So, the fixtures are out and La Liga will be bursting back into life before you know it!
Just a month after 2021-22 drew to a close, you can now look ahead to another chapter in the Spanish top flight and plan your viewing, note the key weekends and make predictions based on where and when matters may be decided.
Ok, so we are far from knowing how all 20 clubs will look like next season with the transfer window open until September 1.
But fixture release day is still one that brings excitement as fans think of potential La Liga highlights from their favourites.
For the record, the campaign will begin on August 14 with Barcelona hosting Rayo Vallecano and Spanish and European champions Real Madrid travelling to newly promoted Almeria.
It will then end on June 4 when Carlo Ancelotti’s aces entertain Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona visit Celta Vigo.
Two dates for your diary incidentally – the first El Clasico takes place at the Bernabeu on October 16 with the Nou Camp return in mid-March.
Of course, it’s more than just two teams and, among the other opening day fixtures, 2021 champions Atletico Madrid begin their campaign at Getafe, Sevilla – who sealed the fourth and final Champions League spot – are at Osasuna, while the other promoted teams, Girona and Real Valladolid, travel to Valencia and are at home to Villarreal respectively.
The first game after the World Cup will take place over New Year with several derby fixtures lined up.
Barca will take on neighbours Espanyol, while Villarreal and Valencia face off and Cadiz do battle against Almeria.
Real, meanwhile, will return to action with a visit to Valladolid, while Atletico will mark the start to 2023 with a home encounter with Elche.
Clearly, Real will start as favourites with the SBOTOP La Liga betting odds and, as well as being runaway title winners, saw off the best teams in Europe on their way to a 14th European Cup crown.
What’s more they have already strengthened during the summer transfer window through the acquisition of Aurelien Tchouameni and Antonio Rudiger, acquisitions which shows they are not resting on their laurels.
It’s no secret that Ancelotti has an aging team at his disposal, so it makes sense for them to add some young blood and Tchouameni fits the bill.
And while he is now 34 and presumably approaching the twilight of his decorated career, as long as Los Blancos are still benefitting from Karim Benzema’s brilliance up front – 42 goals and 14 assists in all competitions in the season just concluded – they will always have a chance.
Barcelona and Atletico will remain the two most likely clubs to challenge Madrid. Neither are in a great moment right now but there is still a lot of the window to go – Barcelona are currently riding a somewhat chaotic wave as they try to get as much business done as possible and Atletico are trying to improve Diego Simeone’s squad.
By the way, it’s not just the fixtures to think about with a number of potential rule changes on the way.
The option of making up to five changes will be allowed in all competitions that wish to take advantage with each team permitted to use three substitution windows, plus half-time.
Likewise, when a player prevents a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity for the opposing team by committing a handball offence, he must be sent off, irrespective of where it occurs.
They’re among the tweaks in a league which is proving popular with ESPN bosses in America delighted with how their coverage is being received – it was recently announced some La Liga matches games draw bigger television audiences in the States than baseball.
That billing will surely only increase across the globe with stellar talent set to be joined by even more household names in the next few months, including the possible arrival of a frontman who, along with Benzema, has been the top striker in Europe in recent years.
Barcelona will reportedly offer under €40 million for Robert Lewandowski’s services and are fully aware that negotiating with German champions Bayern Munich isn’t going to be a simple task.
The Bavarians have been clear that they’re going to play hardball but Barcelona hope that they realise getting a deal done before July 12, when Bayern return for pre-season, is in the interest of all parties. Watch this space!
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