MADRID (AP) – The Spanish league starts with a top team arriving with a variety of expectations.
Defending champion Barcelona wants to keep that momentum and show that winning again in Spain will be a team. Real Madrid aims to reset after last season’s inactiveness and the arrival of manager Xabi Alonso. Atletico Madrid hopes that the improved team will help keep up with their rivals.
Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming season:
Barcelona’s momentum
Barcelona has left one of their best seasons over the years, winning the league, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup. He also went deep into the Champions League and reached the semi-finals for the first time since 2019.
In his second year under manager Hansiflik, the Catalan club will seek to increase their success from last season. English Forward Marcus Rashfordwill be working with Raminyamal and Robert Lewandowski on Europe’s best offensive front last season. He led the scoring charts in both the Champions League with over 100 goals in both the Spanish league.
The team will be left with veteran defenders Inigo Martinez and Ansu Fati, who signed with Saudi Arab club Al Nasr after not playing much last season. The club has added before Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia.
Barcelona will be holding their season in Mallorca on Saturday.
Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid
Madrid ended a disappointing season with high standards, losing the Spanish league title to Barcelona, failing to reach the finals in the Club World Cup and Champions League. He also lost all four “Classico” matches he played against his Catalan rivals.
That all led to a change in coaching, and Carlo Ancelotti took over his work in Brazil. Former player Alonso Arrived as widely expected.
The coaches didn’t do much to help Madrid in the Club World Cup. The team lost to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.
The offense is once again led by Killian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr., but the defense, which struggled due to a string of injuries last season, was boosted by signing with young Spanish central defender Dean Huyssen. Soon Trent Alexander ArnoldHe is a member of the UK Countryman Jude Bellingham.
Luka Modric left to join AC Milan more than a decade later at the Spanish club. Lucas Vazquez also left, but there were still doubts as to whether Rodrigo would return.
Madrid’s first match will be at his home, where he will face Osasuna on August 19th.
Improved Atletico
Atletico Madrid had high hopes last season, but they were unable to finish behind Spanish league titles Barcelona and Madrid.
Director Diego Simeone It shook the team In the offseason, players such as Anchelle Correa, Rodrigo de Paul, Axel Whitsel, Rodrigo Riquelme and Cesar Azpilicueta set off. Arrived are Alex Baena, Johnny Cardoso, Thiago Armada, Giacomo Ruspadri, Matteo Laggeri, Mark Pafil and David Hanco.
The team is led in advance by Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez.
Atletico will kick off at Espanyol on Sunday.
Other clubs
Teams that made good runs last season include Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal and Real Betis, who are trying to stay close to the top again. Levante, Elche and Oviedo are teams promoted this season, replacing relegated Regan, Las Palmas and Balladrid.
injury
Barcelona and Real Madrid are one of those teams that are not fully capable to start the season. It starts without a Catalonian club Veteran goalkeeper Mark Andreterstegen For surgery for lower back problems. The goalkeeper was in conflict with the club over his recovery time. He was tentatively stripped of the captain for his refusal to sign a medical report on the injury, but he and the club eventually reached an agreement to restore his role as captain.
Veteran striker Robert Lewandowski was also not expected to play early due to muscle issues.
Madrid There is no Bellingham Recurrent dislocation of the left shoulder was addressed for the first few rounds after undergoing surgery.
Real Betis playmaker Isco is expected to miss the first few months of the season after breaking his leg in friendship with Malaga.
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