A 2025/26 Football Season is upon us, and IT’S ON for the newly promoted clubs in the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A.
Across England, Spain, and Italy, nine ambitious teams are stepping up to the topflight, each with dreams of survival, but all facing the harsh realities of elite competition.
Here’s a look at the challenges and prospects for these clubs as they prepare for the 2025/26 football season, live on SuperSport via DStv and GOtv!
Premier League
For the 2025/26 campaign, Burnley, Leeds United, and Sunderland will try to buck that trend. All three clubs have rich histories and passionate fanbases, but they enter the topflight facing stiff competition, financial disparity, and the tactical sophistication of seasoned Premier League teams. Here’s a closer look at the prospects for each club:
- Burnley: Burnley return to the Premier League just a year after relegation, making them the most recently experienced of the trio. Under the guidance of former manager Vincent Kompany, they previously tried to embrace a possession-based, progressive style, but it failed to deliver survival in 2023/24. Now, they come back with a revised approach under Scott Parker and lessons learnt. However, Burnley’s squad depth and top-flight quality remain concerns. Without significant investment, they may once again lack the firepower and defensive resilience required to consistently grind out points. Parker’s system could also be exposed by more clinical, tactically adaptable Premier League sides. Unless they reinforce both ends of the pitch over the summer, Burnley could struggle to make their stay more than a single season.
- Leeds United: Leeds United’s return is marked by renewed optimism after a turbulent few years. They were dominant in the Championship, and Daniel Farke’s tactical nous has been instrumental in stabilising a club that once seemed in freefall. Leeds also possess Premier League-calibre players like Ethan Ampadu, Patrich Bamford and Wilfried Gnonto, who could thrive given the right platform. But survival will hinge on how well they adapt to the higher intensity and speed of the topflight. Leeds’ previous stint in the Premier League was plagued by defensive lapses and squad imbalances. If those weaknesses re-emerge – and if the club fails to reinforce key areas in the transfer window – they could be dragged into another relegation scrap. Caution and pragmatism will be as vital as flair.
- Sunderland: Sunderland’s return to the Premier League ends an eight-year absence and is perhaps the most romantic story of the three. Under ambitious manager Regis Le Bris, they’ve rebuilt with a focus on youth development and smart recruitment. Their return has energised the club and its large fanbase, but they may face the steepest climb to survival. The step up in quality will be severe, especially for a squad largely composed of young, relatively untested players. While that energy can surprise opponents, lack of experience often gets punished at this level. Sunderland may need to sacrifice some of their attacking idealism to grind out results. Unless they add proven Premier League quality this summer, their survival hopes rest on very thin margins.
La Liga
For the 2025/26 season, Levante, Elche, and Real Oviedo will each be looking to defy the odds. Though each has a proud history and passionate fanbase, they enter a league where the margins for error are razor thin. In recent seasons, at least one promoted side has gone straight back down, and sometimes more. The challenge is clear: adapt quickly or face the drop.
- Levante: Return to La Liga after a three-year absence, and of the three promoted sides, they bring the most top-flight experience in recent memory. The club has a well-established structure and a fanbase used to the demands of first-tier football. That familiarity could serve them well, especially early in the campaign. However, there are question marks over whether Levante’s squad has enough individual quality to compete over a full season. Their promotion was built on solid organisation and consistent performances rather than attacking flair or standout talent. In La Liga, where defensive lapses are punished harshly, that may not be enough. Unless they invest wisely over the summer – particularly in attack – they could find themselves in a familiar relegation dogfight
- Elche: Make an immediate return to La Liga after relegation in 2023–24, and like Levante, they’ll be leaning on recent top-flight experience. The club did well to regroup in the Segunda and secure promotion at the first attempt, showing a level of resilience that bodes well for the challenges ahead. Still, their relegation just two seasons ago highlighted major issues, from squad depth to defensive frailty. If those concerns aren’t properly addressed, they risk repeating the cycle. Elche will need to strike a careful balance between pragmatism and ambition, likely needing to grind out low scoring draws and narrow wins rather than outplay opponents. A strong start to the season will be critical to building the belief needed for survival.
- Real Oviedo: For Real Oviedo, promotion marks the end of a 23-year exile from La Liga – a moment of immense pride for the Asturian club. Their return has been built on a combination of passionate support, patient planning, and tactical discipline. But sentiment won’t win points in the topflight. Of the three promoted teams, Oviedo face the steepest challenge. Their squad lacks La Liga experience, and while their tactical setup proved effective in the Segunda, the pace and precision of La Liga may expose limitations. Their survival could depend on a few key summer signings, particularly in defence and up front. Without serious reinforcement, they’ll be underdogs from day one.
Serie A
For 2025/26, Sassuolo, Pisa, and Cremonese take the step up, each with different stories and expectations. Sassuolo bring recent Serie A experience, Pisa arrive with tactical cohesion and a long-awaited return, and Cremonese are back once more to prove they belong. But all three clubs enter a league where the margins are tight, and where survival is not guaranteed, even for well-run sides.
- Sassuolo: Sassuolo are no strangers to Serie A. After spending a decade in the topflight before relegation in 2023–24, they make an immediate return and are arguably the most prepared of the promoted trio. With a stable financial setup, a strong youth system, and recent top-tier pedigree, they’ll hope to avoid becoming a yo-yo club. Still, their last relegation exposed real vulnerabilities defensive softness and an overreliance on individual brilliance. The challenge now is whether Sassuolo have truly addressed those issues or simply outclassed weaker opposition in Serie B. Reinforcements will be necessary, especially in defence and midfield, where physicality and pace are vital in Serie A. If they can retain core talents and add steel, Sassuolo should have enough to survive – but it won’t be comfortable.
- Pisa: Pisa’s promotion marks a historic return to Serie A after more than three decades away. Under a progressive manager (Filippo Inzaghi, who has since vacated his post) and with a solid tactical identity, Pisa impressed in Serie B with compact defending and quick transitions. The club has been steadily building for this moment, and their fanbase is eager to see top-flight football return to the Arena Garibaldi. However, history is not on their side. Clubs with little recent top-tier experience often struggle with the intensity, technical demands, and week-to-week pressure of Serie A. Pisa’s squad will need significant reinforcement to be competitive – especially up front, where goals will be hard to come by. If the club doesn’t spend wisely, their dream return could become a short-lived experience.
- Cremonese: Cremonese are back for their second attempt in recent years to stay in Serie A after an initial promotion in 2022. Their previous spell was short-lived, marked by spirited performances but ultimately not enough quality to stay up. This time, the club seems more prepared, with a better-defined identity and some holdover players who’ve learned from past mistakes. Yet the challenges remain daunting. They were excellent in Serie B, but in Serie A, defensive lapses and lack of cutting edge are ruthlessly punished. To avoid another immediate return to the second tier, Cremonese must build depth and experience into their squad. Their margin for error will be razor-thin, especially in a league that increasingly rewards tactical nuance and squad depth.
A Shared Battle for Survival
Across all three leagues, the story is the same: promotion is a triumph, but survival is the real test. Whether it’s the tactical demands of La Liga, the physicality of the Premier League, or the strategic nuance of Serie A, the promoted clubs must adapt fast, invest wisely, and learn from past failures. History suggests that at least one team from each league will go straight back down. But with the right mix of pragmatism, talent, and resilience, these nine clubs have a chance to defy the odds and write their own survival stories.
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