Who Will Win La Liga?

[Pat Murphy]

What the hell might as well.

The odds for the teams according to Skybet are:

Barcelona 8/13
Real Madrid 7/4
Valencia 10/1
FC Sevilla 12/1
Atlético Madrid 33/1
Villarreal 40/1
Real Zaragoza 50/1
Getafe 66/1
Espanyol 100/1
Deportivo La Coruña 125/1
Racing Santander 150/1
Mallorca 150/1
Real Betis 150/1
Osasuna 200/1
Levante 200/1
Athletic Bilbao 200/1
Recreativo Huelva 200/1
Valladolid 250/1
Almeria 1000/1
Murcia 1000/1

I think a lot of people will predict the same winner so it might be better to predict the top 6. I think....

1. Barcelona
2. Valencia
3. Real Madrid
4. Sevilla
5. Real Zaragoza
6. Atletico Madrid

Darkhorses this year being Athletic Bilbao, Real Betis, Deportivo. Also Villarreal could get top 4 easily.

[jec1]

1. Real madrid
2. Sevilla
3. Barcalona
4. Valencia
5. Real Zaragoza
6. Atletico Madrid

I believe real will win. With their recent acquistions, I think they are much better then last season.

Sevilla will be the surprise team!

[MUMUFMUFCOK!]

I think Atletico could have a great season. Not title challengers, but possibly top four finish. They've made some interesting signings.

Barca should win it, Real will revert to being dog shite.

[Sven]

Obvious choice is Barce,

but going out with a limb , I will choose and back Valencia to win, my mind may change if Sevilla win there first three away games though.

[Blaugrana]

1. Barca
2. Sevilla
3. Valencia / Real Madrid
5. Atletico Madrid

All with very small differences. About Sevilla, it also depends on whether Alves will get his motivation back (if he stays at the club in the first place) and whether Navas can get rid of his illness. Valencia always underperform while Real Madrid will suffer under a rubbish coach (i just really don't rate Schuster, i don't think he fits Real). And with so many new players, it will take some time to gel. Barca's team has by far most quality in it.

Ps what players of Real would make Barca's team? Casillas, Diarra and arguably Cannavaro (altho he's been a joke in Spain). That's it. So on paper the winner is clear, let's now prove it on the pitch

[Sven]

Ramos would, I now see him one tiny step away from Puyol, who is best in La Liga.

[Trim]

1. Barcelona
2. Real Madrid
3. Sevilla
4. Valencia
5. Atletico Madrid
6. Villareal

[Pat Murphy]

Sevilla haven't weakened their side and made good signings like Boulahrouz, Mosquera, de Mul, Kone but Champions League could be a real stress on their Liga campaign although 2 seasons with UEFA Cup which has more games hasn't, so they might be alright.

Atletico despite having an excellent squad I think might fail again and I didn't put Villarreal higher because they signed Rossi to be their main striker and so they might struggle at first. Zaragoza signed big in pre-season and could well also finish top 4. Real Madrid if they do crap, could finish outside the top 4.

Valencia didn't weaken. Villa could have a great season and they've added players like Zigic, Alexis, Helguera, Sunny, Caniera, Arizmendi so they've got squad depth to cope with injuries and could well win La Liga this season.

[Sven]

Who left Valencia this summer?

[Trim]

Originally Posted by Sven

Who left Valencia this summer?

Ayala, David Navarro, Hugo Viana, Estoyanoff and Fiore among others.

[Sven]

So no one important then, Alaya imo is not what Valencia needed.

[Pennywise]

This will be a very tough and even La Liga. Last season the league were the most entertaining - both in the buttom and top of the table.

Many teams can win and the smallest details can do a different.

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Valencia and Sevilla will fight for the number 1. Zaragoza and A.Madrid are outsiders, but I don't think they'll be stable enough.

However, IMO Barcelona are a step over the other teams. They have bought in good players, but not so many. They have an extreamly good attack + a good defence.

Valencia will be better than last season and Sevilla will continue impresse the football world.

Real Madrid have a strong squad with many good players, but I think to break in this system will take too much time to win the league. They'll get some defeats in the first part of the season.

My $0.2 is:

Barcelona
Sevilla
Valencia
Real Madrid
Real Zaragoza
Ateltico Madrid

[Pat Murphy]

After Matchday 16:

1. Real Madrid - 38
2. Barcelona - 34
3. Atletico - 31
4. Villarreal - 31
5. Espanyol - 30
6. Racing - 26
7. Valencia - 25
8. Mallorca - 21
9. Sevilla - 20
10. Zaragoza - 20


Abit of a gap forming between 5th to 6th and 7th to 8th. Valencia, Zaragoza and Sevilla have made a mess of their campaigns so far and Espanyol and Racing have capitalised. A win for Barca against Madrid next weekend will shorten the gap to 1 pt.

[Podolski]

Villareal doing very well and rossi better than expected

[Pat Murphy]

After Matchday 21:

1. Real Madrid - 53
2. Barcelona - 44
3. Villarreal - 38
4. Atletico - 37
5. Espanyol - 36
6. Racing - 33
7. Sevilla - 29
8. Almeria - 29
9. Valladolid - 27
10. Getafe - 27
11. Valencia 27
12. Zaragoza - 26


In the last 5 games Madrid have stretched their lead by another 5 points

Valencia have only picked up 2 points and now sit in 11th place, 5 above relegation. Zaragoza have dropped to 12th and have changed manager, maybe Valencia will do the same very soon.

The 2 newly promoted sides, Almeria and Valladolid are doing excellently to be so far up the table, so are Racing and Espanyol.