Ultra-favorite to its own succession, Real Madrid aims to establish its domination over the Spanish championship with the addition of its new star Kylian Mbappé, against two vengeful rivals, FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, both strengthened this summer.
Who will be able to upset the King of Europe and his armada of stars?
Real Madrid, who have just achieved a historic season concluded by a treble of La Liga, Champions League and Spanish Super Cup with an unfailing collective strength, want to continue their momentum and write a new page in their rich history.
Mbappé effect?
Impressive last year (95 points, only 1 defeat), the Merengue club aims to reproduce a season of the same caliber with an attacking trident that is already shaking up Europe: Mbappé, Vinicius, Bellingham, three of the main candidates for the Ballon d’Or.
The French striker, who scored 44 goals in 48 matches last season with PSG, will have to fit into the 4-4-2 diamond system put in place by Carlo Ancelotti in the number 9 position, even if he can play in all positions up front.
“I will give my life for this club and this badge. I am proud to realize my dream and become a player of the best club in the history of football”declared the French centre-forward, stressing during his official presentation that it was up to him to adapt as best he could to his new team.
Mbappé, who knows that he is highly anticipated by both his supporters and his opponents, has a whole world to conquer to establish himself as the new face of a championship orphaned by a superstar since the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Barça bets on Flick… and La Masia
The new coach of FC Barcelona, the German Hansi Flick, surrounded by his players, before the Gamper Trophy against Monaco, on August 12, 2024 in Barcelona / MANAURE QUINTERO / AFP/Archives
In an attempt to catch up with its great rival from Madrid and complete the « reconstruction » started by Xavi Hernandez, FC Barcelona has bet on the German Hansi Flick, ex-coach of Bayern Munich, renowned for his attacking game.
In terms of finances, the Catalan club cannot afford to go crazy and offer Flick a squad as strong as Ancelotti’s, but it has still managed to bring back home the revelation of Euro-2024 with Spain, Dani Olmo, trained at La Masia but not kept in the professional squad before shining at Dinamo Zagreb and RB Leipzig.
A welcome reinforcement in a team saved last year by the early explosion of its young talents from the training center, Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi and Fermin Lopez and by the goals of an aging Robert Lewandowski.
Antoine Griezmann’s Atlético, who suffered a new disappointment with a wasted season in La Liga (4th) and a cruel elimination in the quarter-finals of the Champions League by Dortmund, broke the bank to strengthen their team with the arrivals of Argentinian striker Julian Alvarez and Norwegian Alexander Sorloth, and Franco-Spanish defender Robin Le Normand.
Argentinian striker Julian Alvarez, recruited by Atlético Madrid, here in the semi-final of the Copa America against Canada, July 9, 2024 in East Rutherford (New Jersey) / CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP/Archives
Behind, Girona, the great surprise of last season, will surely have difficulty overcoming the losses of its two best players: Savinho, who left for Manchester City, and Artem Dovbyk, top scorer in La Liga in 2023/24, recruited by AS Roma, and to assume the intensive rhythm of the Champions League.
Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad, who have so far managed to hold on to the dynamic Nico Williams and Takefusa Kubo, are in a good position to try to upset the established order, although the title battle is likely to be a clash of giants once again.