Guillem's La Liga preview

Guillem Balague's club-by-club guide to the new season coming up on Sky Sports.

LA LIGA LIVE THIS WEEKEND
VALENCIA v REAL MADRID
8.30pm, Saturday, Sky Sports Xtra
REAL MADRID v VILLARREAL
5.55pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 2
ATHLETIC BILBAO v REAL SOCIEDAD
7.55pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 2
CELTA VIGO v BARCELONA
7.55pm, Monday, Sky Sports 2

La Liga is back on Sky Sports this season as Barcelona look to make it three in a row. But Real Madrid have been busy in the transfer market as well and it promises to be a star-studded season from top-to-bottom in Spain. Guillem Balague will preview the live games each week here on skysports.com, but first we asked the Revista de la Liga man just how he sees each club faring, from the champions to the newly-promoted and wonderfully-named Gimnastic!
Here's Guillem's club-by-club guide to the new La Liga season...

Athletic Bilbao

The club has lost its focus a bit and its romantic take on football (only basque players) seems outdate. For the good of the club though they should continue persuing utopia (competing for ever in the first division, a level they have never abandoned like Real and Barcelona). Keep an eye on Javi Martinez, a 17 year old who cost 6 million euros. Felix Sarriugarte, a former journalist, is the new coach. My dream is alive!

Atletico Madrid

General View: New faces, expectations high, lots of money spent. Nothing changes at Atletico Madrid, the Inter Milan of Spain. Torres stayed as he saw the club investing money but will guarantee a possibility of leaving with his new contract which will have an extension of one year and a much smaller buy out fee. Maybe Manchester United should get Trezeguet on loan for a season and continue its persue of Torres next summer?
Best player: Torres, of course. His progression seems slower that it could be in a bigger club, but Barcelona were not prepared to take him and Arsenal and Manchester United did not offer the 35 million demanded by Atletico. So time to focus on the team now.
Best signing: Sergio Aguero. 17 year old and the second most expensive signing of the summer after Joaquin (24 million euros) he was the best Argentinean player left in his country. He is more Romario than Messi, but will be one of the sensations of the season.
Main problem. Self confidence. If things start going wrong, the squad has not got enough strong leaders to get them out of depression.
Main virtue: They have two players per position and in attack they can try different possibilities with Kezman, Torres, Aguero, Mista.

Barcelona

General view: It is almost unimaginable to think they could be even better this season, but they have targeted seven titles and they certainly have the squad to dream. The electoral process this summer means Joan Laporta is to stay for four more years and stability from the top will help this Barcelona to continue to make history. Are we seeing unhealthy galactico like details when Etoo is not being punished for leaving the stadium at half time after being substituted by Gudjohnsen or when Ronaldinho presents a mobile phone on the say of the European Supercup?
Best player: We saw Ronaldinho appearing in big matches, Etoo struggling to score half way through the season and only one player maintaining a consistency that took the team to a different level. It is Messi. He missed the last quarter with injury, but he could soon become their most important player specially in difficult tight matches.
Best signing: There is the doubt about the physical capacity of Thuram and Gudjohnsen will be very useful in different positions, but Zambrotta is probably the best right footed left back in the world with Lahm and one of the best right backs, a weakness at the back for the last couple of seasons.
Main problem: Samuel Etoo left the stadium after being replaced at half time in the Spanish Supercup. If he feels jealous of  Gudjohnsen, what would he have thought of  the arrival of Henry? Former Rijkaard assistant Ten Cate was key to balance egos, but he is the new Ajax coach. Will the Dutch coach manage to keep everybody happy?
Main virtue: The team is still young and hungry, did not need many touches to improve this season and they know how to play by heart. And the coach adds the perfect combination of common sense and tactics to keep adding titles to the club. The generosity and unity of the squad is also key.

Celta Vigo

General View: Without Silva (at Valencia) and Sergio, it would be almost impossible to repeat the feat of getting promoted and getting an uefa cup place. Fans and coach could widen the differences from last season as their football was not as pretty as it was demanded.
Best player: Borja Oubina. He almost made it to the World Cup, the centre of midfield player is as good defensively as attacking and will end up in a bigger team.
Best signing: Nene. Winger Silva was behind some of the best stuff Celta produced and Nene has replaced him and in preseason added goals to the assists Silva used to produce.
Main problem: For Celta to stay in the top 8, other teams with a much bigger budget have to fail.
Main virtue: Expectations are not high in Vigo. Any UEFA place is always a bonus.

Deportivo La Coruna

General View: Depor, with no money at all, have resorted to loan players and young ones, a total renovation from that well remembered superdepor.
Best player: Sergio. Now that other sacred caws have gone (Molina, Victor, Munitis, Romero) his experience will be essential.
Best signing. Riki from Getafe was followed by English clubs but his lack of pedigree meant nobody went for him with conviction. And it is a shame as he could grow into a consistent goalscorer.
Main problem. Joaquin Caparros has spent the last 5 months surrounded by rumours about his departure. HE is not happy about some club decisions (specially the departure of Munitis) and has threatened to walk out.

Espanyol

After too many changes and not a clear idea of what club they want to be, my beloved Espnayol has named a very knowledgeable director of football, former Liverpool Paco Herrera, and a young promising Ernesto Valverde, former player and ex Athletic Bilbao coach. Hardly no money to sign players, lots will depend on the adaptation of the Brazilian international Jonatas, centre of midfield player that should help, along with Luis Garcia, Rufete, de la Pena and Tamudo, to avoid the struggles of the last few years. To do so the defence should improve immensely

Getafe

General View: Nine new faces, Bernd Schuster happy with the club and its challenge to become the new Villarreal.
Best player: Abbondazieri. The Argentinean goalkeeper has decided to leave his nation with 34 years of age. Finally Getafe have got a proper goalie.
Best signing. Albin. Great young winger from National (Uruguay). Doubts about his personality.
Main problem:Fourth best goalscoring team of the last season, their best goalscorers are gone (Riki, Gavilan, Pernia).

Gimnastic de Tarragona

Took the opposite option and changed almost completely the squad that has got only two strikers, Portillo of Real Madrid and Makukula, on loan from Sevilla after 2 years injured.

Levante

The squad is very new as well, Tomassi former Roma midfielder, Kapo (Juventus), best goalscorer in Portugal last season Meyong Ze and Robert, former Newcastle, will be the stars and on the bench, Lopez Caro, former Madrid and with the same lower profile as the club. Good news to see Irish international Ian Harte among the elite.

Osasuna

General View:Out of the Champions League, they will be able to concentrate in the league. A good start is essential as the departure of Javier Aguirre and replacement for the inexperienced Ziganda suggests there are better teams prepared to take over them as top four finish.
Best player: Raul Garcia should continue his progression. He is key in the midfield Best signing. Soldado, former Real Madrid striker. He impressed the scouts of Real when they saw him playing in a regional team. The money they got for him when he made his debut with the first team allowed his former club to buy some artificial grass.
Main problem: The psychological coup of not playing in the main European competition could affect their start to the season and compromise their future. They have the look of a one season wonder.
Main virtue: The team is full of hard working players willing to follow instructions. They are aware of their limitations.

Racing Santander

Racing was doing things as usual -a bit of modest signings, a sort of decision to make the club more local and bring boys born around Santander like Munitis, Luis Fernandez or Colsa, all discreet and probably sufficient to survive. And all of a sudden they go and spend 9 million euros on Rafael Solbis, the best striker of the recent Copa Libertadores. Internacional de Porto

Real Betis

With Joaquin finally gone to Valencia and former chairman Lopera acting from the shadows, the club is in urgent need of stability. Oliveira was punished with a million euros fine for arriving nine days late to preseason and could leave too. Javier Irureta, former Depor, has found a project in his hands very different to the one he was promised -much more humble and destined to fight in the lower places of the table.

Real Madrid

General view: A new coach in Capello used to succeed in his first season, a new philosophy in their game (a shield with Emerson, Diarra, Cannavaro and Sergio Ramos) and the urgency to win titles after three years of draught can produce a dangerous mix. The team was whistled in its presentation in the Bernabue despite beating Anderlecht. The fans are about to loose patient and the season has not started yet.
Best player: If Capello, his sporting fther, manages to control his temper and his hunger for fatty things, Cassano could become their door unlocker, their greatest fantasista. His understanding with Van Nistelrooy is one of the posstivies of the preseason.
Best signing: Cannavaro needs three players around him to look as good as he did in the World Cup. And he has them in Diarra, Emerson and Sergio Ramos.  The key of these three is Emerson who is the closest you can get to Makelele. But the best new face should be Van Nistelrooy specially after it has become clear Ronaldo would be happier in another team.
Main problem: The club has not done the recycling demanded by many. Roberto Carlos, Raul, Guti, Michel Salgado, Ronaldo they are all still there. Some of them have not got the passion needed anymore.
Main virtue: In any other era of the club, a Capello way of thinking would have not worked as the Bernabeu demands good football. But he has been welcomed as a saviour by some of the players and they will be happy to play a counterattacking game. Beckham will benefit from his hard working rate, of having Van Van and of the quick transitions to the attack Capello demands.

Real Mallorca

If Maxi Lopez, on loan from Barcelona, is the main star, it means Mallorca will probably not abandon the lower places in the table they have lived on for the last few years. Arango (Venezuelan winger, best goalscorer of the side) stays after saying he was happy to go and he will be the real leader.

Real Sociedad

With lots of financial problems, la Real has gone for experience in Diego Rivas, the midfielder that comes from Getafe and the absence of Nihat has not been properly replaced. Every year they produce a promising youngstair, this year the surprise could be the goalscorer Diaz de Cerio who impressed in the Second B division last year

Real Zaragoza

With coach Victor Fernandez returning to the club where he got more success and the Argentinean connection (the Milito brothers, Aimar from Valencia, and d'Alessandro who was not given a proper chance in England), La Romareda will be guaranteed excellent football.

Recreativo de Huelva

The plan is to use the key members of the side that got promoted (Uche,Rosu) and discover new talents (Cazorla, Arzu, Joselito) that would mean points this year and money next summer.

Sevilla

General View: Sevilla have been growing at such a pace that they don't need to sell their players anymore. That is why Alves did not go to Liverpool.
UEFA cup winners they are favourites to win a place in the top four as they have improved in their weakest area, the attack.
Best player: Sevilla is about team effort but each line bolts quality.
Alves, Hinkle, Renato, Maresca, Kanoute, Duda, Poulsen₻ They are not just names but fantastic consistent players. But the footballer that would make them one day champions material is Jesus Navas if the pacey winger finally decides he is really interested in football.
Best signing: Chevanton, no doubt. Forget about his bad spell in Monaco. He has got the material to become a treat upfront and score the goals Sevilla needs as they were the team that created more chances last season.
Main problem: They finished the season physically stronger than anybody else. Can they maintain that level?
Main virtue: The squad is very strong and the coach Juande Ramos can take the best out of them.

Valencia

General View: The internal battles are natural to this club. Coach Quique Sanchez Flores and director of football Amadeo Carboni are not in talking terms despite some recent trys to patch up their differences. That doesn't stop the team being successful, but deep down the impression is Quique is in his last chance saloon. After signing Joaquin he has not more excuses and by march the club wants the team to challenge for three titles.
Best player: With Ayala all but gone, Raul Albiol could soon become the best centre back in Spain. But the team will still depend on the goals of Villa.
Only if the midfielders add to the goalscoring rate the club can become a serious contender.
Best signing: Joaquin is inconstant and Valencia is not the best bullring to be patient with this bull fighter, but at least the problems in the right wing are finally gone and Morientes and Villa can get their crosses and assists from a talented player.
Main problem: Not all the players are in the same wavelength as the coach.
Main virtue: Quique wants an offensive quick football, based on a Benitez-like defence where everybody is involved and tactics are practiced daily.

Villarreal

General View: Not qualifying for Europe after last years semis in the Champions league and three consecutive appearances in the continent is a bit of a step back in their progression, but nobody should remember that this is a village club.
Best player: Riquelme. The day he goes they will have to change the squad completely as they are build to play around him.
Best signing: Nihat. After Pires injury (6 months out, same as centre back Gonzalo Rodriguez), Nihat will get the team on his back while we wait for the best version of Forlan again.
Main problem: The demands of good football fans are used to now make Villarreal challenge double, they have to win and they have to entertain.
Main virtue: The fact they can do bpth often makes them their main virtue.