Guardian
09-12-2004, 12:40 PM
La Liga, like the Premiership, seems to have four or five genuine title condendors, but it always seems to go down to the wire unlike the Premiership.
Valencia (current champions), Barcelona, Real Madrid and Deportivo are all expected to be there. And with two of those clubs having new managers, Barcelona & Real Madrids summer signings, plus the usual crop of superb players, it should make another interesting season in La Liga.
Personally, as a Madrid fan, obviously Id like to see Real win the title after a year break. and with the players theyve brought in/back (Samuel, Woodgate, Owen, Morientes ) plus the new spanish manager. Real Madrid have improved defensively with the signing of Walter Samuel, however, Zidane, Figo and Roberto Carlos arent getting any younger, and it will be interesting to see how the new manager performs.
Barcelona have also improved a lot. they seem to be settled down very well.
Claudio Ranieri is now in his second spell at Valencia, and they have some talented players around in the likes of Pablo Aimar, Mista, Canizares, Ayala, Baraja and Vicente.
Deportivo can either be superb on their day, or they can just fall to pieces like they did in the CL against Monaco (3-8), but you can never write them off.
Latest odds from brokers:
Real Madrid - 6/5
Barcelona - 5/2
Valencia - 11/4
Deportivo - 11/2
(next best is Ath. Bilbao at 50/1)
With regards,
JOE
Valencia (current champions), Barcelona, Real Madrid and Deportivo are all expected to be there. And with two of those clubs having new managers, Barcelona & Real Madrids summer signings, plus the usual crop of superb players, it should make another interesting season in La Liga.
Personally, as a Madrid fan, obviously Id like to see Real win the title after a year break. and with the players theyve brought in/back (Samuel, Woodgate, Owen, Morientes ) plus the new spanish manager. Real Madrid have improved defensively with the signing of Walter Samuel, however, Zidane, Figo and Roberto Carlos arent getting any younger, and it will be interesting to see how the new manager performs.
Barcelona have also improved a lot. they seem to be settled down very well.
Claudio Ranieri is now in his second spell at Valencia, and they have some talented players around in the likes of Pablo Aimar, Mista, Canizares, Ayala, Baraja and Vicente.
Deportivo can either be superb on their day, or they can just fall to pieces like they did in the CL against Monaco (3-8), but you can never write them off.
Latest odds from brokers:
Real Madrid - 6/5
Barcelona - 5/2
Valencia - 11/4
Deportivo - 11/2
(next best is Ath. Bilbao at 50/1)
With regards,
JOE