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The 2018/19 LaLiga season has kicked off and for the first time since 2009, the league will be without Cristiano Ronaldo. However, a busy transfer market, hijacked transfers, controversial managerial appointments, and plenty of youngsters joining big clubs make this season one of the most interesting to watch for quite some time.
Let's look at the teams who are likely to finish in the top 5 positions this season:
Real Betis
Perhaps a surprise inclusion to this list, Real Betis are here largely thanks to their exploits last season. Led by talisman Joaquin, Real Betis surprised everyone as the finished 6th in the league while finishing above Sevilla and just a point behind Villareal. The highlight of their season was the 0-1 victory over Real at the Bernabeu.
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The 6th place finish does hide the fact that they conceded the same amount of goals as 20th placed Malaga, and this issue has been addressed this summer with the arrival of Portuguese Euro 2016 winning midfielder William Carvalho for €20 million from Sporting Lisbon. Brazilian centre-back Sidnei also joins the club from relegated Deportivo La Coruña.
As far as bolstering the attack goes, Betis have done a pretty decent job this summer in that department too. Former Real Madrid man Sergio Canales joins on a free transfer from Real Sociedad, while Japnese winger Takashi Inui joins from Eibar on another free transfer.
Betis have lost some key players in midfielder Fabián Ruiz, and goalkeeper Antonia Adan, who join Napoli and Atletico respectively. But the quality of their summer signings should make up for these losses.
A 6th placed finish last season means that Betis will also play in the Europa League this season and that might affect their league campaign but their primary focus would surely be on finishing in the top 6 to guarantee a place in Europe the following season.
Manager Quique Setién has a talented squad at his disposal and if they can sort out their defensive woes from last year, Real Betis might just challenge for a place in the top 4, something that will be their biggest achievement since winning their only league title in 1935.
Valencia
A stellar league campaign last year saw Valencia finish 4th, just 3 points behind Real Madrid and it also sealed a spot in this season's champions league.
Manager Marcelino's side will look to do pretty much the same as last season, despite losing key players from last year's campaign such as Andreas Pereira, and João Cancelo to Manchester United and Juventus, respectively.
On the brighter side, they made Geoffrey Kondogbia's loan from Inter Milan permanent for €25 million and that will solidify the midfield led by their experienced captain Dani Parejo.
French forward Kevin Gameiro, experienced midfielder Daniel Wass, striker Mitchi Batshuayi (on loan from Chelsea) and world cup hero Denis Cheryshev (on loan from Villareal) all add much-needed depth to a squad that will be looking to at least make it past the group stage in this season's Champions League.
It will be interesting, however, to see how Marcelino manages the squad to ensure that his team's league campaign isn't disrupted by their European adventure.
Last season's stand out performer, young Portuguese forward Gonçalo Guedes also looks likely to return on a permanent transfer after his parent club PSG left him out of their pre-season squad.
Valencia's season could very well be defined by the performances of their forwards Rodrigo and Santi Mina. The two were brilliant last season, and Santi Mina, only 22, could be looking at a career-defining season as another good campaign would surely attract the interests of bigger clubs across the continent.
Expect Valencia to give the big three a tough fight this season as they look to secure that final Champions League spot for a second straight season.
Real Madrid
For the first time in almost a decade, Real will be without Cristiano Ronaldo. That almost guarantees 40-50 fewer goals a season and a 4-2 loss to city rivals in the UEFA Super Cup would definitely not have helped the team's morale.
Following Ronaldo's departure, it was speculated that Real were going to sign a superstar to replace the Portuguese. Eden Hazard, Chelsea's main man, was the prime target yet with just 12 days left for the Spanish transfer window to close, there are no signs of a new signing.
Apart from that, Real have lost key players such as Mateo Kovacic, a reliable back-up for any of their three first-choice midfielders, Theo Hernandez, and Achraf Hakimi has depleted the squad of the very depth that enabled former manager Zinedine Zidane to clinch three Champions League titles in a row.
What is astonishing is that no reinforcements for these losses have been made. Odriozola, a highly rated right back, joins as a back up for Dani Carvajal, despite that fact that Nacho has proven his reliability in any defensive position.
Thibaut Courtois' arrival has also complicated the situation with Real now having to deal with 5 goalkeepers in their squad.
Young Brazilia forward Vinicius Jr. is a very exciting prospect but is surely too young at the age of 18 to make a decent impact this season.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo's departure has promoted Gareth Bale to the role of the team's talisman. The Welsh forward has tremendous boots to fill but has had a good start to the campaign.
Benzema and Asensio, who would look to cement his place in the team after two really good campaigns under Zidane, look likely to start alongside Bale in attack this season.
With Luka Modric heavily linked to a move away from the Bernabeu this season, Real are in a desperate need of a few big name signings. This squad clearly lacks the depth that it needs to perform well both domestically, and in Europe. This was evident when they blew a 2-1 lead against Atletico in the Super Cup after Casemiro was forced off with an injury.
Manager Julen Lopetegui has a very tough task at hand this season. It is, however, not that surprising that a team that relied so heavily on a player needs some time to cope with his departure.
A couple of new signings would surely take the burden off the key players but it doesn't seem like there will be any. If Real are to push for a realistic title challenge this season then the entire squad will have to perform at their very best because their main title rivals, as we shall see ahead, have done some really smart business this season.
Atletico Madrid
The Rojiblancos are, without a doubt, the biggest challenge that Barca will face in the league this season. Fresh from a 4-2 humbling of their city rivals Real, Atletico could be looking at one of their most successful seasons this time around.
Antoine Girezmann's decision to stay certainly helps them while the singing of attacking midfielder Thomas Lemar from Monaco gives them a player who has the mentality and skill to do wonders under a coach like Simeone.
Club captain Gabi's departure may not have a significant impact as Atleti have roped in highly rate Spanish midfielder Rodri to replace him and the youngster put in a very decent shift against Real.
Other singings such as Gelson Martins, goalkeeper Antonio Adan, and striker Nikola Kalinic add more depth to the squad, something that manager Diego Simeone will look to make the most of as Atleti look to challenge for the Champions League as well, after a disappointing group stage exit last season.
Atletico Madrid, especially under Simeone, have been a side that has often relied on character more than skill or technique but with the players that they have this season, we might just see a mix of both.
And that is what makes them contenders not just for the league but for the Champions League as well.
FC Barcelona
Barca start this season sans Andres Iniesta but are still firm title favorites. The side, led by Lionel Messi now, will look to grab their second straight title after a brilliant campaign last time around saw them lose just once.
The singing of Arthur Melo from Brazilian club Gremio has been an important one as the midfielder is looked at as a replacement for club legend Xavi.
The hijack of the transfer of Brazilian winger Malcolm, who was set for a medical at Roma, also adds depth to their attack spearheaded by Luis Suarez.
Other signings include center back Clément Lenglet, who Barca favored so much that they let Yeri Mina go to Everton. Another good thing for Barca this season is the availability of Coutinho for the entire season. The winger might allow Messi to drop further back and do more damage from the middle of the park.
This season is also important for young French winger Ousmane Dembele who would challenge Malcolm for a place on the right wing. He started the season in spectacular fashion by scoring the winner in Barca's 2-1 win over Sevilla in the Spanish Super Cup.
Despite the fact that they let 6 key players leave, including club legend Iniesta, Barca have signed reinforcements that keep the squad's depth intact and in some ways make this team better than last year's.
In fact, Barca's squad might make them fancy themselves for yet another treble. It might sound far-fetched but when you have Leo Messi in your team, you always have a chance.
