Top-flight Spanish football returns on Friday, as La Liga kicks off with games between Malaga and Osasuna and Deportivo facing Eibar. However, it is on Saturday and Sunday that the big boys of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid kick-off their league campaigns.
La Liga looks set to be another three-horse title race this season. In fact, not much has changed at Spain’s biggest clubs. In a major change, Spain’s big two will start the new campaign with the same bosses that they finished the last campaign with.
Real Madrid have taken the rather unusual step of only signing on player in Spanish international striker Alvaro Morata from Juventus, or should I say re-signing their former player.
Los Blancos usually make big changes in personnel each summer, spending big, but this summer has bucked that trend, as Zinedine Zidane looks to bring stability and success to the Bernabeu in La Liga.
Barcelona have been rather more active in the transfer market bringing in Lucas Digne, Samuel Umtiti, Denis Suarez and Andre Gomes. An already strong squad has been impressively reinforced with the new signings.
Atletico have also been busy strengthening their squad with the signing of Kevin Gameiro from Sevilla, playmaker Nicolas Gaitan from Benfica and full-back Sime Vrsaljko from Sassuolo.
This season’s title race could not be any tighter than last seasons, as just three points separated champions Barcelona from third-place Atletico.
Last season La Liga produced a thrilling climax to the campaign, hopefully, this season’s Spanish top-flight will produce just as intriguing.