Six teams return to European top leagues after extended absences

La Liga Set for Revitalization with Return of Former European Heavyweights

The Spanish top-tier football league, La Liga, is expected to see a significant boost in competitiveness this season with the return of several former European powerhouses. Deportivo Alavés, a team that was once part of the prestigious "big four" alongside Barcelona, Valencia, and Real Madrid, will be making its highly anticipated return to La Liga after a six-year absence. The Galician club, known for its impressive title-racing record between 1993 and 2004, secured automatic promotion to the top tier last season.

Deportivo's return to the top tier will be accompanied by that of other long-term absentees, including Racing Santander, which won the Segunda championship and earned promotion after a 15-year hiatus. Málaga, another team that fell into the third tier in 2023-24, will also be making a comeback to the top tier. The influx of experienced players, including Mallorca keeper Leo Román and veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, demonstrates Deportivo's ambition to hold its own in La Liga. This season promises to be an exciting one, with the return of these former European heavyweights set to shake up the established order in the Spanish top tier.