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Spanish football is edging closer towards inaugurating its 88th season in the top flight as La Liga kicks-off today with Girona hosting newly promoted side Real Valladolid.
Most of the teams have already done their bit of the business in the transfer market as the league witnessed a raft of deals over the summer. Several exciting talents have been imported while the league also lost some of its precious gems, most noteably Cristiano Ronaldo, who left Real Madrid for Juventus.
Nevertheless, we have enough reasons to be excited for the new season. But first, ahead of the curtain raiser, let's look into our crystal balls and make a few predictions. Here are some that you can take to the bank:
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#5 All three promoted sides to finish in the bottom 10
Rayo Vallecano and Real Valladolid have returned to the top tier after a considerable gap, while Huesca are making its La Liga debut this season. Although some of these sides did try to reinforce the squad with some new additions, no great shakes are really expected from any of them though.
Los Franjirrojos clinched the Segunda Division by a whisker, but have been perennial bottom dwellers throughout their history, finishing in the top half of the league on only two occasions before.
Huesca on the other hand, have roped in a decuplet of players either on loan or on a Bosman, but hardly anyone has plied his trade in the top flight before as this is an average team and likely to be mired in the relegation scrap for large spells of the campaign.
Valladolid limped to the promotion play-offs after what was a turbulent campaign mired by defensive malaise - they conceded 55 times in 42 games - even though the attack was the most prolific in the division.
However, with top scorer Jaime Mata, who struck an incredible 33 times, leaving for Getafe in the summer, the Albivioletas are now also without a reliable marksman. Now that's not a good sign at all.
The new comers are surely going to find life in the top division very difficult, whilst it is a real possibility that one of these might even finish in the bottom three at the end of the campaign.
#4 Lionel Messi to finish as the top scorer, again
Despite Ronaldo's ridiculous upturn in form in the second half of the campaign, Messi managed to run away with the Pichichi trophy last time, the fifth of his career and drawing level with Real Madrid legend Hugo Sanchez as the players with the most number of titles behind only Telmo Zarra. But now with the Portuguese ace departing for Serie A, the path is clear for the Barcelona talisman to script yet another piece of history.
And there's seemingly nobody in the horizon who can really put up a challenge. Antoine Griezmann is going to score another bucket load of goals this season, but he's never touched the 30-goal mark in La Liga so far while Luis Suarez looked increasingly exhausted last season and his performance in the recent Spanish Supercup too was nothing to write home about.
Gareth Bale is surely going to benefit from the space left by Ronaldo, but his recurring injury issues means even though he might play a starring role for the Whites, may not finish as the most prolific of the campaign. Diego Costa is getting back to his best, but has crossed the 30-goal barrier only once in his career.
The likes of Carlos Bacca, Iago Aspas and Karim Benzema are some of the other big attacking names in the league, but none have what it takes to match toe-to-toe with Messi. That leaves the Argentine maestro as the clear claimant for the trophy.
#3 A closely contested battle for the 'best of the rest'
Whilst no one outside the 'big three' realistically has a shot at the La Liga trophy, the likes of Valencia, Sevilla, Villarreal and Real Betis have proved to be regular the speed-bumps on their way, and with another prolific summer of good deals, look to contest fiercely for the fourth Champions League place.
Los Che won that title last season after finishing fourth in the final standings after a season of revelation under then new manager Peter Lim. However, it would take greater efforts to replicate the feat considering the added Champions League demands this season.
The Sevillastas are currently on a roll in Europe, swatting teams aside in the Europa League qualifying by plundering in a litany of goals. Whilst its too early to conclude anything, it's a reflection of a reinvigorated attack and after a season of struggles, are oozing with confidence.
To judge on the basis of transfer deals, Real Betis look to be more prepared than anyone, for they've been really active and added 6 new players to the roster, most noteably Napoli's Fabian Ruiz, Portuguese midfielder William Carvalho and Japan's hero at the 2018 World Cup, Takashi Inui.
Another strong contender for European football, Villarreal have been busy in the market too, bringing in almost £55 million worth of talent, headlined by former Arsenal man Santi Cazorla.
Even though La Liga has been often criticized for being a Real Madrid-Barcelona oligopoly since the turn of the millennium, it has always witnessed a nail-biting contest amongst the teams right below them. And this time, it's going to be closer than ever.
#2 Atletico will be the best Madrid team
Spanish capital's top shouts Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid were in action earlier in the week for the UEFA Supercup where the former thumped its more glamorous neighbor in a 4-2 thriller. And in a retrospect, it is also an ominous sign of things to come in the league.
Los Rojiblancos have made hefty business in the transfer market this term, adding Thomas Lemar to strengthen the wings while Rodri is expected to fill the void left by the departing Gabi. January arrival Diego Costa looked sharp in the derby this week and can form a fearsome strike partnership with Griezmann upfront.
The midfield troika of Koke, Saul and Rodri ran the rings around Los Blancos as together, they bring solidity and form a creative force that the forward duos can gleefully thrive on.
On paper, this Atletico side looks stronger, mightier than ever. A great run in the league is on the cards and for the second year running, should finish above Real Madrid, who're staring at a season of transition following the departure of Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo.
New manager Julen Lopetegui's first official game of the season wasn't exactly a memorable one, as the defense still appears wobbly while Bale and Benzema are long way from effectively cementing the gap left by the Portuguese ace. It might take time before things fall into place, but the questions remains - how long.
Nobody knows what to expect from this Real Madrid side, and the club's transfer business of just one major signing so far too, have given little reasons to be optimistic. Copa Del Rey looks to be the best and only hope of a silverware as of now, though things will be clearer by the Christmas break.
#1 Barcelona to retain La Liga title
Barcelona's potentially historic season of going all 38 games unbeaten in 2017/18 ended up being just another title winning campaign following a defeat to Levante in the penultimate game.
But that was the only blot on an otherwise pristine copybook as the Blaugrana clinched a 25th league title. And given the reinforcements the club has made in the summer, expect the dominion to continue for another year at least.
The massive outlay of almost €125 million is a real statement of intent from the Spanish champions, who bolstered the squad with new and exciting talents such as Malcom, Arthur, Lenglet and a seasoned professional in Arturo Vidal.
If the pre-season (and the Spanish Supercup in Vidal's case) is anything to go by, then these new arrivals are set to bring immense depth to the squad while the Chilean's tremendous experience would be an asset in the midfield.
Rafinha and Munir too, have returned from loan spells and should they choose to stick around, can be useful options for Valverde while resting first teamers.
Not to forget they've also cut losses by shipping out some expensive flops. This squad hence has a semblance of freshness as well as formidability around it as its competent enough to fire on all three fronts, especially the league.
If anything, Lionel Messi and co. should lifting a 26th La Liga crown come May. Anything other than that will be a real surprise.
