Understandably, everyone is very excited about the return of Premier League and seeing how their beloved sides will fare this year but there is another league starting this week and it’s the second best in the world in my mind, La Liga.
Last year Atlético Madrid managed to pull off a big surprise by holding off both Barcelona and Real Madrid as they won their first league title since 1996. Diego Simeone is the inspirational coach of Atletico and they did brilliantly to keep hold of him but have lost some key players so it will be very interesting to see how they fare this season and if they can defend the title!
There will be stiff competition from Barca and Real Madrid who finished second and third respectively last year and both sides have bolstered their squads with some serious talent in the transfer window.
I am going to look into how each team look ahead of the new season and predict how the table will look come May. I found it tough to decide where I should start but I think alphabetically is best and fortunately that was how the table ended last year so here we go.
ATLÉTICO MADRID
The second biggest side in the capital were simply outstanding last season and were rightfully rewarded with a league title. Diego Simone took over in 2011 and has been building a fantastic squad, which could not only compete with the two big guns in the league but beat them and it took him only one and a half seasons, whilst winning the UEFA Super Cup in that time too!
In the 2012-2013 season Atlético finished third, but a staggering 24 points behind Barcelona, Simeone knew he had to change that and brought in experience and did with David Villa, Toby Alderweireld and Diego to name a few. The season started unbelievably with eight consecutive victories including an away win at the Bernabeu. There were a plethora of goals too, mainly from Diego Costa who was a revelation all year, banging in no less than 27 goals which was just one shy of the tally compiled by a certain Lionel Messi! Atlético didn’t even hit the top spot until week 22 and that was only for one week but after a 2-0 win against Espanyol in week 29 and a slip from their noisy neighbours, Real Madrid, Atlético hit the top spot and the rest is history.
Enough about last year let’s look forward and see how they will fare this time around. Los Colchoneros, as they are affectionately known, have lost some real class after their success last year and that includes: Costa, Courtois, Villa and Filipe Luis to name a few so this year could well be a transitional one for them. However, Simeone is a shrewd businessman and has recruited brilliantly with Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic being the stand-out acquisitions and they should replace the goals scored by Costa and Villa last year.
The starting side for Atlético is very strong with the Turan, Godin, Koke and Gabi all star players, having said that there is not quite the same depth as the other two contenders enjoy and that will be the difference between the sides in my opinion.
LAST YEAR FINISH – 1ST
THIS YEAR PREDICTION – 3RD
BARCELONA
Barca and their fans will be less than impressed with their efforts last year as they finished second in the league and got knocked out the Champions League by Atlético at the quarter-final stage. Because of these disappointments there has been a managerial change at the Nou Camp and former favourite Luis Enrique has taken over the reins at Barca. Enrique has a lot to live up to as the fans at Barca are used to success and his job has become a hell of a lot harder now he can’t sign a single player until January 2016.
The transfer ban will be an irritation but due to the fact they appealed the ban it was suspended, sneakily allowing them to recruit this transfer market and they did that in a big way. Not only did they sign the brilliant Ivan Rakitic from Sevilla but a certain Luis Suarez is also now plying his trade at the Nou Camp. Suarez can’t play in matches for another month and a bit after a certain biting incident at the World Cup but he is now training with his team mates and I have read he is looking very sharp. What a forward-line it will be with him, Messi and Neymar…are they beatable? Yes, I believe so.
In order to gain the funds to sign Suarez the Catalan giants had to sell some stars and that included Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez, two brilliant players in my opinion. Furthermore, they don’t have an unbelievable defence anymore now the legend that is Carlos Puyol has decided to hang up his boots. The partnership of pique and Bartra hasn’t looked mightily impressive from what I saw last year and the attempts at bolstering the back line was a weak one with Vermaelen and Mathieu being very overpriced and simply not world-class.
Don’t get me wrong I think they will be close, very very close to regaining the La Liga title but I think Enrique is a risky appointment which was made with the heart and not head. Furthermore, Real Madrid have also bought very well this market and if they require more strength in depth in January they can add to their squad, unlike Barca!
LAST YEAR FINISH – 2ND
THIS YEAR PREDICTION – 2ND
REAL MADRID
The Galaticos haven’t been overly busy in this transfer market but they have added more stardom to their already remarkable squad and that is why they will win La Liga this year. Toni Kroos, Keylor Navas and James Rodriguez have all joined Real and will be a big help as they try to win their first league title since 2012. Ancelotti is entering his second season as manager at the Bernabéu and would have learnt a lot after his first campaign. Ancelotti appeared to lose a bit of interest in the league after some poor results toward the end of the season and focused on the Champions League, with great effect as they won illustrious competition.
Real have not only added to their squad but they have not lost any class and that will be important. Ancelotti now knows what resources he has and how to use them effectively. The attacking options at his disposable are nothing short of absurd. The names Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema, Di Maria and Rodriguez install fear in every opponent before a ball is even kicked, and that is a huge advantage for the Italian manager. Madrid scored a staggering 104 goals in just 38 games last season and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see that beaten this season.
You should expect a very fast start from Real as they open their season at home to newly promoted Cordoba and a statement could be made! The big game for them is third up as they take on the holders and more importantly their local rivals, Atlético. I expect a very fiery game and if they win that then it will set them up in great shape for the rest of the campaign. Real have the strongest squad in the league and the world so the double or treble are very much on the cards this year.
LAST YEAR FINISH – 3RD
THIS YEAR PREDICTION – 1ST