With a new La Liga season set to kick off this week, Sportsnet takes a look at the players, teams and stories to watch in Spain’s top division in 2018-19.
NEW ERA AT REAL MADRID
For the first time in nearly a decade, Real Madrid will start a new campaign without Cristiano Ronaldo. The current European champions also enter the season with a different coach, a couple of new signings and plenty of intrigue.
Julen Lopetegui certainly suffered en route to landing the Madrid job, and to top it off, he’s replacing the outgoing Zinedine Zidane.
It will obviously be a Herculean task for Lopetegui. Zidane had complete respect from Madrid’s players, and, most notably, club president Florentino Perez. At times, the Frenchman sacrificed style in favour of results, which resulted in a third consecutive Champions League crown. Any other coach might’ve risked the sack from Perez under similar circumstances, but not Zidane. Even when the going got tough last season, Perez maintained his faith. Lopetegui may not be afforded that luxury.
However, the Spanish tactician has worked closely with Madrid’s Spanish players over the past few years, both as coach of the national team and Spain’s youth sides. With Ronaldo in Italy, perhaps Isco – who thrived under Lopetegui – will have more creative freedom.
There’s also a goalkeeping controversy now that Thibaut Courtois has arrived from Chelsea. Keylor Navas said he has “the same desire to leave [Madrid] than I have to die,” and for good reason. The Costa Rican has won three straight European Cups and if it wasn’t for Navas’s exploits in the semifinals earlier this year, Madrid might not have reached the final.
No matter what transpires this year, Madrid will continue to be a massive story in La Liga.
BARCELONA STILL THE TEAM TO BEAT?
To no one’s surprise, Barcelona is the title favourite, according to OddsShark. Unlike last year, this summer has been significantly calmer, which has clearly aided the team’s preparations.
While Barca waved goodbye to club legend Andres Iniesta, they have a budding youngster who could enjoy a fantastic debut campaign in Europe. Brazilian midfielder Arthur is seen as the heir to Xavi due to his finesse on the ball and his vision. However, the 22-year-old is equally strong at recovering possession and almost never commits any turnovers.
Barcelona also added Arturo Vidal after Paulinho headed back to China, plus young Brazilian winger Malcom supplies even more dynamism to an already loaded attack. Philippe Coutinho, fresh off a brilliant individual performance for Brazil at the World Cup, also figures to have a strong showing this season.
If it wasn’t for the historic collapse in the Champions League last year, the 2017-18 campaign might’ve been seen as a success for coach Ernesto Valverde. With that loss to AS Roma still fresh in the players’ memories, Barca might reassert their dominance in Europe, let alone Spain.
KEEP AN EYE ON
With crosstown rivals Real Madrid adapting to a new coach, Atletico Madrid wrapped up its transfer business earlier in the summer. They completed deals for Thomas Lemar, Rodri and Gelson Martins before the World Cup ended. Meanwhile, Nikola Kalinic was signed for striker depth, while Colombia international Santiago Arias replaces the outgoing Sime Vrsaljko.
Coach Diego Simeone also has Diego Costa for a full pre-season. Most crucially, Atletico didn’t lose any starters or key members of the squad, apart from Vrsaljko, although he was inconsistent last season.
With Costa, Lemar, Martins, Kalinic, Antoine Griezmann, Angel Correa and Vitolo, Simeone has plenty of depth up front. Atletico suffered last year due to the transfer ban and the lack of a suitable strike partner for Griezmann before Costa was eligible to play. That surely won’t be the case here.
NEWCOMER TO WATCH
Atletico Madrid has needed a replacement for Gabi for at least two years and they finally have one in Rodri.
The 22-year-old was actually an Atletico youth product but was released on a free transfer due to being too small. Rodri eventually hit a growth spurt, playing regular minutes at Villarreal and even earned a few call-ups to the Spain squad, as he’s seen as a future replacement for Sergio Busquets.
Rodri is the definition of a complete midfielder with his defensive prowess, calmness on the ball and distribution. He’ll be key for Atletico this season with his ability to control the tempo of a match.
THE PROMOTED CLUBS
Rayo Vallecano returns to La Liga following a two-year absence after topping the Segunda Division last season. Rayo made a couple of astute additions in Gael Kakuta and Peru international Luis Advincula, who could be one of La Liga’s best value signings after his dominant displays at the World Cup.
Elsewhere, Huesca will participate in the Spanish top flight for the first time. Despite having the fifth-lowest budget in the second division, the club earned automatic promotion as runners-up. Keep an eye on 19-year-old Colombian striker Camilo “Cucho” Hernandez, who bagged 16 goals last year in the Segunda Division.
Finally, Real Valladolid is back in La Liga after defeating Numancia in the playoff final. Valladolid was one of the most exciting teams in the Segunda Division, so hopefully that trend continues this year from a neutral’s perspective.
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