Joan Laporta's new term has begun with Real Madrid front and centre. He responded to Florentino Perez's UEFA complaint over the Negreira case by calling it a tantrum and saying Barcelona would not get their way, while the club's 2026/27 league calendar already has two Clasico dates fixed in place.

Laporta's response to Madrid's UEFA complaint

The flashpoint is not subtle. Perez submitted a 500-page dossier to UEFA over the Negreira case, and one of the claims attached to that push was that 14 league titles had been stolen from Real Madrid. Laporta brushed it off in blunt terms, saying, "It is just another tantrum from them, trying to drag this issue out to justify actions that make no sense and will not prosper."

He added: "They are in the ordinary courts and we have been dealing with this matter for a long time. In this matter, we have provided the evidence in the procedure. The opposing parties have not provided anything." That is his position, not a final verdict on the case, but it tells you exactly how confrontational this presidency is likely to be.

Barcelona's 2026/27 calendar already has key dates

The football side is stacked as well. Barcelona open the 2026/27 season at home against Athletic Club, then host Real Madrid on matchday 10 at Spotify Camp Nou. The return Clasico comes on matchday 35 at the Santiago Bernabeu, which means the season is framed early and late by the rivalry.

Barcelona will also host a pre-season friendly against Udinese on 8 August in Udine, Italy. That adds another date to a calendar that already has enough pressure points without the Laporta-Perez row hanging over it.

The recent record gives Laporta some cover. Barcelona have won six of their last seven meetings with Madrid across La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup, scoring 22 goals and conceding 11 in that run. The broader point is simple enough: this presidency is opening with conflict, but it is doing so while Barcelona have the recent Clasico edge and a season schedule that will keep the subject alive all year.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →