1 Reason to Be Positive for Every Liga Team Going into 2015/16 Season
Ahead of the new Liga campaign, we have been taking a look at each team in turn and assessing different aspects of their summer.
Having recently identified where each club needs to be a little nervous or sort out a remaining issue in the transfer market, this time around we look at a reason why each side can be extremely positive about achieving their objectives in 2015-16.
Taking into account such factors as league rivals, summer transfer activity and players already on board from last season, here is one good reason for each of the 20 Spanish Liga teams to have high hopes about the next 10 months.
Athletic Bilbao: The Emergence of Inaki Williams
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It would be easy for Athletic fans to be negative about their chances of improving on last year, what with little investment in the playing squad, Iker Muniain's injury and Andoni Iraola's departure—but a new bright spark came to the fore for them in the second half of last season.
Inaki Williams brought his pace and power, drive from the wide areas and penalty-box threat to the team to ensure the non-performance of other wide options—notably Markel Susaeta and Ibai Gomez—wasn't felt too keenly.
The youngster has more to learn in terms of his decision-making in the final third and composure inside the box, but he is a contrasting option to the other Athletic attackers. Williams aids a more aggressive pressing approach, he has the pace to be an outlet on the counter and looks capable of playing across the entire attacking-midfield line.
Atletico Madrid: A Deep, Deep Squad
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Diego Simeone might be famed for his penchant of keeping the same XI in place while they perform well, but the manager will be able to switch and rotate as he pleases this season almost without altering the formation, the system or the quality of the starters.
At his disposal are four genuinely impressive strikers, a host of strong, aggressive central midfielders, young prospects for the wider attacking berths and a back line that mixes youth and experience, tenacity and technique—and that's without mentioning two very capable goalkeepers, one of whom could go on to prove himself one of Europe's best this season.
Everywhere you look, Atleti are chock-full of talent, two deep in every role. It should aid competition for places and thus even better performances, a big plus as they look to challenge on all fronts.
Barcelona: Luis Suarez in Place from the Start
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Naturally, we're ignoring the obvious reason for positivity for Barcelona in that they possess the world's best player, Lionel Messi.
Instead, we're looking at the fact they have their main centre-forward available for the entire campaign this time around. Luis Suarez hit the ground running when his suspension was over last season, but he finished it flying at least six feet above the grass. He was predatory, unpredictable, clinical, seamless in his link-up play with his fellow attackers and a key component in the treble-winning team.
Twenty-five goals and almost as many assists were produced despite not featuring until the last week of October; this season, he'll be in place from August onward.
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Celta Vigo: The Potential of a Much More Dangerous Attack
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Celta Vigo played some exquisite football at times last season, particularly the first and last thirds of the campaign. The buildup play was good, the movement impressive, but they were let down by some substandard finishing throughout the year.
That, of course, was at its worst during the middle of the campaign, when they went on a terrible run of scoring just one goal in nine games, when every shot seemed to hit the woodwork or crawl agonisingly across the face of goal.
Such profligacy can't be attributed to one player alone, but centre-forward Joaquin Larrivey was far more useful in holding up play than he was in finishing off moves. John Guidetti, a signing this summer, is a little risky in terms of his attitude and inability to settle into a team early on in his career, but he is potentially a much more regular goalscorer.
Add in Nolito's form over the past 12 months and the hope of a return to form of Iago Aspas now he's back home, and Celta could be a lot more dangerous inside the box. If, that is, they can sort out the supply line in the post-Michael Krohn-Dehli age.
Deportivo La Coruna: Creative Threat
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A big problem for Deportivo La Coruna last season was the creation of chances and the ability to put them away. While we wait to see if they further address the latter, a number of summer signings will add a huge amount of potential vision and ingenuity to the attacking-midfield line.
Luis Alberto on loan from Liverpool and Fede Cartabia on loan from Valencia are both exciting players capable of picking passes or dribbling to create space. Add the experience and know-how of Cani, his good use of the ball in tight spaces, and that's a potential troika to play off a forward right there.
Merging them in a way that would still leave the team solid at the back and not overworking the excellent Fabricio this season would be nice, but at least the attacking options are there this time.
Eibar: Another Chance to Get It Right
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For Eibar, the reason for positivity is as simple as it is obvious: They shouldn't even be here in a sporting sense, so this season is simply a big bonus opportunity.
Relegated in 18th place after an awful 2015, Eibar were granted a reprieve after Elche were demoted for financial reasons.
A summer of squad rebuilding has been undertaken as a result as the club looks to take advantage and extend their stay in the top flight beyond a second season. It will be just as tough as last year for a club on a tiny budget, but if lessons have been learned from where they went wrong last time out, they at least have a chance.
Espanyol: Thievy Bifouma's End-of-Season Form... Maybe
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It's impossible for Espanyol to replace the personality and influence of Sergio Garcia, but they simply have to replace the goals he made and scored.
Not too many signings of established names have been made this summer, but Thievy Bifouma's return from a loan spell could prove to be absolutely key; Bifouma scored three goals in the last five games on loan at Almeria last term, having also shone at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier in the year. He has pace, power, is a direct runner and has a fearsome shot—though not a particularly clinical one.
As ever with Thievy, though, it's a double-edged sword.
To get the best out of him—or indeed anything—they need to get him back in training and in the mind of the manager to play for the team. The player failed to report for training at the start of summer, reported by Sport, and he still hasn't sorted his future. Without him, though, Espanyol don't have all that much to turn to.
Getafe: Loans from Madrid
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Getafe seemingly have to do something of a revamp to their squad every summer, with their better performers quickly prised away and much of each season spent relying on a handful of loans to boost the quality and depth of the squad.
This summer, they seem to have done marvellously well in regard to the latter—especially when it comes to taking players from elsewhere in the capital city.
From Real Madrid, Getafe have loaned Alvaro Medran, a midfielder of immense technical quality who could certainly make an impact in the top flight this season. From Atletico Madrid, new signing at the Vicente Calderon Bernard Mensah has immediately been loaned out, with Getafe able to put the athletic Ghana international into the centre of the park alongside Medran if required. They also snared centre-back Emiliano Velazquez from Atleti for a second successive season.
Oh, Moi Gomez from Villarreal isn't a bad loan signing, either.
Granada: The Chance of Another Good Start
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Granada struggled against relegation for much of last season before making their way to safety late on in the campaign. They made a good start to 2014-15 and finished strongly—the two keys to their survival as it turned out.
This season, they have the chance to do the exact same again, with their opening fixtures seeing Granada face Eibar at home and Getafe away, both games from which they can take points. It gets harder, of course, but even their third match is against an opponent they took a point off in the same gameweek one season ago, Villarreal.
After that, it's Real Madrid—so pick up some wins fast to start the season in a good frame of mind.
Las Palmas: Sergio Araujo Staying
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Newly promoted Las Palmas haven't made huge alterations to their squad just yet, but one key piece of business was done early on: tying down top-scoring striker Sergio Araujo to a permanent deal.
Araujo hit 26 goals on loan with the club last term, and with other top-flight clubs seemingly interested, Las Palmas had to be swift to secure him permanently. He should offer them a real goal threat in La Liga and the guarantee of a big pay-off when they inevitably opt to sell him on, be that in a year after he saves them from the drop or as a thanks for keeping them up.
More quality might be needed to supply him with chances, but Araujo has long been tipped to make an impact in Spain. He now has his chance.
Levante: The Signing of Deyverson
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Levante were another club that struggled to score last season, netting 34 over the course of the campaign. To that end, they have made relatively big investment—in their terms—to fix that particular problem, with the €2 million capture of Deyverson.
The Brazilian is one of the most expensive signings in team history and will be expected to lead the attack after netting eight goals for former club Belenenses last season, plus one while briefly on loan with Cologne.
Levante have also signed Nabil Ghilas on loan—he scored seven on loan at a poor Cordoba side last season—so they have certainly looked to improve their ability to find the net.
Malaga: Defensive Framework to Build from
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Malaga's attack has undergone a sea change over the summer, and it doesn't quite look to have the depth and range of skills of last year, but the defensive side of the team certainly looks capable.
The loan capture of Raul Albentosa is a smart move, while Sergi Darder and Ignacio Camacho remain in place to anchor the midfield line. Carlos Kameni's return to form last season gave them depth and quality in goal too.
The Andalusian club may struggle to better last year's finish, looking at the squads around them, but they should have enough in defence to push for another top-half finish.
Rayo Vallecano: Paco Jemez Remaining as Manager
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Rayo Vallecano's impressive season led to suggestions that manager Paco Jemez could be whisked away by a bigger team, but the boss signed a new contract over the summer instead.
Jemez's all-out-attack approach leads to goals at both ends, but he has managed results with a side composed of players on short-term deals and loans—which will be how it is again this term by the looks of things.
Not too many other managers could coax results out of a side continually renewed to such an extent, and certainly not within the time frame required, so keeping Jemez in place was a massive boost for the club.
Real Betis: Back in the Big Time
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For many promoted sides, the chance to compete against the top teams is a pleasant opportunity. For a team such as Real Betis, however, it goes beyond a one-off chance to flex their muscles: They want to use this as a platform to grow again and maintain their top-flight status.
Once one of the more impressive sides in La Liga, Betis have more recently bounced around between Primera and Segunda. Stability and solidifying of a top-league position is the most important aspect this season, mixing ambitious growth with realistic targets.
Their summer work looks fine so far, but the novelty of being back in La Liga will quickly wear off, so they will have to fight to establish themselves as regular members.
Real Madrid: No Key Departures and the Progress of Loan Stars
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After a few summers that saw the likes of Mesut Ozil, Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria leave, it has been something of a change for Real Madrid to not get involved in any major dealings, incoming or outgoing.
Sure, Iker Casillas has left, but aside from his rightful legendary status at the club, he cannot claim to have contributed too many top-class performances over the past couple of years. His departure was timely, correct and won't have a detrimental effect on the team.
Instead, the squad has actually been boosted in depth rather than by star names; returning loan players such as Denis Cheryshev, Casemiro and Lucas Vazquez have all been given a chance to compete for places and show why they should be a part of the side going into 2015-16. Some might play more than others, but Rafael Benitez will have the chance to rest his key players from time to time in the knowledge he won't be let down by players who are not ready or not quite good enough to play at the top level.
Real Sociedad: A New-Look Attack
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Real Sociedad looked neat and tidy at times last season but didn't have much of a killer threat in the final third.
David Moyes did a reasonable job of organising the team and making sure they were much harder to beat in his first few months at the club, but this summer has seen a few key alterations up front. The addition of Bruma on loan from Galatasaray is an intriguing one, potentially bringing fireworks to Anoeta, but the signing of Jonathas is one that guarantees goals.
The former Elche man could form a great partnership with Carlos Vela, with the Mexican likely to play just off Jonathas, while Sergio Canales will provide craft either from the left or from deep. It all looks exciting for La Real.
Sevilla: A Midfield That Will Be the Envy of Europe, Let Alone Spain
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Sevilla's excellent work in the transfer market looks to have largely continued this summer, with their midfield now looking stacked with options and quality from flank to flank.
To an already powerful midfield trio of Ever Banega, Grzegorz Krychowiak and Vicente Iborra, the Andalusian team have added Michael Krohn-Dehli and Steve Nzonzi. In the wider areas, Gael Kakuta and Yevhen Konoplyanka are pacy, direct additions who bring a goal threat—and they still have the experience of Jose Antonio Reyes, the pace of Vitolo and the unpredictability of Denis Suarez to work with too.
It's a multi-functional, well-balanced middle of the park with plenty of depth.
Sporting Gijon: Simply Being Back in the Top Flight
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For Sporting Gijon, it will be a case of enjoying the top flight and taking La Liga one game at a time.
They haven't heavily invested in a squad that looks lacking in top-flight quality, but the anticipation and excitement of playing in the top league and the challenge of coming up against better players could go a long way toward seeing Sporting's players raise their own games.
They will be among the favourites for the drop and have a tough start against Real Madrid—but that's also something the players will have been looking forward to since the day their promotion was confirmed, so they will be sure to take on the challenge with confidence.
Valencia: Otamendi Staying
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Valencia faced a bit of an uncertain summer despite an excellent campaign that saw them finish fourth and earn Champions League football.
Money was set to be spent on securing players who were on loan last term, though it seemed not all of them were wanted—or at least, not at the price they were set to pay. An injury to first-choice goalkeeper Diego Alves was also a worry.
However, the biggest issue was the potential departure of Nicolas Otamendi, who seemingly wanted out, reported by Metro. However, he has returned, and the centre-back is ready to be a part of the side for another campaign. He was the standout defender in La Liga last season, and with him in place, the team has a great base to continue to build from.
Villarreal: Adding the Samuels to the Attack
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Villarreal are almost starting again in terms of their attack, with three of the four regular forwards from last season having departed: Ikechukwu Uche, Gio dos Santos and Luciano Vietto.
The rebuild goes on apace, but an important and impressive move was made early on this summer, as the Yellow Submarine sealed a double deal for Malaga's twin attacking threat of Samu Castillejo and Samuel Garcia.
Capable of providing starting quality on both flanks or using Samuel through the centre as an option to stretch opposition defences, Villarreal have brought in two direct, fleet-footed attackers who will give a very different option to the attack compared to the likes of Dos Santos and brother Jonathan dos Santos. More additions will be required to really push for the top six again, but those two are certainly high-calibre players and are fine additions.
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