Time for the new league season to start and of course Barcelona and Real Madrid are the overwhelming favorites. Everybody else is essentially challenging for 3rd place as they cannot match the funding of the big two.

Here from goal.com is a pretty good preview of the new league season,

La Liga Preview

My selections for this season's honors:

Champions: Barcelona
Champions League: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Valencia
Europa League: Sevilla, Villarreal
Relegation: Hercules, Levante, Racing
Pichichi: Diego Forlan

My thoughts are that this could be Real Madrid's year. Not because of Mourinho's arrival but because Barcelona, after two straight championship wins and with 8 players coming off of Spain's World Cup triumph, might be a bit complacent this season and have their focus more on the Champions League than the domestic championship. So I am going to pick Real Madrid to win this season's league title.

My picks for post season honours are:

Champion: Real Madrid
Champions League: Barcelona, Atletico, Villarreal
Europa League: Valencia, Athletic Bilbao
Relegation: Hercules, Levante, Almeria
Pichichi: Lionel Messi

OK I will give my season predictions,

Champions-Real Madrid
Champions League-Barcelona, Valencia, Atletico Madrid
Europa League-Sevilla, Villarreal
Relegation- Hercules, Levante, Osasuna
Pichichi-Messi

Pep will get the better of Mourinho, Barcelona has a team, Madrid have individuals trying to form a team.

Champions: Barcelona
Champions League: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Valencia
Europa League: Villarreal, Sevilla
Relegation: Levante, Hercules, Almeria
Pichichi: Lionel Messi

I agree with pepe, Barcelona are due for a post World Cup letdown, and possibly even a league one after winning the last two seasons. Real Madrid are obsessed with reclaiming the league title and are my picks to regain it this season.

My picks for post season honours are:

Champion: Real Madrid
Champions League: Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Valencia
Europa League: Villarreal, Sevilla
Relegation: Levante, Almeria, Racing
Pichichi: Lionel Messi

Barcelona may have a slight World Cup letdown but Real Madrid have to get used to a new coach. I think those two factors will offset one another. The difference will I think be David Villa. Barcelona won the league last season with record points even with Ibrahimovic only along as a passenger. David Villa will be an integral part of the team and Lionel Messi after the World Cup, has something to prove. Barcelona to win the league (again.)

my predictions,

Champion: Barcelona
Champions League: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Valencia
Europa League: Villarreal, Sevilla
Relegation: Hercules, Levante, Sporting
Pichichi: Lionel Messi

Greetings to all, I have been away on holiday but come back home to be greeted by 46 degree celsius weather!

Here is a surprise, Madrid and Barcelona are the favourites for the league title! 2nd place Madrid were 24 points ahead of 3rd place Valencia last season and this summer both Barcelona and Madrid look like they have strengthened themselves while Valencia and Sevilla look weaker. 5th place Mallorca lost their coach and some of their better players too. Actually only Atletico Madrid and Villarreal of the other top half clubs look like they have improved themselves. Athletic Bilbao have the same team so that may be enough to make them rise up the table too.

My season predictions:

Champions: Barcelona
Champions League: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Villarreal
Europa League: Sevilla, Valencia
Relegation: Levante, Osasuna, Racing
Pichichi: David Villa

My season predictions:

Champions: Real Madrid
Champions League: Barcelona, Valencia, Atletico Madrid
Europa League: Sevilla, Athletic Bilbao
Relegation: Levante, Osasuna, Almeria
Pichichi: Gonzalo Higuain




The weekend calendar,

Playing on Saturday
Hercules CF v Athletic Bilbao (1600)
Malaga v Valencia (1800)
Levante v Sevilla (2000)

Playing on Sunday
Deportivo Coruna v Real Zaragoza (1500)
Osasuna v Almeria (1500)
Espanyol v Getafe (1500)
Real Sociedad v Villarreal (1500)
Racing Santander v Barcelona (1700)
Real Mallorca v Real Madrid (1900)

Playing on Monday
Atletico Madrid v Sporting Gijon (2000)

I am curious to see how Real Sociedad will do on their return to the first division after 3 seasons away. I think of the three promoted clubs Real Sociedad are the best situated to do well this season. I like their acquisitions of Joseba Llorente and Raul Tamudo at forward, although the question with Tamudo is whether he can stay healthy. Also watch for Xabi Prieto, a gifted midfielder and in goal is Chile's Claudio Bravo. Real Sociedad begin the new season home to Villarreal in what could be one of the weekend's better matchups.

The new look Malaga, with a new Qatari owner and ex porto manager Jesualdo Ferreira might be a team who can surprise this seaosn and they start the new year home to Valencia, a team I have no idea how they will do in the wake of the forced sales of Villa, Silva, Marchena and Alexis.

I am anxious for the new seaosn to begin!

Kun Aguero says Atletico are the best team in Europe after betaing Champions League winners Inter Milan 2-0! :)

It means nothing of course towards the league title but it should be a tremendous psychological boost to the team. Filipe Luis did not play but Diego Godin started and looked very solid in the heart of the defense while the other new signing Fran Merida came in off the bench for Simao. Overall a good performance from Atleti and I was especially impressed with how well the midfield played, they moved the ball around well and pressed Inter effectively. The defensive line also looked strong which is where Atletico has been most vulnerable over the years.

All in all a good kickoff to the new season. Now I can not wait for Monday's league debut.

Hi guys, not to spam the thread or anything but you may enjoy these season previews to get you in the mood:

La Liga 10/11 season preview pt.1 (smaller clubs)

La Liga 10/11 season preview pt.2 (bigger clubs & the 2 giants)

Also an article on the top 5 summer signings on there but I'll let you find it. Some decent pre-season reads!

fwiw I think Real Madrid will likely pip Barca this year, though having said that it is hard to go against a team that, as if not incredible enough, just bought Mascherano!

Nice previews from your colleague heebeejeebees. Please let him know about our forum here, he may be interested in discussing La Liga with us.

As I wrote in reply to his first preview, I am glad he mentioned Antoine Griezmann, the teenaged French winger at Real Sociedad. I think he could be this season's Sergio Canales.

I am curious to see how Fernando Cavenaghi will do at Mallorca. I think Laudrup is a good coach and he will welcome Cavenaghi's penalty area instincts, but Cavenaghi just seems a step too slow to be a real impact player unless he can receive some solid service. And with Borja Valero leaving for Villarreal, who at Mallorca will supply him with the ball?

Manzanares, you should be happy with your club's play in the Super Cup. Quique Sanchez Flores solidified the defense in the 2nd half of the season and with Godin and Filipe Luis, plus the continued maturation of Alvaro Dominguez and goalie David De Gea there is every chane this year's team will defend very well. We already know they can score goals but if the midfield and defense play as well as they did in the Super Cup, Atletico could become the "best of the rest" this season.

My season predictions:

Champions: Barcelona
Champions League: Real Madrid, Sevilla, Atletico Madrid
Europa League: Valencia, Athletic Bilbao
Relegation: Levante, Osasuna, Almeria
Pichichi: Lionel Messi

Champions: Barcelona
Champions League: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla
Europa League: Valencia, Villarreal
Relegation: Levante, Hercules, Almeria
Pichichi: Lionel Messi

Here is Reuters season preview, looking at each club's offseaosn moves and prospects for 2010-11:

http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=reu-spain_factbox

All 3 favorites won on the road on Saturday, Athletic Bilbao beat Hercules 1-0 with a Fernando Llorente goal, Valencia defeated malaga 3-1 with one goal by Aritz Aduriz and 2 by Joaquin while Sevilla beat Levante 4-1, with 2 goals by fullback Abdoulaye Knko, an Alvaro Negredo penalty and a late goal by Renato. i think hercules, malaga and Levante are three clubs who will struggle all season long. hercules will be getting some help though as it looks like David Trezeguet will be signing there after being given a free transfer from Juventus. I did think Trezeguet would have aimed for a better club than struggling Hercules but he should see plenty of playing time in Alicante.

On Sunday Jose Mourinho makes his Real Madrid coaching debut at Mallorca who also will be debuting a new coach, former Madrid player Michael Laudrup. Last season Mallorca were a difficult team to beat at Son Moix. Mourinho likes what he has seen from Sergio Canales and he is expected to start tomorrow. Barcelona meanwhile won't yet have Javier Mascherano, he arrives the first of next week, but they will give David Villa his first official game in a blaugrana shirt. Interesting that Barca have now discarded both of last season's high priced signings, Chygrynsky and Ibrahimovic.

Depor-Zaragoza and Espanyol-Getafe could both be good matchups tomorrow although Getafe had a bit of a struggle on Thursday in their Europa League qualifier and may not be at their ebst tomorrow.

Malaga had their moments against Valencia and their new signing Quincy Owusu Abeyie caused danger with his speed and elusiveness. but Joaquin stepped up when his team needed him. Both Valencia and Sevilla made a statement that they are still around and capable of being factors. I think Aduriz will prove to be a good signing for Valencia.

Quincy was an exciting player to watch and he did cause some problems for Valencia, he is one to watch as he develops a better understanding with is new teammates at Malaga.

Was good to see Vicente starting for Valencia, once one of Spain's brightest prospects, his career has always been plagued with injuries. My hope is he can get in at least one injury free season. If he does, he will be of great benefit to Valencia.

I am already tired of the hype around Jose Mourinho and he has not yet coached his first game at Real Madrid! Ah, this could get very tiresome!

Manzanares, there is talk Schalke want to buy Juan Manuel Jurado and although Atleti would like him to stay they will not stop him from leaving if he wants to go (Plus the fee is reportedly 13 million euros!)

Well Barcelona cruised to an easy win at El Sardinero 3-0 over Racing. A veyr early goal by Lionel Messi, with a right footed chip over Toni Doblas opened the scoring and it was all downhill thereafter for Racing. Iniesta nicely volleyed in a punched clearance by Doblas for umber 2 and Villa got his first goal for barca to make it 3-0.

Real Madrid on the other hand had a much more difficult test at Mallorca and it ended 0-0. Not really a defensive game but a pretty entertaining one and a just result too as Mallorca gave as well as they received. Laudrup had his team well prepared and their new signings DeGuzman, the brother of the ex Deportivo player, and Nsue, back on loan from Real Sociedad both had nice games as did Aouate in goal who was quick off his line to snuff out any of Madrid's through balls.

Espanyol with a nice start to the season, winning 3-1 at home over Getafe, 2 goals from Pablo Osvaldo who has remained with the team after arriving on loan last year at midseason. Real Sociedad showed why they are likely the strongest of the newly promoted clubs after beating Villarreal 1-0 at Anoeta, Xabi Prieto eunning on to Joseba Llorente's backheel to score. Depor-Zaragoza and Osasuna-Almeria each ended 0-0.

As for Jurado, yes I would like to see him remain as he is a useful and versatile player but it is a numbers game, Jurado will have to struggle for minutes at Atletico and 13 million euros are hard to turn down for a player who will be a reserve this season.

iMourinho vete ya! Hey Pellegrini won last year in Mallorca! ;)

Madrid were not sharp in Mourinho's first official game in charge but also credit Mallorca for a good display, they were orderly in defence, moved the ball well in midfield, all that Mallorca really lacked was a real spark up front.

Barcelona ahd an easy time of it in Santander but then again Racing lok really vulnerable this season while Barcelona look like they are ready to go for the new season. Iniesta, Messi and Villa were each in devastating form. I loved Iniesta's first time volley for the 2nd goal following the goalkeeper's punched clearance (it was Tono by the way not Toni Doblas in Racing's goal.)

Pablo Osvaldo looks like the answer to Espanyol's goalscoring woes. He was very sharp vs Getafe. And Real Sociedad look like they will not be pushovers this season after defeating Villarreal. As for Deportivo, well as last year, scoring goals looks like it will be their biggest worry.

Marca are avoiding the result as much as possible, focusing instead on the "CR7" injury scare.

Well I did not expect Konko to be Sevilla's goalscoring star against Levante but he netted twice in the 4-1 win. A nice way to start the new season after the disappointment vs Braga and now comes word Luis Fabiano has agreed to renew his contract with the club through 2013. Missing out on the Champions League is a financial blow but after two seasons in the competition the funds are there to sustain a competitive team capable of regaining a Champions League spot for next year.

ursus did you expect anything less from Marca and its editor Eduardo Inda who suckles at Florenino's teat?

By the way Cristiano Ronaldo injured his ankle and will miss 3 weeks.

Not really, but I must admit that Inda pretty much always manages to exceed even my most fevered musings when it comes to Florentino/Ronaldo sycophancy. It's postively pathological.

No surprise by Marca's reaction to yesterday's game between Madrid and Mallorca. Madrid certainly did not look good and at times to me looked excessively physical but that is Mourinho's style so it should be something we get used to. With a new coach and several new players in the starting lineup you can not expect the team to be functioning in midseason form but Madrid did not move the ball that well and in fact Mallorca's midfield held it's own very well against Madrid's.

It is not fair to compare results with Barcelona, they won easily at a club (Racing) who will fight against relegation all season long while Madrid played at a club who only missed out on a Champions League spot in injury time of the final game of last season.

Laudrup had Mallorca playing well and their new additions DeGuzman and Nsue look like they will both add a lot to the team. As for madrid they will now have to learn to play without Ronaldo for the next few weeks, hopefully that means returning DiMaria to the left side where he is more comfortable than on the right.

Beautiful goal by Iniesta. Spain's World Cup winning hero continues to shine.

A couple of late signings, David Trezeguet is in Alicante now preparing to sign his contract with Hercules which should be an interesting addition. Hercules look like they can use all the help they can get. Meanwhile Aldo Duscher is joining Espanyol to add some steel to the parakeets midfield.

How true. It has gotten to the point where I would rather read AS than Marca. If i want a good laugh I will visit Marca.com. I still wonder what Santiago Segurola is doing at Marca. I just hope they are paying him well!

:lol: :lol: Very good Pepe. You are right, last season with Pellegrini, Real Madrid won 4-1 in Mallorca. Certainly you have to give them time but I am wondering if Marca, who have their love fest with Mourinho, will they be as critical of him as they were of Pellegrini if the results do not go their way?

I was disappointed in the Depor-Zaragoza game neither team did much but Zaragoza's new Colombian forward Marco Perez missed a sitter. Even his own coach joked that he told Perez the teams had changed sides at halftime but Perez must not have heard because he cleared the ball away instead of shooting it at goal! :D

Manzanares is smiling tonight and Sporting is not after Atletico's 4-0 win over Sporting. If this was Juan Manuel Jurado's final game with Atleti before his rumoured move to Schalke he went out on a high note, scoring the opening goal and playing an overall excellent match before going off being subbed by Simao who scored the 4th goal. In betwene noen other than Diego Forlan scored twice. But it was really Jurado, Aguero and Reyes who sparked this win as all played very well. Atletico certainly are ready for the new seaosn. In fact they may regret the one week international break now coming up!

I think you are right Don Balon, Atletico will be disappointed they have to take a one week break now. They were definitely ready for the new season. I am curious if Jurado's play and the fan's reception toward him will convince Atletico to keep him as he will be needed during the course of the season. They have reyes, Simao and Merida to play out wide, maybe Costa in an emergency too. They can use Jurado.

Yes I was smiling after Atletico's excellent league debut. It could not have gone better, the entire team played well, just as they did in the Super Cup vs Inter Milan. But after the match the club did announce they are transferring Juan Manuel Jurado to Schalke. Quique Sanchez Flores did not want him to go but Jurado wanted the move, the opportunity to start and the price Schalke are paying were too much for Atletico to say no. Now I wish the club did not loan Eduardo Salvio to Benfica but in reply to Martin's comments about who can also play out wide, there are the fullbacks Filipe Luis, Antonio Lopez and Juan Valera who can all play as outside midfielders if need be. Maybe not ideal options but that is who is left to play out wide if Reyes, Simao or Merida are not available.

Hey I am a colchonero, I have to find something wrong even when the team is starting the season well! :D

Atletico were magnificent. That said, I'm not despondent, because I don't think Sporting played badly at all. There was a little bit of luck in the way the ball broke for the first goal (which was splendidly scored) but the other goals were more or less unstoppable, and the Asturians did have their chances and always looked to move the ball around. Canella had a poor evening, but as I say, I'm not so downbeat as a lot of teams much better than Sporting would have been beaten last night.

I think your optimism is well placed Sporting. Despite losing 4-0 I thought Sporting looked pretty good. I think they can be one of the better clubs among those expected to fight against relegation.

So Barcelona finally sign David Villa the forward they always wanted but in order to do so they had to lose first Samuel Eto'o and then Zlatan Ibrahimovic, virtually gifting them both to Inter and AC Milan. When you look at the big picture Barca paid a very high price to get Villa.

I am not worried about Real Madrid's first game at Mallorca, first of all Mallorca are a competitive team and good at home, second, madrid are still adjusting to Mourinho and vice versa. He will get the team functioning well soon. But one suggestion, do not play the very left footed Angel DiMaria on the right. Just because Messi and Robben can play there does not mean every left footed winger can play effetcvely on the right.

Maybe Kun Aguero was right and Atletico are the best team in Europe, Super Cup champions and now first place in La Liga! ;) They did play well last night and if Reyes keeps up that form they will be a very dangerous offensive team.

Real Madrid sent Rafael van der Vaart to Tottenham and Royston Drenthe to Hercules in final day moves before the transfer window closed.

2 seasons ago Real Madrid had 6 Dutch players on their roster, van der Vaart, Drenthe, Robben, Sneijder, van Nistelrooy and Huntelaar. Today they have none!

On the subject of Hercules the Spanish league is investigating a case of match fixing involving Hercules and their chase last season to win promotion. Stay tned for this.

Those are some serious charges against Hercules, I hope the accusations do not have any truth to them. I was happy to see Hercules return to La Primera after so many years away. I hope their return is not tarnished. And with their additions of Valdez, Trezeguet and Drenthe, they could have a competitive team this season.

Racing made a couple of last minute additions too, adding Swedish forward Markus Rosenberg on loan from Werder Bremen and the Chilean international defender Waldo Ponce. They should each add some quality to a club who needs all the quality they can find.

For those wondering about Florentino Perez' presidency at Real Madrid, the club's income rose to over 440 million euros while their total profit for the year was 24 million euros. It s the big transfer fees which make the headlines but Florentino's rule at real Madrid has been positive financially.

On the field Madrid host Jose Camacho's Osasuna this Saturday. That is a team Madrid should beat but just after an international break and just before a week of Champions League play, nothing is assured. And remember Madrid will play this week without Cristiano Ronaldo.

And Real Madrid's debt? It is still supposed to be over 700 million euros! That was conveniently left out.

The ebst game of the weekend looks to be Athletic Bilbao hosting Atletico Madrid, two in form teams and two clubs with aspirations to fight for European places. Loks like Tomas Ujfalusi may be doubtful for the game, so Atletico will have to find an alternative right back. I am thinking Perea moves out wide right with Dominguez and Godin playing centrally. They will have to be alert vs Fernando Llorente.

Athletic Bilbao-Atletico Madrid does sound like a very exciting game, at the least two of the top 8 clubs in the league meeting. With Llorente and Martinez it is Athletic who have more World Cup wnners on their roster than Atletico Madrid. And the match will take place at San Mames, a good opportunity for both clubs to show their worth early in the season.

The weekend schedule,

Playing on Saturday
Barcelona v Hercules CF (1600)
Valencia v Racing Santander (1600)
Real Madrid v Osasuna (1800)
Athletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (2000)

Playing on Sunday
Getafe v Levante (1500)
Real Zaragoza v Malaga (1500)
Sporting Gijon v Real Mallorca (1500)
Villarreal v Espanyol (1700)
Sevilla v Deportivo Coruna (1900)

Playing on Monday
Almeria v Real Sociedad (1900)

Barcelona and Real Madrid each begin their home league schedules playing clubs expected to fight against relegation. But as mentioned, after an international week and with Champions League games ahead, their form is unpredictable this weekend. Yet anything other than a convincing win by both would be a major surprise. It is possible David Trezeguet could make his debut for Hercules.

Athletic-Atletico is on paper the top game and a good chance for both to show they can be challengers this season. We will find out if ther week's break ruined Atletico Madrid's great first week momentum.

Villarreal and Sevilla each playing at home too but against potentially tricky opponents in Espanyol and Deportivo. And I guess the league is serious about Monday night matches as Almeria hosts Real Sociedad.

I think Madrid are making a mistake trying to rush Cristiano Ronaldo back, he is supposed to start tomorrow vs Osasuna.

Nelson Haedo Valdez 2 Barcelona 0!

What a shock for Barcelona at the Nou Camp. As some cautioned here, Barcelona were vulnerable after their players were away on international duty and with their mind son next week's Champions League match. With valdez and trezeguet and an orderly defence, hercules look like they can be a troublesome team this season. They were today.

And at the half, Real Madrid and Osasuna are 0-0. Valencia have already defeated Racing 1-0.

Real Madrid did win 1-0, goal by defender Ricardo Carvalho but Osasuna gave them a tough time of it. Good call that the big clubs would struggle after players were away on international duty. What a shock that Hercules beat Barcelona by 2 goals at the Nou Camp.

Atletico Madrid kept up their winning ways, 2-1 at Athletic Bilbao.

A very satisfying win for Atlético at San Mames. Athletic Bilbao played well and showed they are a quality team but Atlético's defense was excellent (it was Perea moving to right back with Dominguez and Godin the center and Lopez on the left) and offensively Atletico were a threat whenever they went forward. Forlan with the first goal then Tiago, who came on as a sub for Reyes, finished off a counter for the 2nd. Llorente with a late goal for Bilbao. Atlético and Valencia are both on maximum points after 2 games. The only downer to the evening for Atleti was a spraine dknee suffered by Aguero from a bad tackle by Athletic's Gurpegi. It is not certain how long El Kun will be out but likely he will miss next weekend's big game vs Barcelona.

Hercules really played well at the Nou Camp, and were not afraid of Barcelona, valdes converted the two chances which came his way and with he and trezeguet this could be an interetsing team to watch. with hard work behind them and their ability in front of goal, Hercules may be much more than one season tourists in the primera Division. Barca started with Mascherano in place of Xavi and his inability to pass the ball well restrained Barca's attack.

Osasuna worked hard and harrassed Madrid's midfielders and attackers but Osasuna did not have much going forward to trouble the vikingos. But it took a defender to get Madrid's only goal as they did not trouble Osasuna much either.

Hercules should next play Ajax! :P

Not many newly promoted clubs have a pair of forwards like Valdez and Trezeguet. I think the comments by a few others are right on target, Hercules has the look to them of a team who can do more than just survive. Their win vs barcelona wa snot just simply luck and then bravely holding on, they fought hard and gave Barcelona plenty of headaches.

We all know eventually Barcelona and Real Madrid will take control of the league but it is pleasing that at least at the outset, both are struggling a bit.