La Liga Preview

Spain may have just flunked at the World Cup, but La Roja will return, and La Liga has retained its crown as the best league in the world. So what can we expect from the new season?

Despite Atletico Madrid's sensational victory in La Liga last season, and only failing to win the Champions League thanks to Sergio Ramos' late bullet of a header, it is hard to see them replicating it this season, despite their genius of a manager remaining in post. The exodus from Atletico Madrid, mostly to Chelsea, should see a weakening, and 3rd place seems the most likely outcome to me.

The 'Big 2', in Spain, however have strengthened their packs, with some obligatory huge Summer spending from them both. 

Real Madrid.

The World Cup was set ablaze by a young man from Columbia. James Rodriguez scored more goals, and created more assists than any other player in Brazil. This was enough to convince the world's biggest club to splash out 80 million Euros on the creative midfielder. Quite where he will fit into Real's attack remains to be seen, but when he teams up with Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema, and if reports are to be believed Falcao, then one thing is for certain, Real Madrid's attack will be the envy of every other team in world football. (Just wait until Jese is fit)

Unlike, their defence. 

Real Madrid's problems between the sticks is well reported, Diego Lopez has moved to AC Milan on a free transfer. Popular opinion is 'The Saint of Madrid", Iker Casillas is well past his best, and their new signing Jesus Navas from Levante is taking a gigantic step up - despite his heroics at the World Cup. Whoever gets the nod (my prediction is Navas in the league Casillas in Europe) they will be playing under a huge amount of pressure. Expect to see a big name keeper moving to Madrid next Summer (De Gea).

Their defensive problems don't stop there. Anyone who watched the world cup in Brazil will have seen what a liability Pepe can be. Ramos is without doubt the most influential player in Madrid now that Casillas' powers have started to fade, but as per usual he will serve multiple suspensions, and then you're left with Varane, arguably the best young defender in world football, but does he have a wise old head alongside him?

Barcelona.

Like their eternal rivals, Barcelona too have acquired one of the world's most revered players. Revered by some, anyway. Luis Suarez divides opinion, I won't go into the reasons why, if you've read this far down an article on football, then you already know. Suarez's 4 month ban will end, just in time for him to get his teeth into Real Madrid, at the Bernabeau. Quite an interesting debut that should be, when he goes up against Sergio Ramos. 

However, that apart, when he is up and running and hungry for goals, playing in a front 3 with Neymar and Messi, Barcelona aren't going to struggle to find the net either - add to that Barca's infamous midfield and we are in for a huge showdown for the La Liga title. 

Not wanting to sound too much like a parrot, Barcelona's problems are also all in defence. Pique is a sound enough defender, but Mascherano is a midfielder, and one of the best at that, he's wasted at center back. I can't get my head around their signing of Mathieu from Valencia, a 30 year old defender who's never shown any signs playing in Spain that he's good enough to play for Barcelona. Thomas Vermalen has arrived for Arsenal in the last couple of days, a good enough defender, but hardly comparable to the kind of players Barcelona boast in the attacking third. 

So who do you think will win La Liga? As regular readers will know, I'm a Real Madrid fan at heart, but my head says Barca. Yes, they have their issues - Neymar's injury, Suarez being insane, an ageing midfield and a suspect defence - but I think they will concede less goals than Real, and as the old saying goes - "Offence wins matches, defence wins championships."

Hala Madrid.