European preview: Barcelona and Real Madrid ready for La Liga season
There’s a good reason why Barcelona and Real Madrid are favourites to lift the European Cup this season. It’s the same reason they’re overwhelmingly expected to finish first and second in the Primera Liga table.
Barça have signed arguably the world’s greatest striker David Villa, and are also set to land Argentina international Javier Mascherano within the next few days to add to their already formidable squad; while Real Madrid have managed to lure one of the world’s greatest coaches to the Bernabeu - the irrepressible José Mourinho – in a bid to bring silverware back to the capital.
The two giants of the Spanish game kick-off their seasons on Sunday evening. Getting off to a good start is the only conceivable outcome for both clubs, who want to keep pace with their rivals before the season’s hugely-anticipated first El Clasico of the campaign in November.
However, both teams face tricky away games in their opening matches. First, Barcelona travel to Racing Santander, before Real head to Mallorca.
History suggests that the two rivals will pick up maximum points in this weekend’s intriguing season openers, but it’ll be a big test for both teams, with Mourinho and his Barça counterpart Pep Guardiola still attempting to work out their best XIs.
Elsewhere on the continent, the new Serie A season also gets underway this weekend. After their disappointing last campaign, AC Milan are hoping for huge improvements this time around. Gone is their underachieving Brazilian manager Leonardo. He’s been replaced by former Cagliari boss Massimiliano Allegri. And he will have the task of resurrecting the Rossoneri’s fortunes, starting with a win over Leece on Sunday.
As for their European champion rivals, Inter Milan, they begin a new era without the influential Mourinho at the helm, who led the club to an historic treble last season. Ex-Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez, is now in charge of the European Cup holders, and his first test comes away at Bologna on Monday night. Inter haven’t lost to the Rossoblu since February 2002, and their new boss is under pressure to begin his tenure in style.
After a summer of big-spending, there’s currently an excited buzz around Genoa. The likes of Miguel Veloso, Rafinha and Luca Toni have all moved to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in recent weeks, and all eyes will be on them as they kick-start the Serie A season against Udinese on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, in Germany, the Bundesliga is poised to enter its second week. And there’s a mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash between Hoffenheim and the popular newly-promoted St Pauli at the Millerntor-Stadion on Saturday.
Bayern Munich are bidding for their second consecutive victory with an away tie against second place Kaiserslautern this evening; while Werder Bremen, who are currently rock bottom of the table, aim to put their awful start behind them against Cologne on Saturday.
And finally, one of the most enticing fixtures of the weekend will take place over in France, as two under-performing clubs go head-to-head at the Stade Chaban-Delmas on Sunday. Bordeaux, with new manager Jean Tigana, host Didier Deschamps’ Marseille side. This fixture has produced few goals in recent years, although that trend could be bucked this weekend with the pressure on both to climb the Ligue 1 table.
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