La Liga 2011-2012: 4 Bold Predictions
Last season ended with Barcelona winning their third consecutive league title and Real Madrid just four points behind them. Real Betis, Granada and Rayo Vallecano are this season's newcomers from the Segunda, replacing relegated Deportivo La Coruna, Hercules and Almeria.
Come August 21st, the Blaugrana will be looking to defend their title while rivals, Real Madrid, will be searching for the title.
Here are my predictions for the La Liga season to come.
Malaga Will Finish in the Top 5
1 of 4The purchases of striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and Dutch international Joris Mathijsen from Hamburg, Santi Carzola from Villarreal and defensive midfielder Jeremy Toulalan from Lyon represent the very successful transfer window the Andalusians are currently in.
Off the top of my head, I can name the talented Saloman Rondon and Julio Baptista as members of Malaga's 2010-11 squad that are looking to continue in 2011-12. These two and more, plus the newcomers, look to be a mouthwatering bunch for Malaga fans!
With so many new purchases, it may take time for the chemistry of the team to build up and everyone to get used to each other. For this reason, I predict a top 5 finish.
Although they have great new players, a top 3 finish is not an automatic thing, but expect big things from Malaga in the seasons to come (seeing as how they are now owned by the rich Sheikh Abdullah al Thani).
Real Madrid Will Win the Title
2 of 4The Copa del Rey victory and ties at the Santiago Bernabeu and Camp Nou against Barcelona proved this Real Madrid squad has what it takes to defeat the Catalans. This will be absolutely necessary in the title race to come. The team that wins El Clasico matchups will most likely win the league (as it was this season).
It is true that clubs run by current manager Jose Mourinho, or "The Special One," tend to do better in their second season. Thinking back to Italian giants Inter Milan, a treble was won in Mourinho's second year while only the Scudetto was won the year prior. With Premier League contenders Chelsea, a Premier League and Carling Cup decorated the cabinet in his second year (a Premier League only in his first year).
The pattern will continue with Real Madrid and they will bring the La Liga trophy to the Bernabeu.
Last season saw Madrid lack the chemistry of clubs such as Barcelona, but this time around Real Madrid will have much more chemistry (not as much as Barca, though—very few teams, if any, have the chemistry they have).
Whether the preseason is a good indicator of things to come or not, Real Madrid has shown a great deal of hunger and determination, winning all of their games. This will translate into the season and should carry Madrid to the title.
Athletic Bilbao Will Earn a Champions League Place
3 of 4Last season, Athletic Bilbao finished sixth, with 58 points, and a goal difference of plus-four. Despite all the transfer talk, hot property Fernando Llorente has declared his wish to stay in Bilbao and so far has done so.
Athletic are also in possession of u-21 European Champions Javi Martinez (captain of the side and World Cup winner), Mikel San Jose and La Liga's youngest-ever goal scorer, Iker Muniain. They have managed to hold on to these players and add Zaragoza midfielder Ander Herrera to their roster.
The former Chile National Team coach, Marcelo Bielsa, has been brought in as a replacement for Joaquin Caparros, who is now the manager of Swiss Superleague outfit Neuchatel Xamax.
During his time at Argentine's Newell's Old Boys, Bielsa won a league title, Clausura and a runners-up for the Copa Libertadores. Later, managing Argentina, he led them to an Olympic gold medal and then to the final of the Copa America.
Athletic are already very close to a Champions League berth and have been hovering in the Europa League berths for a few seasons now. This season will be Athletic's season.
The Relegation Battle Will Be More Exciting Than the Title Race
4 of 4This is not all that bold of a prediction, but nevertheless, it's my prediction.
La Liga has become a two-horse race between giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. There was a 21-point gap between second and third place last season—need I say more?
2010-11 saw Osasuna, Hercules, Almeria, Malaga, Deportivo La Coruna, Zaragoza and Levante fight out the relegation battle with Hercules, Almeria and Deportivo (the eventual losers). Expect another relegation battle with many contenders once again.
So, while two teams on the top are fighting it out, a whole host of teams will be caught in the battle at the bottom, most likely with only a point or two separating them—all the more interesting and entertaining.
