 "La Liga season preview: Mbappe, Flick, Alvarez big talking points as Real Madrid begin title defence")
It was only a month ago that Spain lifted the European Championship trophy aloft by beating England in the final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. Nico Williams, who opened the scoring that night, could feature for Athletic Club as they get the La Liga season underway against Getafe.
Welcome to the brutal life of the football calendar where there is little time to celebrate, unwind, and relax muscles before you have to pick up once.
Defending La Liga champions Real Madrid, who will play the UEFA Super Cup tonight against Atalanta, could end up playing 72 matches over 11 months if they go all the way with the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in July.
“The calendar doesn’t make any sense. It makes no sense at all, I reiterate statements I have made previously. It is impossible for us to maintain an optimal level and maximum performance with so many trips, the Intercontinental Cup, a Club Super World Cup that at the end of the season takes you away from home for a month, crossing a continent and with international football in between,” said Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal.
The players’ gripes and concerns over the calendar are not new. Instead of being addressed, more competitions are being added and tournaments expanded. In the end, the economics and business of football are winning over the health and safety of the players. And it holds true for the Spanish league as well which begins less than three months after the previous campaign finished. In the interim, Spain won the Euros and the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
That will be in the past when La Liga 2024-25 season begins at San Mames. Nico Williams is not yet a Barcelona player despite strong speculation. And in 10 days, on 24 August, when Barcelona host Athletic Club, it is unclear what jersey he will be wearing.
Barcelona: Flick, Olmo arrive with hope to bid for title
🥇 Recognition for the Olympic gold medalists: Pau Cubarsí, Eric García, and Fermín López.
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 12, 2024
🏆 and also for the winners of the 2024 UEFA Euro: Pedri, Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, and Fermín López.
💙❤️ Congratulations, boys! pic.twitter.com/zAIROZazri
It wasn’t too long ago that Xavi Hernandez was set to depart Barcelona on his own. But that dignity was snatched from him by the club by sacking him for allegedly speaking his mind. Replacing the former Barcelona midfielder in the dugout is Hansi Flick. The former Bayern Munich and Germany coach spoke of emulating Pep Guardiola and Johan Cruyff’s style. The fact that they lost 0-3 to Monaco in the Joan Gamper Trophy shows the tough task ahead.
Barcelona, who have won just one La Liga title in the past five seasons, have injury issues going into the season. Ronald Araujo, Pedri, Gavi, and Frenkie de Jong are all nursing injuries.
Dani Olmo is presented to the Barcelona fans 🙌 pic.twitter.com/GOBQue5f76
— Bet9ja: The home of #betBOOM! 💣 (@Bet9jaOfficial) August 14, 2024
Despite the warning signs, Barcelona don’t have it all bad. With Lamine Yamal electrifying the continental competition in the summer, Barcelona have signed Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig who also played a key role in Spain’s title triumph.
Before the transfer window closes, eyes will be on whether Barcelona can off-load players and bring in Nico Williams. A full-back remains a glaring gap for Barcelona to fill.
Barcelona open their season against Valencia on Saturday at the Mestalla. Games against Athletic Club, Villarreal, and Girona in the first six fixtures would give an idea of where the Catalans stand.
Real Madrid: with Mbappe, without Kroos
👏 @KMbappe 👏
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) August 12, 2024
🎥 INSIDE TRAINING ▶ #RMPlay#RMCity | #SuperCup
Real Madrid clinched the league by 10 points last season. They did so without first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and top defender Eder Militao for almost the entire season. No obvious replacements arrived for Karim Benzema either. Yet, Los Blancos won the league and the Champions League.
In the summer they’ve added Kylian Mbappe (finally!) from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. Arda Guler has matured and was a spark for Turkey at Euro 2024. Brazilian youngster Endrick has also joined. Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo continue from last season with Jude Bellingham in the middle of the park.
Putting all that together, it is a problem of plenty for manager Carlo Ancelotti.
However, one challenge that hasn’t been fixed and is unlikely to be filled with a signing is the retirement of Toni Kroos. To be fair to Real Madrid, finding a like-for-like replacement for Kroos or even close is not easy. Luka Modric and Federico Valverde are in the squad to plug gaps but don’t provide the ability to spread passes and read the game as well as the German midfielder did.
The club will also be without long-term club captain Nacho Fernandez and Joselu, who scored some vital goals from the bench.
Atletico Madrid re-build to end duopoly
JULIÁN. ALVAREZ. IS. HERE. pic.twitter.com/LBncL6KnUg
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) August 13, 2024
After years of careful investments, Atletico Madrid have opted to break the bank to once again challenge for the title and end the Real Madrid-Barcelona dominance at the top. After winning the title in 2020-21, Atletico Madrid have finished third, third, and fourth last season - being pipped by Girona.
The headline move for Atletico Madrid is the signing of forward Julian Álvarez from Manchester City. Alvarez, a fan of both Atletico Madrid and Diego Simeone, is a major step up from Memphis Depay, who he is replacing in the squad.
The same applies to Robin Le Normand, the Spain centre-back signed from Real Sociedad, who will look to bolster a tired defence from the previous season that looked shaky.
Alexander Sorloth is another key signing from Villarreal. He scored 23 goals last league campaign and may not exactly be a step up from Alvaro Morata, who has joined AC Milan.
Conor Gallagher could also arrive from Chelsea in order to add depth and quality to a largely clueless midfield last season.
Leading them is Diego Simeone, starting his 13th full season in charge of Atletico Madrid. With some power-packed signings, it could just be what ‘Cholo’ wanted for years.
Who will make up the fourth place?
👟 @Williaaams45 ⚽️ @AlexBerenguerR
— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) August 14, 2024
The connection works!#AthleticGetafe #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/R4VyOGQDYf
In the last 12 years, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid have finished in the top four. The question remains who will make up the fourth spot if that streak were to continue?
After finishing third last season and qualifying for the Champions League with a stellar campaign, the reality of the football world has hit Girona who have lost quite a few key players. Midfielder Aleix Garcia has joined Bayer Leverkusen, top scorer Artem Dovbyk moved to AS Roma and loanees Savio and Yan Couto will not be back, instead moving to Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund, respectively.
With the added load of European football, once a cause for celebration, it might end up hurting the Barcelona-based club.
Sevilla and Valencia have been going through quite an extensively long transition period so finishing fourth would be a surprise. Villarreal need a new goal-scorer to replace Sorloth. Real Sociedad have been ones to watch over the last couple of seasons but without key defender Le Normand and midfielder Mikel Marino being heavily linked with Arsenal, they could be impacted too.
With that said, Athletic Bilbao looked the best placed to finish fourth. Nico Williams might end up staying and even if he doesn’t, the Basques have enough pedigree to push and be ‘best of the rest.’
Who could cause a surprise?
Girona did that job last season. Real Betis may do it this time, but maybe not to the extent that Michel’s side did. Managed by Manuel Pellegrini, playmakers Isco and Nabil Fekir can help Betis beat anyone on their day. Former Premier League players Pablo Fornals, Marc Roca, Johnny Cardoso and Diego Llorente look settled in the Betis environment.
What about the promoted clubs?
Owned by foreigners, Espanyol, Real Valladolid and Leganes have been promoted to the top division this season. Espanyol are owned by Chinese businessman Chen Yansheng; former Brazilian great Ronaldo is at Valladolid, and US investment fund Blue Crow Sports are at Leganes.
Leganes have the most stable project of all but also have the lowest budget to spend from. Valladolid and Espanyol are tough to predict considering the owners may sell and leave if the right offer arrives.
Others in Rayo Vallecano, Celta Vigo and Las Palmas are others who could struggle and are likely to fight with fire to avoid relegation.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
