Early 2015/16 La Liga Power Rankings
We're still in early July, but plenty of Spain's top-flight teams have gotten started with their summer transfer activity, so it's time to take a look and see how that business might have affected things in La Liga.
Our early power rankings look to assess the differences in teams compared to the end of the 2014-15 campaign, with plenty of ins and outs already confirmed as all 20 clubs shape their squads for the upcoming season.
Using last year's final league table as a starting point, we have moved sides up or down according to the quality of transfers in or the depth and ability of the players moved out to rearrange a preliminary "table" and rank Spain's best sides.
There's still plenty of time to go, so don't worry if your side has moved down at this early stage—but one thing is for sure: There's already a gap developing, in terms of business done early on, between the top six and the rest of the league.
20. Sporting Gijon
1 of 20
Sporting Gijon finished second in La Segunda, so naturally they have a starting spot in the bottom three of our rankings, but they sink to bottom place on account of not having started any incoming business yet.
A few out-of-contract players have departed, but Sporting haven't confirmed any deals to add to their squad list.
They'll hope to add some experienced top-flight players and some genuine quality, with the side high on confidence but probably low on expectations—at least as perceived from the outside.
19. Eibar
2 of 20
Eibar were relegated last year but reinstated after Elche were sent down instead because of financial issues.
The tiny Basque club were dreadful over the second half of the season, and with no incoming deals sorted yet and many of last year's signings only one-year loans, their squad is looking thin and ill-prepared for a better campaign this time around.
Once they get started, we'll assess their chances of survival a little more clearly.
18. Las Palmas
3 of 20
Las Palmas haven't signed anybody new as such just yet, but securing two of their forwards from last season's campaign on permanent deals is a good start.
Alfredo Ortuno joined in January on loan from Granada and netted four goals in the promotion push, while Sergio Araujo—formerly of Boca Juniors and Barcelona B—hit 24 goals in 39 games while on loan. He has now signed permanently, too.
Las Palmas will need more, of course, but this is a reasonable first stepping stone—keep what got them up and then improve further.
17. Granada
4 of 20
Granada could do with a few new signings if they are to avoid a repeat of last year's struggles against relegation.
Jeison Murillo, centre-back for Colombia at the Copa America recently, has left for Inter Milan and is one vital player who needs to be replaced, while the likes of Adrian Colunga, Robert Ibanez and Ruben Perez were all only on loan last season.
Winger Edgar Mendez has come in, but after a bright start to last season, he faded badly with Almeria.
16. Getafe
5 of 20
Getafe ended in 15th last season, a good finish for them—but we've downgraded them one spot for now.
They have signed Cala, a centre-back from Granada, on a free but have lost their impressive left-back Sergio Escudero to Sevilla along with four first-team regulars at the end of their contracts and three more who have ended their loan spells.
All in all, it's a big depletion for them to overcome, and they don't habitually spend big money.
15. Rayo Vallecano
6 of 20
Rayo Vallecano likewise drop, and it's a significant one on account of their big losses in attack.
Alberto Bueno, scorer of 17 Liga goals last year, has left on a free transfer to FC Porto, while his strike partner Manucho has also left on a free. Add in the expired loans of the likes of Gael Kakuta and Leo Baptistao and it's clear to see that Rayo need an almost total rebuild in the final third of the pitch—with no income generated to do it with.
Experienced centre-back Jose Dorado and Ligue 2 midfielder Ousseynou Cisse, both on free transfers, are their only captures so far.
14. Real Betis
7 of 20
Real Betis won La Segunda last season and look determined to make their return to La Liga an extended one.
They have gotten straight down to business by signing German Pezzella from River Plate and Petros, a Brazilian winger, from Corinthians—but it is the capture of Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart that states their ambitions.
Francisco Portillo is also an astute capture who can play a big role for Betis, having been on loan last term. They'll need more, but it's a good start.
13. Deportivo La Coruna
8 of 20
Deportivo La Coruna have made a reasonable start to the summer by securing permanent deals for last year's loan successes Oriol Riera and Celso Borges, but the dual Bosman signing of Sevilla's Alejandro Arribas and Fernando Navarro should really make a difference in defence for Depor.
They need upgrades in attack too, though; Depor found goals hard to come by in spells last season and both Toche and Helder Postiga have left, as has Isaac Cuenca.
None were prolific, but they still need replacing.
12. Levante
9 of 20
Levante finished 14th last season; we have elevated them on the strength of two good free-transfer signings—goalkeeper Ruben and combative midfielder Verza, both taken from Almeria and both who should play big roles for their new sides this season.
The big problem Levante must overcome, though, and soon, is the goals they have lost with the departures of David Barral and Kalu Uche, who between them did enough damage to keep Levante up last term.
Andreas Ivanschitz is also a creative loss after he left on a free.
11. Espanyol
10 of 20
Espanyol drop a place from last season's finish as they have not really gotten started with their work, despite two high-profile losses.
Sergio Garcia, captain and most important attacking player by a mile, has left after the expiration of his contract, while the club were also unable to secure the permanent signature of Real Madrid's on-loan winger Lucas Vazquez.
Espanyol need to add three or four quality players throughout their side to fight for a top-half finish once more.
10. Real Sociedad
11 of 20
Real Sociedad have signed young wide forward David Concha, in demand after Racing Santander's relegation from La Segunda, and the 18-year-old will prove a wise addition and a shrewd investment too at just €1 million.
La Real haven't lost anyone from last season's main part of the squad; Gorka Elustondo has left for Athletic Bilbao, but he was a bit-part player at best under David Moyes.
Sociedad's expectations and ability to challenge higher this season will be determined by their aggression in the transfer market. They have a squad for mid-table with comfort but could perhaps fight higher with a few well-placed additions—namely up front and in a new back-up goalkeeper.
9. Malaga
12 of 20
Malaga finished ninth and remain in ninth—but only because those below didn't deserve to overhaul them yet, given the little impact on the transfer window at this moment in time.
In truth, Malaga have a big rebuilding job on their hands at both ends of the pitch; three-quarters of their regular attack have departed—Samu Castillejo and Samuel to Villarreal, Juanmi to Southampton—while Sergio Sanchez has left a hole in the defence as he heads to Greece on a free transfer.
Charles is a reasonable addition to the front line, and Nordin Amrabat has signed permanently after his loan, but Malaga really need three good-quality additions just to remain on an even keel from last term. A big summer lies ahead for them.
8. Celta Vigo
13 of 20
Celta Vigo's big loss is Michael Krohn-Dehli, who leaves for Sevilla after masterminding Celta's impressive runs of form at the beginning and the end of the season.
Santi Mina is another loss, but at least he netted Celta €10 million in the process—Dane Krohn-Dehli left on a free. Iago Aspas has rejoined his old club this summer and Celta will hope he can rediscover his shooting boots after two poor years away, but they'll need to add another striker with pace to take the scoring pressure off Nolito.
Most of all, though, they need a competent passer in the centre to replace Krohn-Dehli.
7. Athletic Bilbao
14 of 20
No movement either way for Athletic Bilbao, and it looks like being a quiet summer for them again.
With Ander Iturraspe fading away with his form last year and Iker Muniain injured, it will only be Aymeric Laporte who is the big-money target for Europe's elite—Athletic will hope to persuade him to stay another season.
Real Sociedad's Gorka Elustondo has joined on a free and provides depth in the centre of the park, but he's not a name to replace Mikel Rico, Ander or even Benat. The long-serving Andoni Iraola has been replaced by Eibar's Eneko Boveda.
6. Villarreal
15 of 20
Now the clear jump in quality and in action in the market, with the top six preparing for life in Europe and for new Liga challenges by acting early, by and large.
Villarreal swooped for Malaga's Castillejo and Samuel. Castillejo should get regular game time out wide, but we're predicting Samuel figures through the middle more often, adding pace and penetration to the Villarreal front two.
Centre-back Victor Ruiz has signed permanently after last year's loan spell, while there are new loans in the shape of striker Leo Baptistao and PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, who will cover for injured No. 1 Sergio Asenjo.
Luciano Vietto and Denis Cheryshev are obviously big misses from last season's excellent early form, but Villarreal should be able to cope just fine if they continue adding wisely to the squad.
5. Valencia
16 of 20
Valencia snared a top-four finish on the final day last year, but based on transfer activity so far we're edging them back outside.
The Benfica trio have all signed permanently after loans last year—Rodrigo, Andre Gomes, Joao Cancelo—and deals for their other loanees, goalkeeper Yoel and striker Alvaro Negredo, have also been made permanent. The latter represents particularly poor value as Negredo has not made a huge impact, but the fee of over £20 million they have paid for him was written into the loan agreement and executed as Valencia secured Champions League football.
As such, their only "real" additions are youngsters with talent but still learning to do, with Zakaria Bakkali joining from PSV and Santi Mina in from Celta.
It has been busy, but this coming Liga campaign will be hugely competitive, and Los Che cannot afford to stop the spending right now—nor lose their major stars, including Nicolas Otamendi.
4. Sevilla
17 of 20
Sevilla are up a step in our rankings and are already looking in great shape for the new year with some typically clever squad alterations.
Carlos Bacca and Aleix Vidal have raked in well over €30 million between them, while the five signings of left-back Escudero, winger Yevhen Konoplyanka, central midfielder Krohn-Dehli, centre-back Adil Rami and winger Gael Kakuta will set Sevilla back a total of around just €8 million.
Of course, they'll still want another starting striker to replace Bacca, but they now have the money to do so and a squad that looks in good shape to take on La Liga and the Champions League.
3. Real Madrid
18 of 20
Real Madrid are one of the few top sides who haven't really been active in the market, but their squad is, of course, stacked with talent, and they did some business prior to the end of the season.
Danilo joins this summer to strengthen the right-back area, while Marco Asensio, Casemiro, Lucas Vazquez and Denis Cheryshev are all back from hugely successful loan spells—though it remains to be seen who stays, who is sold and who gets another loan.
The loss of Sami Khedira in midfield isn't terribly important given his lack of game time, but at least one or two deals for Real are expected to happen in time. For now, though, they drop a spot.
2. Atletico Madrid
19 of 20
Taking Real's place in second, for now at least, are rivals Atletico Madrid.
Atleti have revamped their attacking line: Mario Mandzukic is out, Arda Turan has followed suit and instead they will look to Luciano Vietto and Jackson Martinez to score plenty and challenge alongside the excellent Antoine Griezmann.
A defender or two will be needed after the sales of Toby Alderweireld and Miranda, while Emiliano Velazquez is out on loan again, but Atleti have made a good start to the summer all the same.
1. Barcelona
20 of 20
Transfer ban? What transfer ban?
Barcelona's increasingly irrelevant FIFA-imposed ban apparently isn't stopping them from signing players, with Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal both wrapped up as new deals this summer—though they can't play until January.
Throw in a new deal for Dani Alves and Ibrahim Afellay's contract finally expiring and things could barely look better for Barcelona. Of course, the one downside is the departure of the legendary Xavi Hernandez, but even his absence won't harm last season's treble-winners too much.
It remains to be seen if they can convince any others to sign without playing for the next few months, but either way they already look in fine shape ahead of the new season.
All transfers stated as confirmed are per Transfermarkt's records.
.jpg?w=600 "Offseason Moves for Every Team 👉")
.png?w=600 "New NBA Mock Draft 📝")
