Defending champions Barcelona will start the defence of their La Liga crown at home to Real Betis over the weekend of August

Spanish League president Javier Tebas said Wednesday he does not consider Lionel Messi to be a criminal and was happy for the Barcelona star to remain in La Liga.

Barcelona vow to support Lionel Messi following his decision to appeal against the 21-month jail sentence handed down to him by a Spanish court after being found guilty of fiscal fraud and believe the verdict is "an attack on his person".

The EU on Monday orders seven Spanish football clubs including Barcelona and Real Madrid to pay back millions of euros (dollars) in illegal state aid.

Croatia and Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has cut short his summer holiday after his villa on a Croatian island was attacked, local media reports.

Neymar will stay with Barcelona after signing a five-year contract, the club have announced.

Brazilian international defender Dani Alves owes 1.3 million euros in unpaid taxes the Spanish authorities disclosed on Thursday.

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone, a month on from a second Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in three years, has made it clear that his immediate future is with the Spanish club.

Argentina football star Lionel Messi says he trusted his father with his finances and "knew nothing" about how his wealth was managed as he took the stand at his tax fraud trial.

On the eve of his second Champions League final since joining Real Madrid, Welsh star Gareth Bale admitted he is more at home with the fame and demands at the world's richest club.

A Spanish judge on Friday overturns a controversial ban on Barcelona fans flying Catalan separatist flags at Sunday's Copa del Rey final against Sevilla in Madrid.

Barcelona agreed a "long-term" contract extension with American sportswear giants Nike on Saturday, which will reportedly see the Catalan club surpass Manchester United with the most lucrative kit-sponsorship deal in the world.

Defender Gerard Pique praised Barcelona's resilience after they ended an emotion-filled season by clinching top spot in La Liga with a 3-0 victory at Granada on Saturday.

The Uruguayan forward also became the winner of Pichichi award, by scoring 40 La Liga goals, as Barcelona sealed their 24th La Liga title holding off Real Madrid's late-season surge.

Players of La Liga strugglers Rayo Vallecano vehemently deny any wrongdoing on Friday amid an investigation from the Spanish league into suspicious betting patterns before their 2-1 defeat to Real Sociedad last weekend.

So it all comes down to this. With just one round remaining in La Liga, a single point separates Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top of the table. Everything will be decided on a spectacular Saturday evening - and the build-up in Spain is already intense.

Barcelona will play friendlies against newly-crowned English Premier League champions Leicester and Liverpool in August, the Spanish giants announced Monday.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane insists he believes his side can snatch the La Liga title away from Barcelona in a dramatic final day showdown on Saturday.

Barcelona came ready to play on Sunday with plenty at stake in the race for the La Liga title in these next two weeks, reports CBSsports.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique insisted his side won't be distracted by local rivals Espanyol's desire to destroy their La Liga title chances in the Catalan derby on Sunday.