It’s an interesting start to the season in Spain’s La Liga where, in a rather sharp contrast to last season’s two- horse race, it appears no less than five clubs are pulling out the stops in what could prove the most exciting title race in years. Sure, it’s early days yet and some of these pretenders are sure to drop off when the going gets tough, but it’s sure made for fascinating viewing in the early weeks and after eight rounds only three points separate first-place Valencia from fifth-placed Sevilla.
Valencia is a team reborn, after the shenanigans of last season when in-house fighting and a leadership crisis led to a disappointing 10th place finish. That new coach Unai Emery has revived pretty much the same bunch of players in such a short time speaks volumes about the failings at the top and is a sure testament to his growing reputation. Yet any team featuring the likes of David Albelda – marginalised by Ronald Koeman last term – David Silva, Joaquin and the free-scoring David Villa, should be challenging for honours and I think they’ll be in the hunt to the very end this time.
A new manager is also at the heart of 2nd placed Barcelona’s resurgence. Club legend Pep Guardiola has put his stamp on a team now shorn of the Brazilian influence of Ronaldinho and Deco, and with Xavi and Iniesta pulling the midfield strings for Messi and Eto’o upfront, the Catalans have been in free-scoring form with 12 goals in their last three league games. Eto’o, in particular, as settled back in the fold after all the transfer talk in the summer, and tops the scorers’ chart with 9 goals. If he stays in form, and Messi stays fit, Barcelona should be champions come May.
Then there’s champions Real Madrid, who will have tougher time keeping the title this time. On the plus side, new signing Rafael van der Vaart as settled in nicely, and they can still count on the goals of Ruud van Nistelrooy, even if the Dutch goal-machine has struggled with injuries this term. Yet, Bernd Schuster’s side have been far from convincing, and with their key opponents back in the groove, they’ll struggle to make it three in a row.
Villareal, the Yellow Submarine, continue to impress despite having no major superstars on the books. Manuel Pellegrini took the club to a 2nd place finish last term and will be hoping to go one better this season. Not many would bet against a club that remains unbeaten this season. Javi Venta and Joan Capdevila provide leadership at the back; Santi Cazorla, Marcos Senna and Robert Pires hold things together in midfield, and in ‘Beppe Rossi and Nihat Kahveci they boast two of the sharpest forwards in La Liga. Villareal will certainly have a say before all is said and done.
Sevilla, in fifth place, have adjusted very well to the loss of Dani Alves, Seydou Keita and Christian Poulsen in the off-season, and are almost looking like the side that won two-UEFA Cups under Juande Ramos. Freddie Kanoute and Luis Fabiano are still a handful upfront, with Jesus Navas and Diego Capel providing width. Central midfield will make or break their challenge though, and it remains to be seen if the likes of Enzo Maresca, Romaric Ndri and Renato will prove adequate replaements for Poulsen and Keita.
Atletico Madrid should be among this group of title contenders yet four losses so far leaves them well off the pace in 10th place and suggests that they’ll struggle to claim a Champions League slot. Yet in Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan they boast the league’s most prolific strike force, and they can call on the likes of Simao, Maniche and Maxi Rodrigues in midfield, and new boys Johnny Heitinga and Tomas Ujfalusi in defence. Manager Javier Aguirre will be hoping to turn things around as the season progresses – especially if any of the leading pack slip up.
All told, it should be exciting times in Spain.
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