La Liga Pre-Season Friendlies: Why Unbeaten Streaks Hide Flaws

The upcoming 2026-2027 La Liga campaign kicks off on August 16, and summer exhibition matches are already skewing public expectations. Fans often take these pre-season scorelines at face value, assuming a flawless record guarantees domestic dominance. Here at Jiliace, we look past the surface-level results to examine the tactical shifts and glaring vulnerabilities taking shape in the training camps of Spain's biggest clubs.

The Illusion of Invincibility

Real Madrid maintained an unbeaten streak through a portion of their US tour, capped by a 2-1 victory over Chelsea on August 6, 2024, at Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina. Prior to that, they were tested by AC Milan, falling 1-0 at Soldier Field on July 31. On paper, their busy transfer activity looks like a flawless preparation. Management secured Yan Diomandé for over €125 million to stretch the right wing, adding defensive steel with Marc Cucurella, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Denzel Dumfries.

In reality, deep imbalances threaten their cohesion. The midfield lacks reliable ball distribution, a flaw that became evident even against lesser opposition. Even with Bernardo Silva arriving, the expected departure of Rodri to rivals Barcelona leaves a gaping hole in their transition game. Pre-season success often masks the lack of a proper anchor, and that structural weakness is something top-tier opponents will immediately exploit.

False Positives and Promising Shifts

Barcelona’s summer results might look shaky to casual observers, but context completely changes the narrative. They played to a 2-2 draw with Manchester City on July 30 in Orlando before winning 4-1 on penalties. They suffered another 2-2 draw with AC Milan in Baltimore on August 6, ultimately losing that shootout 4-3. More notably, Arsenal defeated the Catalan side 5-3 in a high-scoring summer friendly. However, Barcelona secured a decisive 2-1 victory against Real Madrid at MetLife Stadium on August 3.

These scorelines reflect a squad actively testing younger academy prospects rather than a team in crisis. The departure of Ferran Torres forced tactical shifts, but bringing in Anthony Gordon and Dani Olmo provides them with dynamic options to operate effectively as a false nine. If the persistent rumors of Rodri joining the defending champions materialize, this squad is positioned to dominate defensively without a lengthy adjustment period.

Rebuilding Behind the Leaders

Down the road, Atletico Madrid is attempting to reinvent its midfield engine with Lee Kang-in and Morten Hjulmand. Their mixed 2-2 split in recent games—which saw them surrender leads against Premier League heavyweights—exposes a lack of elite central control compared to the top two title contenders.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Spanish flight enjoyed a highly productive matchday on July 29, 2026. Real Betis routed Lyon 4-0, Athletic Club dispatched Racing Santander 3-0, and Villarreal took down Al Ula 3-0 before later drawing 1-1 with Como (winning the ensuing shootout 3-1). Osasuna secured a 2-1 victory over Ipswich Town, and Burnley managed to edge past La Liga side Espanyol 2-1 on the same afternoon, proving the middle of the table is quietly sharpening its competitive edge.