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The Preamble
Seems like the 2010-11 it was yesterday when FC Barcelona drew 1-1 at Levante to seal a 3rd consecutive Spanish league title. Here we are just a few weeks away from the kick-off of a new season, the 81st edition of the Spanish Primera División aka 'La Liga'. This is a very important year for this league. There are a lot of clubs in financial distress. The players union is threatening to go on strike over unpaid wages. There is simmering discontent over the lopsided TV deal heavily loaded in favour of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. It promises to be another roller coaster season full of twists and turns along with some fabulous football.
For a league where only two teams are in the title race from match day 1 (as the title suggests), there is more drama and excitement around the title race than one would expect. It is provided by the encounters between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, the vicious and cynical media machines spewing bile from both sides and the petulant fans from both sides pouring gasoline on a burning stove. And if you thought you had enough of the 'Clasico's last season, the season starts with two more of them, the two legs of the Spanish Super Cup.
With that backdrop, let me set you up for the season with a quick preview.
The Offseason
This offseason has been dominated by three major themes.
- Protracted transfer sagas of Alexis Sanchez, Kun Aguero, Neymar and Cesc Fabregas.
- Project Málaga
- Financial trouble at the majority of the clubs
Barcelona has signed Chilean forward/winger Alexis Sanchez from Udinese after almost two months of negotiations. It appeared like Real Madrid would land Kun Aguero after he forced his way out Atlético Madrid but he ended up at Manchester City. Real Madrid pursued Neymar with a lot of determination but the Brazilian phenom looks set to continue at Santos at least until the January transfer window. The Cesc Fabregas saga has been running for three summers now and it might finally be over this summer. Barcelona is using brinkmanship tactics to get the player for as less as possible and Arsenal hasn’t budged so far. But according to various media outlets, the deal might be close.
Málaga have been the most active La Liga team in the transfer market. They have made some intelligent signings in Toulalan, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Mathijsen, Nacho Monreal, Isco Alarcon, and Joaquin and topped their summer by signing Santi Cazorla from Villarreal. They pursued him all summer as their star-signing. They have strengthened their team by spending about 60million euros on 8 players. Coach Manuel Pellegrini has one of the deepest squads in La Liga heading into the season.
While Málaga has been on a spending spree thanks to the financial muscle of their new owner Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani, a lot of the other teams are in deep financial strife. Newly promoted Rayo Vallecano and Real Betis are in administration. So are Racing and Zaragoza. The rest aren’t much better off either. Teams like Villarreal and Atlético have had to sell one of their stars to raise money for new signings. The financial crisis has a debilitating on a lot of teams in La Liga as well as the Liga Adelante (2nd division). Spain has by far the most clubs in administration (in the top two divisions) than any other league in Europe. However, I do expect teams to make a few more signings using some creative deals involving players, deferred payments etc.
The Season
Approximately two weeks away from the season kick-off on Aug 20/21, the season promises to be a very good one. The two-legged Super Cup between Barcelona and Real Madrid will raise the curtain on the season, rather fittingly. There is little doubt that one of these two giants will be the eventual league champion.
Real Madrid has added the talented midfielder Nuri Sahin and the Portuguese international left-back Fabio Coentrão to a strong squad. They are still in the market for a striker and despite the setbacks of not landing Kun Aguero or Neymar, have the depth to compete in all the three competitions. Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema have been in mid-season form in the preseason. Barcelona have signed only Alexis Sanchez so far but with the Cesc deal looming, Pep Guardiola’s side looks set for the season with a very strong squad. They can afford the luxury of dipping into their talent-laden youth system if needed. Moreover, a team with Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Villa and Co doesn’t need a lot of changes to click.
Málaga is primed for success with a talented side. The expectations are high in the Andalucian city and some experts are even predicting them to finish in the Champions Leagues spots by the end of the season. I expect them to struggle early while they gel as a team. But by about November they could turn it on. They start the season with a bang hosting Barcelona in Week#1. That game promises to be a cracker.
Valencia, Sevilla and Villarreal look very solid. Valencia has made some shrewd signings this season in Adil Ramis, Danny Parejo and looks like they might be close to securing a loan for Spanish U20 captain Sergio Canales. Sevilla has a new coach in Marcelino Garcia, the ex-Racing coach. They have been relatively quiet in the transfer market so far, but we are almost a month away from the transfer deadline. Villarreal have made some good signings like Cristian Zapata to shore-up their defence where they were vulnerable last season. They have lost Santi Cazorla to Málaga, a transaction that has angered and saddened the Madrigal faithful at Vila-real. But they managed to retain rest of their stars in Borja Valero, Beppe Rossi and Nilmar.
Athletic club of Bilbao have a new manager, the excellent ‘El Loco’(the crazy) Marcelo Bielsa. The summer saw him linked to Real Sociedad as well as Sevilla. The new president of Athletic, Jose Urrutia had an agreement with Bielsa to make him the coach in case he won the Athletic’s presidential elections. The Basques-only policy means they don’t have a huge talent pool to choose from. They have added the excellent creative midfielder Ander Herrera to a talented squad that includes, Fernando Llorente, Javi Martinez and Iker Munaín. Depth of squad could be an issue for them, especially if they go deep in all three competitions. Everyone that follows La Liga will watch Mr. Bielsa and his team very closely.
Atlético Madrid, where there is never a dull day at office looks weakened with the departure of Kun Aguero. At the moment they haven’t signed a replacement yet. They have signed striker and Golden ball winner at Euro U21 Adrian Lopez. New coach Gregorio Manzano has a huge task at hand to stabilize this inherently unstable team.
Teams like Getafe, Osasuna, Real Sociedad, Zaragoza, the newly promoted Granada, Mallorca, Racing Santander, Sporting Gijon, Espanyol and Levante haven’t done much in the transfer market. The loan deal for Real Madrid’s prospect Pablo Sarabia to Getafe is the most notable of them all.
Predictions
Champion: Real Madrid. The race between Barcelona and Real Madrid will be closer than ever but I think Mourinho’s team will have the last laugh and will edge out the Catalans.
Copa Del Rey: Barcelona
Champions League: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Málaga. Yes, I am very
optimistic about the Málaga revolution and they will edge Villarreal for the 4th spot.
Europa League: Villarreal, Sevilla, Athletic
Relegation: Rayo Vallecano, Racing Santander and Granada or Levante. Rayo is an absolute mess right now with players striking over unpaid wages. Racing has been left high and dry by Ali Sayeed and there is a vacuum of leadership there. Levante have lost their coach Luis Garcia (to Getafe) and sold their top-scorer Felipe Caicedo and haven’t replaced him.
PS: This article was written before the Super Cup was played.
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