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This Saturday the Spanish "Primera" championship starts. In the 2013-14 season, the 20 strongest Spanish clubs will once again compete, but only one will win the main tournament trophy – the title of champions.
Last season, the unstoppable team in the league was "Barcelona", which surpassed two Madrid teams in the fight for the first place. Led by Tito Vilanova, the Catalans collected 100 points, while in second place remained Madrid's "Real" (85 points) and finally, Madrid's "Atletico" took the honorable third place (76 points).
In the new season, we will see three new teams – "Elche", which won the second strongest Spanish league, the team "Villarreal" which fell painfully in 2012, and "Almeria".
Contenders capable of winning the title of Spanish champions:
"Barcelona" – let's start with the champions who took the title from the royal club. This summer, the team from Catalonia was not busy and was only supplemented by one player, but the best South American footballer Neymar. The biggest change is likely the arrival of coach Gerardo Martino, who replaced T. Vilanova due to a prolonged illness.
Perhaps "Barcelona" was benefited by not adding many newcomers to the club. The faces – the same, the game – fundamentally unchanged, so the Catalans will have a great opportunity to defend the title and triumph in Spain for the second time in a row.
Cristiano Ronaldo was unstoppable this summer and scored 6 goals (AFP photo).
Madrid's "Real" – a club that always aims for first place, but in the last season, Jose Mourinho's disciples had to fight for the second position in the tournament. "The Whites" did some serious shopping this summer – acquiring the promising Isco from "Malaga", as well as midfielder Asier Illarramendi, right-back Daniel Carvajal, and Casemiro from San Sebastián's "Real Sociedad".
"Real", like their competitors, also changed their coach. The place of the Portuguese was taken by former PSG strategist Carlo Ancelotti, who will lead a young and promising team in the upcoming season. Without a doubt, "Barcelona" and "Real" will compete for the top spot in the tournament.
Two teams that will fight for the 3-4 places:
Madrid's "Atletico" – Diego Simeone's pupils finished in third place last season and earned a spot in the UEFA Champions League. One of the biggest losses was striker Radamel Falcao, but the capital's team made a smart decision and acquired David Villa from "Barcelona".
D. Villa will seek to prove his worth in Madrid (Reuters photo).
"Los Colchoneros" could be considered contenders for first place, but that would be quite bold, even though in the last season, they were defeated by Madrid's "Real" in the Copa del Rey final. "Atletico" should have no trouble securing the bronze.
"Valencia" – the team from the city of Valencia lost their place in the Champions League when they failed to resist San Sebastián's "Real Sociedad" team last season, which finished fourth. "The Bats" undoubtedly suffered a painful loss when "Tottenham" acquired forward and former captain Roberto Soldado.
The club did not stand out from the others and also changed their coach, with Serbian Miroslav Đukić taking over. "Valencia" managed to find a replacement for R. Soldado and acquired Portugal national team member Hélder Postiga from "Real Zaragoza". Despite the painful losses, the owners of the Mestalla stadium should outperform the other 16 teams and regain a spot in the Champions League.
Projected final standings for the 2013-14 season:
- Madrid's "Real"
- "Barcelona"
- Madrid's "Atletico"
- "Valencia"
- San Sebastián's "Real Sociedad"
- Seville's "Real Betis"
- "Villarreal"
- "Malaga"
- "Sevilla"
- Madrid's "Rayo Vallecano"
- "Elche"
- Madrid's "Getafe"
- Barcelona's "Espanyol"
- Valencia's "Levante"
- Bilbao's "Athletic"
- Valencia's "Real"
- "Granada"
- "Almeria"
- Pamplona's "Osasuna"
- Vigo's "Celta"
First round schedule:
2013-08-17 (Saturday)
San Sebastián's "Real Sociedad" – Madrid's "Getafe" (8:00 PM)
Valencia's "Real" – Bilbao's "Athletic" (10:00 PM)
"Valencia" – "Malaga" (12:00 AM)
2013-08-18 (Sunday)
"Barcelona" – Valencia's "Levante" (8:00 PM)
Madrid's "Real" – Seville's "Real Betis" (10:00 PM)
Pamplona's "Osasuna" – "Granada" (10:00 PM)
"Sevilla" – Madrid's "Atletico" (12:00 AM)
2013-08-19 (Monday)
Madrid's "Rayo Vallecano" – "Elche" (9:00 PM)
Vigo's "Celta" – Barcelona's "Espanyol" (11:00 PM)
"Almeria" – "Villarreal" (11:00 PM)
