
The Big Games Coming Up Right Now
We are currently in Matchday 20. Tonight, January 16, Espanyol and Girona are kicking things off in a Catalan derby that’s actually pretty spicy because Espanyol has been surprisingly decent this year. They are sitting in 5th place. Who saw that coming? Not me.
Here is what the immediate schedule looks like for the rest of the weekend:
- Saturday, Jan 17: Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid hosts bottom-dwellers Levante at 3:00 PM. Then you’ve got Mallorca vs. Athletic Bilbao, followed by Osasuna taking on Oviedo. The nightcap is a banger: Real Betis vs. Villarreal at 10:00 PM.
- Sunday, Jan 18: Getafe vs. Valencia starts the day, but everyone is waiting for the late game. Real Sociedad vs. Barcelona at 10:00 PM. That is a massive trap game for Hansi Flick’s side.
- Monday, Jan 19: Elche vs. Sevilla. A bit of a "purist’s only" match, but hey, points are points.
The big one—the one everyone circles in red ink—is the second El Clásico. Mark your calendars for May 10, 2026. It's happening at the Camp Nou. If the current trajectory holds, that match could literally decide the trophy.
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Why the Calendar Is So Messy This Year
La Liga uses an "asymmetrical" calendar. Basically, the order of matches in the second half of the season doesn't mirror the first half. It’s not like "Team A plays Team B in August, so they must play again in January." The Spanish federation shakes the jar.
This is why Real Madrid just played Betis on January 4th and is already looking at a gauntlet of away fixtures in February.
The Xabi Alonso Factor
Real Madrid is in a weird spot. Carlo Ancelotti left to coach Brazil last summer, and Xabi Alonso took the wheel. He’s brought a much more structured, almost "German" feel to their play. But the fixtures haven't been kind. They have to juggle the Champions League (matches against Monaco and Benfica are coming up this month) alongside the domestic grind.
If you look at the Spanish Primera League fixtures for late January, Madrid has to travel to Villarreal on the 25th. That stadium, the Estadio de la Cerámica, is a house of horrors for big teams. Villarreal is currently 3rd in the table. This isn't the "top two" league it used to be.
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The Relegation Scrap
Down at the bottom, things are depressing if you’re a fan of Oviedo or Levante.
Levante has only won three games all season. They are stuck on 14 points.
Real Oviedo is even worse off with 13.
Valencia—once a powerhouse—is sitting in 18th. It’s a genuine crisis at the Mestalla. Their upcoming fixture against Getafe on Sunday is basically a "must-win" or the fans might actually revolt.
How to Actually Follow the Schedule
Look, Google is great, but the official LFP (Liga de Fútbol Profesional) website is the only place that confirms the exact kickoff times more than a few weeks in advance. Television rights in Spain are a nightmare. They often don't announce the specific time slots (Friday night vs. Saturday afternoon) until about 3 or 4 weeks before the game.
Key Dates for the Rest of 2026:
- Madrid Derby: Real Madrid vs. Atlético Madrid on March 21/22. This will be at the Bernabéu.
- The Finale: The season ends on May 24. Real Madrid finishes at home against Athletic Bilbao, while Barcelona will likely be under immense pressure in their final matches.
Don't Fall for the "Paper" Favorites
If you’re betting or just trying to predict results, remember that home-field advantage in Spain is massive. Even a "bad" Sevilla team is a nightmare to play at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. Barcelona’s next few away games—Real Sociedad this Sunday and Elche on February 1st—look easy on paper, but the travel and the hostile crowds always make things weird.
Honestly, the best way to handle the Spanish Primera League fixtures is to check the "Matchday" updates every Monday. That's when the league usually firms up the times for the following month.
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Pro tip: If you're planning to see a game, never book your flights specifically for a Sunday. The game could easily be moved to Saturday or even Friday night for TV. Always give yourself a Friday-to-Monday window.
If you are tracking the title race, keep a close eye on Villarreal. They are the "chaos" element this year. They play both Madrid and Barcelona in the final stretch, and they've already proven they can take points off the giants. The league isn't just a two-horse race anymore, and the schedule reflects that intensity.
Check the live table after the Barcelona game this Sunday. If they drop points in San Sebastián, the gap at the top could vanish by the time we hit February.