Tuesday 16 August 2016 17:38, UK
Terry Gibson is tipping Atletico Madrid to win the La Liga title this season, and thinks the signing of Kevin Gameiro could be decisive.
Atletico won the league in 2013/14 but have finished third in the last two campaigns.
They have strengthened over the summer, in particular with the signings of Gameiro and Nicolas Gaitan, and Sky Sports Spanish football pundit Gibson thinks they are in a good position to mount a challenge.
"I tipped Atletico when they won it and I have tipped them ever since, for the last two seasons they haven't delivered, but I am going to stick with them," he said on the La Liga Weekly Podcast.
"Gameiro could be the difference, they have been crying out for another striker alongside (Antoine) Griezmann and that has the look of an exciting partnership.
"Also I look at the pre-season of the top teams and I think they are going to be the powerful team at the start of the season. All their South American players were back early from the Copa America and they have done a proper pre-season, a training camp doing fitness, then games in Australia and back to Europe.
"I think they are in the best shape at the start of the season. (Sergio) Busquets and (Javier) Mascherano came back for Barcelona, had a day of training then played against Leicester the next day.
"Real Madrid haven't had (Gareth) Bale and (Cristiano) Ronaldo take part in games and (Karim) Benzema has only just started after injury.
"I think Atletico are in the best shape at the start of the season. They need to make the most of their advantage."
"Atletico must make the most of their advantage at the start of the season. They need to put themselves in a good position after seven or eight games."
While Atletico and Barcelona have made several summer signings, Real Madrid have been less busy.
They have re-signed Alvaro Morata from Juventus and seen Marco Asensio return on loan.
"I can't believe that's the end of it," said Gibson. "A team that wins the Champions League doesn't need ripping apart and starting again, but everybody seems to have forgotten there is a possibility of a transfer ban for the next two windows.
"Barcelona bought eight players when they had the chance before their ban, there is no sign of Real Madrid doing that at the moment.
"There are also players whose futures might be in doubt, such as James Rodriguez and Isco.
"Morata is the right decision, they relied too much on the front three and if Benzema was missing it was hard to get an adequate replacement. I thought they might go for a holding midfielder and possibly a left-back too."
Morata will likely be competing with Benzema for a starting role up front this season.
"He has a lot to prove, he needs to improve his goalscoring record," added Gibson. "The time to judge him is now and it will be interesting to see the battle between him and Benzema.
"I would still say Benzema starts, but I think it was a wise decision to bring him back at that price."
Reflecting on Barcelona's transfer activity, Gibson said: "What they have done in the transfer market has been good. The age of the players that have come in tends to make you think there is a philosophy of looking to the future as well as the present.
"I think their work has been pretty good."
Watch the start of the La Liga season live on Sky Sports on Friday as Malaga take on Osasuna and Deportivo La Coruna face Eibar. Listen to the La Liga Weekly Podcast HERE.
