For the first time in a decade La Liga will kick
off in Spain without Cristiano Ronaldo hunting down goals for Real
Madrid and Andres Iniesta playing pinpoint passes for Barcelona.
Ronaldo was sold to Juventus for 112 million euros (131.4 million
dollars) in July, having spent nine seasons at Real Madrid and
scoring 450 goals.
The attacking burden now falls on Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and
Marco Asensio. They made a promising start in pre-season, netting
eight of the nine goals Madrid scored.
Barcelona also said goodbye to a legend this summer, with Iniesta
moving to Japan, where he has already scored one stunning goal for
his new J1 League side Vissel Kobe.
In an attempt to fill the vacuum left by Iniesta, who was 22 years at
the club, Barcelona have signed Brazilian midfielder Arthur Melo and
Chile international Arturo Vidal.
The 22-year-old Arthur arrives from Gremio and is closer to Iniesta
in style. He will wear the former Spain international's number-eight
shirt.
But it will be the more experienced Vidal who can first expect to be
a regular for Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde.
The 31-year-old arrived from Bayern Munich for a reported fee of 20
million euros and ought to offer the same muscle and goal threat that
previously came from Paulinho, who has returned to Chinese Super
League club Guangzhou Evergrande after just one season at Barcelona.
The third horse in the 2018-19 title race is likely to be Atletico
Madrid and they also lost a club institution in the summer when
Fernando Torres moved to J1 League side Sagan Tosu.
But any sadness over Torres' departure was eased by news that Antoine
Griezmann had rejected the chance to join Barcelona.
"I've decided to stay," Griezmann dramatically announced in a
documentary called 'The Decision,' which was aired on Spanish
television channel Movistar back in July.
He will be full of confidence this season after winning the World Cup
with France in Russia and his decision to stay was not the only boost
received by Atletico Madrid supporters.
Jan Oblak and Diego Godin rejected the advances of Chelsea and
Manchester United respectively, and Atletico also signed right-winger
Gelson Martins from Sporting, left-winger Thomas Lemar from Monaco,
former Villarreal midfielder Rodri and AC Milan forward Nikola
Kalinic.
Coach Diego Simeone will know a raft of new signings does not
necessarily make for a good season but the club have certainly backed
him to challenge Barcelona and Real Madrid.
As well as Arthur and Vidal, Barcelona signed Brazilian winger Malcom
from French side Girondins Bordeaux and Sevilla centre-back Clement
Lenglet.
Real Madrid signed goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and right-back Alvaro
Odriozola from Chelsea and Real Sociedad respectively.
Valencia are Spain's fourth Champions League side this season and
have loaned striker Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea for a year in a bid
to retain their place at La Liga's top table.
In the chasing pack behind last season's top four are Villarreal, who
have re-signed their former player Santi Cazorla seven years after he
left them to join Malaga and subsequently Arsenal.
"This has always been my home," he told a press conference. "When I
left I knew I would come back one day."
Cazorla is desperate to play his first official match since October
2016, when he injured ankle ligaments playing for Arsenal in the
Champions League against Ludogorets.
That was the start of a nightmare two-year period that included 10
operations but the 33-year-old came through a series of summer
friendlies to earn his one-year deal.
Another emotional La Liga return will be made by new Athletic Bilbao
coach Eduardo Berizzo, who was operated on last December after being
diagnosed with prostate cancer.
His surgery went well but he was sacked by Sevilla shortly
afterwards, despite having guided the club into the last 16 of the
Champions League.
He begins a new challenge as he takes over from Jose Angel Ziganda
and will be charged with improving on last season's disappointing
16th-place finish.
With Las Palmas, Malaga and Deportivo La Coruna all relegated last
season La Liga welcomes newly promoted Huesca, Valladolid and Rayo
Vallecano for the new campaign, which kicks off on Friday when
Valladolid play Girona and Betis play Levante.