Five reasons why Real Madrid will successfully defend the La Liga title 

After a wait of five long years, Real Madrid were finally able to wrest the La Liga title away from their eternal rivals, Barcelona. The Champions League has always been the competition preferred by the club, but just one league title between 2008-09 and Zidane’s first run in 2015-16 was not enough for a club of the Whites' stature.

After the last time they won the league title, in Mourinho’s second season in 2011-12, they went on a barren run for five long years. This time, however, it feels as though Madridistas won’t have to wait for so long as their team looks stronger than ever.

On that note, here are five reasons why Madrid will successfully retain the league title…

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#5 Improved team-chemistry

Modric and Kroos share a telepathic bond

One of the things that Real Madrid almost always lacked was an understanding between their first-team players. This problem, however, doesn’t exist anymore. In fact, if anything, the chemistry among the starting XI is on the rise.

From the goalkeeper, Keylor Navas, to the striker, Karim Benzema, every player in the first-team has been at the club for at least three years – out of them, Casemiro and Navas have been starters for only two years while the others have enjoyed that status for at least three years.

The sales of Alvaro Morata, James Rodriguez and Danilo might have reduced the experience on the bench, but the first-team keeps improving in terms of team chemistry. This is helped by the fact that most of the players that Real Madrid have signed over the last few years have been more for the future than the present.

This means that while the team gets stronger overall, the first-team balance doesn’t get disrupted due to the inclusion of star players. The additions of Theo Hernandez, Dani Ceballos, Jesus Vallejo and Marcos Llorente are also in line with that policy.

And we all know that good team-chemistry increases the chances of winning titles.

#4 More depth

Ceballos' arrival will add some much-needed depth to the side

Real Madrid may have lost three important players in the form of Danilo, James Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata, but one gets the impression that their squad has gotten even deeper. While the attack might look a little weak with the departure of Morata and the poor preseason performances of Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, the midfield and defence have improved.

In midfield, the Blancos have Dani Ceballos – the best player in the U-21 Euros – and the second-best holding midfielder in La Liga last season, Marcos Llorente. They not only add quality to the team, but also provide the side with more variety.

In defence, the uber-talented Theo Hernandez replaces the perennially-injured Fabio Coentrao as Marcelo’s deputy left-back while the highly-rated Jesus Vallejo takes over from the ageing Pepe. At right-back, it might seem like Danilo’s departure has left a noticeable void, but Achraf Hakimi’s pre-season performances have more than assured that he is ready for a run in the first-team.

#3 Casemiro factor

Casemiro has been an important figure for Madrid

It is not often that a holding midfielder gets credit for what he does for the team. After all, they are the ones that do the less-glamorous job of winning the ball back and providing a defensive shield to the backline.

However, in this case, I will go against the norm and praise Carlos Henrique Casemiro. Ever since joining Real Madrid, the Brazilian seems to have reached new heights.

It is no coincidence that the Galacticos were triumphant in the Champions League for two successive seasons with the former Porto loanee as a starter. Against United in the European Super Cup, he showed superb improvement in the one thing that he was criticised for earlier: ability on the ball.

He played some cracking passes – one which led to Gareth Bale being one-on-one with De Gea – and scored the first goal for the Whites with a fabulous finish. Casemiro’s rise gives Zidane an X-factor in crunch games.

The Frenchman could use him as a box-to-box midfielder with the freedom to make occasional forward runs and dismantle the opponent’s system in the process. This new-found variety could help Real Madrid defend their league title.

#2 Barca and Atleti wounded

No more MSN

The two other challengers for the title are Barcelona and Atletico Madrid – and both of them are wounded this season.

Atletico Madrid’s transfer ban has tied their hands; they simply can’t register any player this summer. They might have acquired the signature of Vitolo, but he cannot play for them until January. Meanwhile, they have lost Theo Hernandez to Real Madrid, Matias Kranevitter to Zenit and Oliver Torres to Porto – rendering their squad depth to almost nil.

As for Barcelona, their midfield was already miles behind their fiercest rivals, and the departure of Neymar has hurt them even more. The Brazilian was signed as the future successor to Messi’s throne and now they have lost that future, which certainly hurts their morale more than anything.

And it takes time for that to heal.

#1 Zizou’s charm

Zidane has been phenomenal for Madrid

The most important reason why Los Blancos will successfully be able to defend their La Liga crown - Zinedine Zidane. Ever since the French maestro has taken over the reins at the Spanish capital, it has been smooth sailing for the Whites.

In his season-and-a-half, he has already won six titles – including two consecutive Champions Leagues – and only barely missed out on La Liga in the 2015/16 season.

The former Juventus midfielder was labelled a manager who rode on luck rather than tactical acumen, but he has quashed those claims. Real’s shift to a 4-3-1-2 late last season boosted their efforts to retain the Champions League and win the much-coveted league title.

Even against Manchester United in their recent encounter, Zidane employed a 4-3-1-2 with Benzema dropping back to become the trequartista beside Isco, making it a 4-3-2-1. This move actually resulted in the Spaniard scoring Real Madrid’s second – and winning – goal of the night.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. The Merengues’ mid-season mini-slump at the turn of the year forced Zidane to rethink his strategy and he adapted so well that the club ended up with two titles. Three now.

Expect him to lift Real to new heights while witnessing the game from the touchline.