Starts: 22 August

Defending champions: Bayern Munich (33 titles)

Teams in Europe: Bayern, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund (Champions League), Freiburg, Stuttgart (Europa League), Mainz (Conference League play-off)

Promoted and relegated: Cologne, Hamburg (promoted), Bochum, Holsten Kiel (relegated)

Biggest summer signings: Luis Diaz (Liverpool to Bayern Munich, £65.5m), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool to Leverkusen, £35m), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven to Leverkusen, £35m), Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland to Dortmund, £27m), Yan Couto (Manchester City to Dortmund, £25.3m), Vini Souza (Sheffield United to Wolfsburg, £13m), Mark Flekken (Brentford to Leverkusen, £8m)

Expert insight, from German football writer Constantin Eckner:

"Bayern Munich are once again the clear favourites to win the Bundesliga. Even though they have struggled to sign new attackers, their squad is still reasonably strong, even with Jamal Musiala missing the first couple of months of the season.

"Borussia Dortmund have the best shot at challenging Bayern and Jobe Bellingham might play a prominent role in their efforts to keep up with the defending champions. The former Sunderland midfielder has all the tools to be the Bundesliga's breakout star.

"Another name to keep in mind is Ibrahim Maza, a 19-year-old attacking midfielder who has just joined Bayer Leverkusen. While still inexperienced, he could turn out to be the rightful successor to Florian Wirtz."

Starts: 23 August

Defending champions: Napoli (four titles)

Teams in Europe: Napoli, Inter Milan, Atalanta, Juventus (Champions League), Roma, Bologna (Europa League), Fiorentina (Conference League play-off)

Promoted and relegated: Cremonese, Pisa, Sassuolo (promoted), Monza, Venezia Empoli (relegated)

Biggest summer signings: Francisco Conceicao (Porto to Juventus, £27.7m), Sam Beukema (Bologna to Napoli, £26.9m), Nico Gonzalez (Fiorentina to Juventus, £24.4m) Noa Lang (PSV Eindhoven to Napoli, £21.6m), Ange-Yoan Bonny (Parma to Inter Milan, £20m), Luis Henrique (Marseille to Inter Milan, £20m), Lloyd Kelly (Newcastle to Juventus, £20m), Jonathan David (Lille to Juventus, free), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City to Napoli, free), Ciro Immobile (Besiktas to Bologna, free), Luka Modric (Real Madrid to AC Milan, free)

Expert insight, from Italian football journalist Daniele Verri:

"The title race looks like it will be a battle between Napoli and Inter.

"The holders are a better side with the arrivals of Kevin De Bruyne, Noa Lang, Lorenzo Lucca, Sam Beukema and Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, who will allow Antonio Conte to rotate without losing quality.

"Keeping Conte in the dugout was the real deal for Napoli, though it won't be easy to compete in both Serie A and the Champions League.

"Inter are still very strong. Hakan Calhanoglu is going to stay and Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman could join too.

"Massimiliano Allegri - and Igli Tare's - AC Milan have left a positive impression this summer. The potential arrivals of Ardon Jashari from Club Brugge and Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus would complete a very competitive squad.

"The same applies for Roma under new boss Gian Piero Gasperini, who have been active in the market, and Juventus, who will be hoping to line up with a deadly attack of Randal Kolo Muani and Jonathan David.

"Meanwhile, Cesc Fabregas' Como have spent 200m euros since last summer after a strong return to Serie A - they are aiming big.

"The players to watch are Napoli's De Bruyne and Milan's Luka Modric - they promise to bring leadership, experience and quality to Serie A. It will be a treat."

Starts: 8 August

Defending champions: PSV Eindhoven (26 titles)

Teams in Europe: PSV, Ajax (Champions League), Feyenoord (Champions League third qualifying round), Go Ahead Eagles (Europa League), Utrecht (Europa League second qualifying round), AZ Alkmaar (Conference League second qualifying round)

Promoted and relegated: Excelsior, Telstar, Volendam (promoted), Almere City, RKC Waalwijk, Willem II (relegated)

Biggest summer signings: Ruben van Bommel (AZ Alkmaar to PSV, £13.7m), Raul Moro (Real Vallecano to Ajax, £9.5m), Sem Steijn (Twente to Feyenoord, £8.7m), Yarek Gasiorowski (Valencia to PSV, £8.5m), Luciano Valente (Groningen to Feyenoord, £6.8m).

Expert insight, from Dutch football journalist Arthur Renard:

"PSV are favourites for the title, building on a strong squad by adding talent like Ruben van Bommel, son of ex-international Mark. They looked strong in a 2–1 pre-season win over Athletic Bilbao.

"Eyes will be on Ajax as well with John Heitinga now in charge. The former Liverpool assistant brought keeper Vitezslav Jaros with him, but might want to add experience after Jordan Henderson's departure.

"It will also be interesting to see how Robin van Persie does in his first full season at Feyenoord, as he has to deal with key departures like Igor Paixao and Antoni Milambo. FC Utrecht could surprise again after finishing fourth last term, while AZ and Twente aim to push into the top three.

"The player to watch is Kees Smit. The AZ midfielder starred at the U19 Euros – named best player and joint-top scorer. A Youth League winner in 2023, Smit stands out for his technical skills and game-reading ability."

Starts: 8 August

Defending champions: Sporting (21 titles)

Teams in Europe: Sporting (Champions League), Benfica (Champions League third qualifying round), Porto (Europa League), Braga (Europa League second qualifying round), Santa Clara (Conference League second qualifying round)

Promoted and relegated: Alverca, Tondela (promoted), Boavista, Farense (relegated)

Biggest summer signings: Richard Rios (Palmeiras to Benfica, £23.4m), Luis Suarez (Almeria to Sporting, £19.2m), Victor Froholdt (Copenhagen to Porto, £17.3m), Borja Sainz (Norwich to Porto, £14.3m), Gabriela Veiga (Al-Alhi to Porto, £13m), Nehuen Perez (Udinese to Porto, £11.5m), Amar Dedic (RB Salzburg to Benfica, £10.4m), Mario Dorgeles (Nordsjaelland to Braga, £9.5m)

Expert insight, from Portuguese football journalist Diogo Pombo:

"It would be easy to say Sporting are the front-runners - they won the last two championships.

"But they sold Viktor Gyokeres, whose goalscoring exploits and physical abilities solved a lot of problems for the team. And the players don't seem a natural fit for the 4-2-3-1 system coach Rui Borges prefers - a shift away from Ruben Amorim's back three, which gave the team its foundation for success.

"Benfica struggled during pre-season to find a creative spark and desperately need a midfielder who can add 'out of the box' ideas to its attacking play.

"So, despite the horrible sensations left last season, FC Porto seems to be the 'grande' that shaped the best plan for this season. In Francisco Farioli they have a sharp up-and-coming coach, ambitious, full of fresh ideas and the one who was able to assemble a team that already shows the most oiled-up dynamics on the pitch.

"The midfield trio of Alan Varela, Victor Froholdt and Gabri Veiga looks the most complementary and sharp among the three main title contenders."

Starts: 15 August

Defending champions: Barcelona (28 titles)

Teams in Europe: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal (Champions League), Real Betis, Celta Vigo (Europa League), Rayo Vallecano (Conference League play-off)

Promoted and relegated: Elche, Levante, Real Oviedo (promoted), Valladolid, Las Palmas, Leganes (relegated)

Biggest summer signings: Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth to Real Madrid, £50m), Alvaro Carreras (Benfica to Real Madrid, £43.2m), Franco Mastantuono (River Plate to Real Madrid, £38.9m), Alex Baena (Villarreal to Atletico Madrid, £36.3m), Joan Garcia (Espanyol to Barcelona, £21.6m), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis to Atletico Madrid, £20.8m), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool to Real Madrid, £8.4m), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United to Barcelona, loan).

Expert insight, from European football journalist Guillem Balague:

"Barring a dramatic changing of the guard, the 2025-26 La Liga trophy will probably be lifted by either Barcelona, Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid - just as it has been for the past 21 campaigns. In that time Barcelona have won 12 titles, Real Madrid seven and Atletico two.

"Real Madrid start as many people's favourites, but did last season as well. Defence has been the main focus with the additions of Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool, central defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth and and left back Alvaro Carreras from Benfica.

"Their most important signing, however, is probably Xabi Alonso who will be hoping to take the club back to the glory days after his huge success at Bayer Leverkusen.

"Aided and abetted by a prodigiously talented academy, Hansi Flick goes for his second title in a row at Barcelona.

"They have been prudent in the transfer market, bringing in goalkeeper Joan Garcia from Espanyol and Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United without having to put their hands into their - these days - shallow pockets.

"Barca need to improve defensively but there will be plenty of goals.

"Last but not least, Atletico - Real Madrid's very noisy neighbour - have made their intentions clear with a very busy transfer window.

"In come midfielder Alex Baena from Villarreal, Slovakia central defender David Hancko from Feyenoord, American midfielder Johnny Cardoso from Real Betis, and Argentine midfielder/winger Thiago Almada from Botafogo.

"If Diego Simeone does not compete for the league and the Champions League until the last few weeks of the season, it will be considered a failure."

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