Atletico Madrid did the unthinkable last season, they topped La Liga ahead of Barcelona and Real Madrid. The reason this came as a shock is due to the unfair financial advantage that the big 2 get in Spanish football. Barcelona and Real Madrid get 48% of all La Liga T.v money a season between them, meaning the other 18 teams share 52% of the money. Then add the Champions League money, along with the image rights and commercial profits around the world, then the other teams just can't compete. Atletico had an incredible season last time out, finishing on 90 points (3 ahead of Barca and Real) and losing 4-1 aet to city rivals Real Madrid in the Champions League final. But this season will be alot harder for them to repeat their heroics. 38 goal star man Diego Costa has left to join Chelsea, but they have brought in an arguable better forward in former Bayern Munich man Mario Mandzukic. The Croatian got 48 goals in 88 games, but is no longer needed at the German club. Who will play alongside Antonie Griezmann who joins from Real Sociedad. Another 2 key players leave for Chelsea, left back Filipe Luis has left and will be replaced by either former Grenada man Guilherme Siqueira who was bought for £8 million, or Cristian Ansaldi who joins on a season long loan from Zenit St Petersburg. But probably the hardest player to replace is goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois who rejoins Chelsea after being on loan at the Vicente Calderon for the past 3 seasons. Jan Oblak is the man who has the hard tast of following Courtois, at only 21 the former Benfica man can be a star for many years at the club. Diego Simeone has the hard task of keeping players at Atletico, Turkish star Arda Turan is a man in demand. As to is young star Koke who has played 168 games and is only 22 has been linked to Barcelona is recent weeks. But looks likely to stay for the time being, which will please the fans as he's is crucial to what happens for Atletico this season. Unfortunately I don't see a repeat of last season happening, it looks like 3rd at best, for now and the next few seasons. But the fans still have the memories of last year.
Barcelona finished runners up last season with 87 points scoring 100 goals. But they finished the season without a trophy and Gerardo Martino leaves after only one season. His replacement is former player and fans favourite Luis Enrique who guided Celta Vigo to a 9th placed finish last season. It's been a major clear out at the Camp Nou, goalkeeper Victor Valdes leave after 12 years after deciding he wants a new challenge, whilst club captain and legend Carles Puyol retires after 593 games for the club. Enrique also decided to get rid of key players Cesc Fabregas to Chelsea and Alexis Sanchez to Arsenal. Christian Tello who is a promising youngster, who has broken into the team over the past 2 seasons also exits to Porto on a 2 year loan deal with a view to a permanent deal. But it hasn't all been exits at Barca, there have been some quality arrivals. Luis Suarez joins after scoring 82 goals in 133 games for Liverpool for £75 million. Although he isn't available for the 1st 2 months of the season after being banned for biting Giorgio Chiellini whilst playing for Uruguay against Italy at the World Cup for 4 months. Ivan Rakitic joins to play in the centre of midfield, the Croatian playmaker who captained Sevilla to Europa League glory was a barging signing for only £14.5 million and will link up with Iniesta in the midfield. New signings Marc-Andre ter Stegen (£10 million signing from Borussia Monchengladbach) and Claudio Bravo (£10 million capture from Real Sociedad) will fight it out to be the new number 1 at Barcelona. The final piece of the Barca jigsaw sees Valencia defender Jeremy Mathieu come in to strengthen the defence at £16 million. Barcelona fans will be excited to see the trio of Neymar (who has scored 151 career goals at only 22). Lionel Messi (Barcelona leading goalscorers with 354 in 425 games) and new man Luis Suarez. But they won't have it all their own way this season.
Real Madrid won their 10th European cup last season. But still boss Carlo Ancelotti thought the team needed strengthening. World Cup golden boot winner James Rodriguez comes to the Santiago Bernabeu from Monaco for £71 million who at 23 has the potential to be one of the greatest ever. Another star of the World Cup is Toni Kroos who helped Germany lift the trophy in Brazil, at only £20 million this could be one of the biggest bargains ever, the 24 year old has 51 caps for Germany already, and is regarded as one of the finest midfielders around. Another player joining after a good World Cup is Costa Rican goalkeeping hero Keylor Navas, the former Levante man had a £8 million release clause in his contract which Real activated. But it remains to be seen who will get the Number 1 jersey at Madrid. Last season it was Diego Lopez, who kept Iker Casillas on the bench, could this mean that the 33 year old who made his debut in 1999 be leaving the club for 1st team football?. One thing for sure is the fans will not want to see Saint Iker leave. But if the Spanish number 1 is going to add to his 156 caps and prove that he's better than his poor performance at the World Cup shows, then being a club number 1 is a must. Just like Barca, Real have a world class team, and an incredible front line. The most expensive footballer in the world Gareth Bale who scored 22 in 44 in his 1st season at Real will play one side of Rodriguez whilst Cristiano Ronaldo will be on the other side of him. Ronaldo has a phenomenal scoring ratio since joining Real with 252 goals in only 246 games. Madrid should better the 104 goals they scored last season in La Liga. All these signing means players have to leave the Bernabeu, with World Cup winner Sami Khadira and last seasons Champions League final man of the match Angel Di Maria looking likely to leave the club. Another man rumoured to be on his way out is Karim Benzema who has 111 goals in 235 games for the club. But his departure will only be if rivals Atletico Madrid's former star striker Radamel Falcao joins from Monaco in a big money deal.
Outside these top 3, there isn't much hope for the other teams. The final Champions League place will be an interesting fight, with 5 teams aiming for that 1 spot. Athletic Bilbao took that place last season and will be aiming to again, they will look to Aritz Aduriz to fire them to that 4th place finish again, but will find it harder without influential midfielder Ander Herrera who joins Man United. But they have managed to keep hold of much wanted winger Iker Muniain who is one of the hottest prospects in Spanish football. Real Sociedad who played in the Champions League last season, have lost 2 key players, Chilean keeper Claudio Bravo and Antoine Griezmann have left, which means that it's a tough ask for Sociedad to get 4th place this season. Valencia will be looking to improve on the 8th placed finish last season and have some quality players in Jonas, Sofiane Feghouli, Andres Guardado and new summer signing Rodrigo. Sevilla won last seasons Europa League but have lost captain Rakitic who was instrumental for them last season. This season Kevin Gameiro will look to better the 15 he scored in the league last year, alongside strike partner Carlos Bacca. Villarreal were last seasons surprise package, getting 6th place after being promoted the season before. They will again look to the influence of Giovani dos Santos who got 12 goals in 34 games along with forward Ikechukwu Uche 14 goals in 32 games. Another player who could play a key part is Jonathan de Guzman back after 2 years on loan at Swansea.
Survival will be the main aim for Almeria, Elche and Granada. Along with new comers Eibar and Cordoba (who finished 7th and outside the play off places last season in the Segunda Division. But due to Barcelona B not being able to gain promotion they took the final place, and won promotion) Deportivo La Coruna are back in the top division and will look for a comfortable mid table finish along with the likes of Espanyol, Getafe, Levante, Malaga and Rayo Vallecano.
La Liga looks like a 2 horse race this season, which could come down to which team performs best in the El Clasico games, which the whole world can't wait to see.
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