With the European transfer window closed, we take a look at three of the best signings of Spain’s top division. The window has obviously been open rather longer than usual due to the Covid-19 pandemic, giving teams longer to add to their squads. Nevertheless, for most teams it remains business as usual looking across the leagues and across Europe to bolster and strengthen squads for the upcoming 2020/2021 season. Here is a take of three of the best signing so far in the summer window of 2020 for La Liga. Alvaro Negredo: Al-Nasr to Cadiz FC Newly promoted Cadiz have bought in experienced Striker Alvaro Negredo on a free transfer from Dubai based side Al-Nasr. Regardless of the fact that the 35-year-old hasn’t played on home soil since 2017 with Valencia, the forward has still managed to obtain an impressive goalscoring record. The striker’s wealth of experience and knowledge of the league in Spain will prove vital for Cadiz’s survival efforts. With a powerful presence in the air … [Read More...]
Granada’s European Adventure
Granada’s final day of La Liga will go down as one of the most important days in the club’s history to date. Their entry into the European realm of football was determined by a number of results across the league. Relying on teams to lose and themselves to win, qualifying albeit being close, felt next to impossible due to the demanding task in front of them. Before the final game both Valencia and Getafe sat above the Andalusian side, with Getafe sat firmly in the European places after performing impressively all season and competing in Europe along side the Primera Liga. Valencia too would be desperate for a return to the European stage after impressively topping their group in the Champions League which included clubs such as Chelsea, Ajax and Lille. Before the League even started Granada would have been relegation favourites after being promoted from the Segunda Liga. With smart investment in the summer transfer window Granada bought in experienced striker Roberto Soldado … [Read More...]
Which Spanish Side Are Best Placed To Challenge For The Champions League This Season?
The Champions League remains the one competition that all of the elite clubs around Europe target every season. However, the 2019-20 season ended in disappointment for all the sides from Spain. Barcelona were hammered at the quarterfinal stage by Barcelona, while Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were dumped out by Manchester City and RB Leipzig respectively. You can read more about epl predictions here, but in this article, we will assess the chances of the Spanish sides in the Champions League this season. Barcelona Barcelona remain the lowest-priced Spanish side in the betting to win the Champions League, but their chances will likely be affected by the atmosphere within the camp. Much of the summer was taken up with talk of Lionel Messi leaving the club, while the pressure on Ronald Koeman already means that he can ill-afford a run of bad results. There is a clear division between the team, board and management at the club, and with the competition being so high in the … [Read More...]
Luis Suárez, can Help Atlético Madrid Challenge for La Liga
Atlético Madrid were the last team capable of breaking the “Big Two” duopoly in La Liga, and following the signing of striker Luis Suárez; they could finally be ready to mount another serious bid to climb above Real Madrid and Barcelona. The capture of Suárez was undoubtedly a coup, especially for the modest outlay involved, with Barcelona keen to get the 33-year-old off their wage bill during the recent transfer window. Atlético saw their opportunity and went for it, wasting zero time luring the Uruguayan star to the Wanda Metropolitano. Indeed, the addition of Suárez could be the missing ingredient for the side managed by Diego Simeone, who could now have the attacking tools to push for the title this season. Especially considering the disappointing return of goals from Diego Costa, who has managed just 11 goals in 56 La Liga outings over the last two and a half seasons. Álvaro Morata fared a little better, scoring 18 goals in his 49 La Liga outings. His departure … [Read More...]
Who are the three sides joining the La Liga ranks this season?
Three sides have earned the right to feast at the top table of Spanish football ahead of the new season, but who are they? What is their topflight history? And do they have what it takes to stay up? Huesca – Segunda Champions Huesca will be a familiar name to any recent follower of La Liga after bouncing straight back to the topflight after finishing 19th in their debut season in 2018/19. However, the season was not without its highs with a 2-1 home win over Sevilla a particular highlight. This season, the minnows will be far better prepared than their first foray into La Liga in which they finished seven points adrift of safety, but if this season has shown us anything, the Azulgranas have a winning mentality and have learnt plenty of lessons as they bid to remain a La Liga club for more than one more season. Cadiz – Segunda Runners Up Cadiz have only managed season in La Liga this Millennium prior to the new campaign. That was during the 2005/06 season in which the … [Read More...]
Real favourites for back to back titles
Yes, the season may well have just finished, but the odds are in for next season, and Real Madrid are instilled as the early favourites to make it back to back titles. Perhaps understandably after Los Blancos claimed the crown by a five-point cushion over great rivals Barcelona who could end the season pot-less in what would prove to be a disappointing campaign for the Catalan giants. The early prices have Real at just slightly odds on at 9/10 with Barcelona hot on their heels at evens. As we have come to expect, Atletico are priced as the best of the rest at a rather tempting 10/1 despite Diego Simeone’s men ending the campaign seventeen points behind city rivals Real. Sevilla has a strong season in 2019/20 and reaffirmed their top four credentials and are fourth favourite for the title at 80/1 with Villarreal at 150/1 and the Bats of Valencia at 250/1 along with Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, and even last season’s surprise packages Celta Vigo. From there, the odds … [Read More...]
The 3 games you cannot afford to miss this weekend
The season is finally drawing to a close and by the time the action gets underway this weekend, most of the sides in La Liga will be onto their final five fixtures of the campaign. As we enter ‘Squeaky bum time’ each game has so much riding on it so what are the key fixtures that could shape the destiny of the 20 sides this weekend? Celta Vigo v Real Betis – Saturday 4th July Perhaps not a standout tie at the start of the season, but close to the end of it, quite another story. Just three points separated Vigo and Betis but more importantly is that the home side 17th in the league and eight points ahead of the Mallorca in 18th. If the home side win, it will all but spell the end of Mallorca, Leganes, and Espanyol’s already slim hoped of staying in the league. Come Saturday afternoon, the bottom three will become huge Real Betis fans. Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid – Sunday 5th July We are being treated to an almighty title fight between Real Madrid and Barcelona … [Read More...]
How Barcelona and Real Madrid may fair midweek
The 2019-20 La Liga season restarted on Thursday night as Sevilla beat rivals Real Betis 2-0 in front of an empty stadium. Action continued Friday night with Granada coming from behind to beat Getafe 2-1 before Valencia and Levante played out a 1-1 draw. La Liga have made all games kick off at different times, making it possible for fans to watch all 10 top flight matches each week. Many fans are taking advantage of La Liga live streaming with so much action to watch. Defending champions Barcelona were in action on Saturday night as they hammered RCD Mallorca 4-0. Arturo Vidal headed the Catalans in front after only 65 seconds before Martin Braithwaite doubled their lead before half-time. Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi added to the comfortable win in the closing stages of the game. This temporarily opened up a five-point lead at the top for Quique Setien’s side whilst there were also victories for Espanyol, Villarreal and Real Valladolid earlier in the day. Barcelona’s win … [Read More...]