The 2011-2012 La Liga season finally kicks off today, a week later than planned, after a players strike called by the Spanish Players Union (AFE) was settled earlier this week.
With the fallout from the controversies which marred the pre-season Supercopa games between Spain’s big two rumbling on, Barcelona will be eager to claim their fourth consecutive title and Real Madrid just as keen to deny them.
Both teams have been very active in the summer’s transfer market, spending lavishly to improve their already spectacularly star-strewn squads.
Former Arsenal-midfielder Cesc Fabregas finally arrived at Barcelona in a €29m (Dh154.2m) plus add-ons deal, while the signing of Chile international winger Alexis Sanchez brings extra pace to Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Madrid boss Jose Mourinho – who faces a potential ten match touchline ban for his eye-poke on Barca assistant coach Tito Vilanova – has also added to his options with the signings of Portuguese international full-back or midfielder Fábio Coentrão, Turkish midfielder Nuri Sahin and exciting young attacker José María Callejon.
The evidence from the two enthralling and high quality Supercopa ties was that Barcelona still hold a narrow advantage over their rivals. No matter which approach Mourinho takes, the Catalans look capable of keeping their nerve and letting their extra class tell.
Just as important as the season progresses will the ability of both sides not to drop points against La Liga’s other 18 teams. Barcelona were consistently better at this last year, and as long as their key players remain fit, they should be strong enough to keep the La Liga crown.
They have also claimed the UEFA Super Cup, beating last season’s Europa League winners FC Porto 2-0, Messi and Fabregas getting on the scoresheet.
Easier to predict is that the chasing pack behind the big two will struggle to keep up again, especially after losing some important players during the summer.
Valencia were last year’s ‘best of the rest’, but have sold Juan Mata to Chelsea, while the departure of playmaker Santi Cazorla to ambitious Málaga will seriously hurt Villareal’s hopes.
Sevilla remain stuck in a rebuilding phase under third manager in three years Marcelino while it’s been another difficult summer at Atlético Madrid, with two of the club’s best players Sergio Aguero and David De Gea, leaving.
Big spending Málaga – owned by Qatari billionaire Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Al-Thani – look well placed to emerge and secure a Champions League spot, particularly if experienced manager Manuel Pellegrini can quickly blend a side from new arrivals including top quality internationals Cazorla, Jérémy Toulalan and Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
Also worth keeping an eye on are Athletic Bilbao, where young local talent such as Javi Martínez, Iker Muniain and especially Fernando Llorente might thrive within the attacking system favoured by former Chile boss Marcelo Bielsa.
Financial worries and constraints may also mean a lot of the drama at La Liga’s other clubs takes place off the field.
Managers at Zaragoza, Real Sociedad and Osasuna have had to rely mostly on free transfers and loans to refresh their squads this summer, while Espanyol slid alarmingly down the table last season after selling important players in January.
Teams perhaps to spring surprises include Getafe, who under the shrewd managership of Luis Garcia will be hoping to impress their new Team Dubai owners. Michael Laudrup’s tactical insight might see Mallorca up in the top half of the table.
Of the clubs promoted from last season’s second division – Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano and Granada – Betis look best placed with some exciting new attacking signings and an impressive manager in Pepe Mel.
However it seems certain that this year will again be dominated by the big two. Will Mourinho, Ronaldo, Casillas et al improve enough to overcome Messi, Xavi, Fabregas and friends? Only the next nine months will tell.
