La Liga Match-Day 1 preview

The Spanish National team reigned supreme in Euro 2012 and this week-end La Liga returns with a new era where Barcelona are not reigning Champions. Forr the first time in 4 ears their bitter rivals Real Madrid took the top domestic honours last season and the departure of Pep Guardiola from Camp Nou to be replaced by his number two Tito Vilanova, ushers in a new reign. For all clubs in La Liga trailing in the wake of the big two, there are still vital issues to compete for over the course of the next 9 months. But it all starts here…

The opening weekend delivers one of the stellar fixtures of the season as champions Real Madrid host Valencia at the Bernabeau. Jose Mourinho has had a quiet summer with Luka Modric the only big name player linked with the club. The Croatian playmaker is now set to complete the protracted transfer and swell the ranks of attacking talent available for Los Merengues. Quite where he’ll fit in alongside Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil is anyone’s guess.

Real have trimmed the fat and Hamit Altintop (Galatasaray), Sergio Canales (Valencia), Fernando Gago (Valencia) and Pedro Leon (Getafe) have all departed. Real’s loss has been Valencia’s gain and Gago and Canales will add quality to the midfield – if they can stay fit. Portuguese fullback Joao Pereira and Mexican forward Guardado are also excellent signings for Los Che. This fixture is a baptism of fire for Valencia’s new coach Manuel Pellegrini who faces his former side after his interesting spell at Malaga.The canny Chilean seems to have departed at at an opportune time. Valencia will be lucky to take anything away from this game.

Barcelona also start the season at home as they host Real Sociedad. Barca have had a quiet pre-season in the transfer market so far with only the solitary yet significant signing of Jordi Alba from Valencia. As he demonstrated in the Euro 2012 final, Alba brings a real threat down the left flank to rival that of Dani Alves on the right. New Manager Tito Vilanova (Pep Guardiola’s #2) will also have striker David Villa back after he missed most of last season with injury. The pressure is on for Vilanova with Barca missing out on the big trophies last season. They only won the Super Cup, World Club Cup and Copa Del Rey after all! A straight forward home tie with Sociedad should be an easy 3 points to kick start the season. Sociedad coach Philip Montainier has added to his promising side by securing the permanent signing of Carlos Vela and bringing in goalscoring midfielder Gonzalo Castro ( Real Mallorca), and fullback Jose Angel (Roma) but that may not be enough to resist the might of Barca at Camp Nou.

Crisis club Malaga were the success story of last season but the kingdom built on sand is crumbling fast. The money has stopped flowing and top players (Solomon Rondon and Santi Cazorla) are fleeing the sinking ship. Rondon’s goalscoring and Santi’s exceptional playmaking made them two of the outstanding players in last season’s Liga. A trip to newly promoted Celta Vigo has the potential to be a humiliating upset for the Andalucians. Celta have struggled to make an impact in the transfer market and haven’t replaced last season’s star attacking player Fabián Orellana. But they have an exciting prospect in Iago Aspas whose 23 goals propelled them to promotion last term.

Athletic Bilbao host Real Betis. Bilbao’s players never seem to rest. Having played more games than any other side last season, the spine of their team - Javier Martinez, Ander Herrera and Iker Muniain – have just played three games in Spain’s humiliating Olympic tournament. Matters aren’t helped as star striker Fernando Llorente is constantly linked with a big money move away. Isma Lopez (Lugo) and Arduiz (Valencia) have arrived to bolster the attacking options but Marcelo Bielsa’s strongest starting XI is still the same as last year. Betis have brought in several players to bolster the squad with the hottest prospects being the cantera graduate Alejandro Pozuelo and 20 year old winger Salvador Agra. Betis enjoy visiting San Mames and got the double over Bilbao last season.

The surprise package of last season, Valencia’s Levante play Atletico Madrid. Levante have just lost star striker Aruna Kone to Wigan, a major blow to an already thin squad. It’s hard to see Los Granotes doing as well as last season where they were vying for a top four finish throughout. Atletico have lost playmaker Diego but have added former Newcastle playmaker Emre along with defender Cata Diaz to give steel to a shaky defence. They have strong possibilities of making the top 4 this season. They just need to step up their away form a little.

Segunda champions Deportivo de la Coruna will play Osasuna. It’s good to have top flight football return to the Riazor where Deportivo were a real force at the turn of the century, winning the title in 2000. Deportivo may have lost their catalyst for promotion, Andres Guardado, but they have taken Benfica’s 21 year old striker Nelson Oliveira on loan and he will be one to watch this season. The third promoted side Real Valladolid have a tricky away tie at Real Zaragoza who need to kick on following last year’s miraculous great escape. Madrid side Rayo Vallecano narrowly avoided relegation last year and have lost their goalscoring midfielder Michu to Swansea in the Premier League and they face a new look Granada who have been the busiest in the market and transferred in half a squad.

Real Mallorca play Espanyol and Sevilla, whom many expect to improve on last year’s ninth place, host Getafe. This fixture often throws up a goal fest and there have been some strange results in recent seasons with Getafe having much the better of these games, winning the last 3 editions of the reverse fixture in Madrid and also taking a 3-1 in Seville in November 2010. This is worth bearing in mind when you consider their price of 5.50 or 6.0 Good luck with your selections!

August 17, 2012 at 4:47 pm | La Liga