La Liga contenders

storyline stolen from Bluenine, to basically mirror here for Spain a season build-up for this year's La Liga quest.

who are the realistic contenders? IMO there are 4: RM, Barcelona, Sevilla and Valencia.

Contenders for a CL spot: those 4 and then Atlético, Zaragoza and Villarreal (even if I would be surprised if the top 4 don't end the season top 4).

there is still some movement expected in the transfer market, especially from Madrid point of view.

Valencia
Barca
Madrid
Villarreal

I think it will be a repeat of CL qualifiers, tho Atletico will mount a realistic challenge for a spot... they might just sneak in 4th over Sevilla.

But the top 3 will be Barca, Real, & Valencia.

Real
Barca
Valencia
Villarreal

Will make up the top 4, no specific order, just yet.

1. Barca
2. Real
3. Valencia
4. Sevilla
5. Zaragoza
6. Atletico
7. Villarreal

bluenine wrote:I think it will be a repeat of CL qualifiers, tho Atletico will mount a realistic challenge for a spot... they might just sneak in 4th over Sevilla.

But the top 3 will be Barca, Real, & Valencia.

that's basically what I think as well.

Not sure why everyone thinks Villarreal will be 4th. First they will need to replace Forlan before I can see them finishing 4th. And what is going to happen with Riquelme? Are they going to see some serious money for him?

No way are Zaragoza or Sevilla going to live up to this seasons standards.

Zaragoza don't have the money, and Sevilla will face the calendar pile up.

who could be this year's surprise team? (well it seems a contradtion in terms to ask that since, if we could predict this, they would hardly be the "surprise" team).

toon h wrote:who could be this year's surprise team? (well it seems a contradtion in terms to ask that since, if we could predict this, they would hardly be the "surprise" team).

Someone like Deportivo maybe? Or one of the promoted teams. Also think Osasuna may surprise a few people despite losing Soldado and Garcia

I'm thinking one of six. My two favorites atm are Barcelona and Valencia shortly followed by Real and then Sevilla. But I think Atleti and also Villarreal have an outside chance. A bit too much to put Zaragoza in there with a shout atm.

toon h wrote:who could be this year's surprise team? (well it seems a contradtion in terms to ask that since, if we could predict this, they would hardly be the "surprise" team).

IMO potential surprise teams could be Murcia in terms of a similar thing to what Recre have done this season. Betis will be much more competitive this season IMO and then theres Getafe, some good signings in the transfer market - watch out for them again.

As for relegation. I fancy Almeria for certains with the Racing, Depor, Valladolid, Murcia (should they not surprise), Mallorca and possibly still Athletic, to decide the remaining spots.

The 3 title contenders will be Barça, Valencia, and Madrid. 4th-6th will be a tough battle between Sevilla, Atletico, and Villarreal. Zaragoza and Getafe will battle for 7th.

im waiting to see what getafe does on the transfer front because i know that if laudrup gets his the ones he wants they will do well. though they missed out on rommedahl and kahlenberg was to expensive for them so it might be hard.

for me 3 teams can win it if i was to name a top 6 in what i believe it will finish i will go like this although by no means am i that confident on it

1. Valencia
2.Barcelona
3.Real Madrid
4.Ateletico Madrid
5. Villareal
6. Sevilla

I think Sevilla will struggle....playing Liga, Champions, and Copa del Rey is always difficult for teams other than Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia. I think Atletico and Zaragoza are the clear favorites for the fourth CL spot. Villarreal need to find a replacement for Forlan and they could challenge as well. I think Athletic could be a darkhorse. Caparros will have a much better environment to work in after the nightmare of Deportivo the last two seasons and there are some good players. If they can add a few more players like Del Horno and Xabi Prieto, they could be a UEFA Cup team easily.

I wouldn't bet on Atleti challenging for the title. They have made some decent signings but they will still manage to be $h!t.

Sevilla overachieved last season. And as yet, I don't think Juande has brought in anyone that will make a big impact on the side, perhaps with the exception of Keita - who isn't a nailed on starter anyway.

Kanoute is he stay's - will not have as good a season as he did in the 06/07 calendar. Likewise with Alvez. The CB partnership isn't the strongest either.

On paper Villareal (with or without Riquleme) are stronger, and so are Atleti.

supermadrid wrote:im waiting to see what getafe does on the transfer front because i know that if laudrup gets his the ones he wants they will do well. though they missed out on rommedahl and kahlenberg was to expensive for them so it might be hard.

Uche and Pablo have already arrived though. Two very good up and coming players. If these signings are added to, I expect a European challenge.

I will expect Atletico to challenge for 4th spot with Sevilla after their impressive signings. They sure make the money from that incredibly high sale of Torres go a long way. They bought an even better striker and two international class wingers for only a little more.

We'll see if Reyes can find back his old form that made him Spain's most exciting player a few seasons back.

Real
Barca
Valencia
Atletico
Zaragoza
Villreal
Sevilla

thats my top 7 prediction

I can see Barca, Madrid, Valencia and Sevilla in a 4 horse race, don't think the others will match them.

1. Barca
2. Valencia
3. Atletico
4. Madrid
5. Villarreal
6. Zaragoza
7. Sevilla

I don't expect Real to win it again, Barca can't do that shite twice in a row with this team surely.

TheCrazy58 wrote:1. Barca
2. Valencia
3. Atletico
4. Madrid
5. Villarreal
6. Zaragoza
7. Sevilla

Hannover 3 - 0 Madriz

Luis wrote:I can see Barca, Madrid, Valencia and Sevilla in a 4 horse race, don't think the others will match them.

I don't really think Sevilla will be a title contender this year. Kanoute is not happy, Dani Alves wants to leave, Dragutinovic maybe going to England plus they will have to play CL and Liga. I would be very surprised if they repeated a top 4 finish.

i'm with jaime on sevilla there is a reasonably long history of underperforming liga teams who are in the ECL

Jaime wrote:

Luis wrote:I can see Barca, Madrid, Valencia and Sevilla in a 4 horse race, don't think the others will match them.

I don't really think Sevilla will be a title contender this year. Kanoute is not happy, Dani Alves wants to leave, Dragutinovic maybe going to England plus they will have to play CL and Liga. I would be very surprised if they repeated a top 4 finish.

yeah, kanoute and sevilla overachieving in la liga last year.... i do not see kanoute repeating his goal tally

Maybe, Atletico on paper look likely to challenge, but that's only if Forlan is scoring the goals, I don't see why he wont, and playing Luis-Garcia every game is a must.

It will be either Madrid or Barca who wins it though.

not sure what to think after last night. Both teams will be difficult to beat if they play with as much fire and passion as last night. Real Madrid did show they can conjure up goals out of nowhere and of course they can only get better if given time. And then there is the right wing spot to fill before the transfer deadline.

Sevilla looked as dangerous as they did last year, but what will happen with Alves is surely the key question. He is so material for them and I daresay impossible to replace and less at this short notice. Will Cicinho do the trick even half as good? (Maybe Juande can waive his magic stick once again and transform normal players into world beaters as he has done with players like Escude and Poulsen).

It definitely looks like Valencia will have strengthened if they can keep their injury list short and Atlético looks to cause an upset in the hierarchy. I honestly can't wait for it all to begin. This could be the best league in years.