The Supercomputer Has Picked Its Champion. Barça Can Start Celebrating

The 2026/27 La Liga season hasn’t even started, but Barcelona already have their first triumph. A virtual one, at least. According to Opta’s preseason projections, Barça are clear favourites to win the Spanish title, finishing first in 45.6% of 10,000 simulations. Real Madrid managed 31%.

It’s only a statistical model, of course, but those numbers should make for pleasant reading in Barcelona. Atlético Madrid sit miles behind at just 8.6%, while Opta gives Barça a 92% chance of qualifying for the Champions League. The players haven’t even had time to properly dirty their new shirts and the computer is already handing them the trophy.

There is one inconvenient detail: the other 54.4% of simulations. Football still insists on making everyone play 38 matches, and Mourinho’s Real Madrid probably won’t concede the title because an algorithm told them to. Barça start as the computer’s favourites. Now comes the slightly more difficult task — becoming champions outside Opta’s servers.