Logo

La Liga elbowed the Premier League out of the spotlight this summer. And it’s not just the English games best players who have been seduced by the aura of an all-star Real Madrid – the fans have been sucked in as well.
As the Spanish season kicked off last weekend, staff in the Sky Sports studio were predicting basketball scores for Real Madrid’s opening game.
Yet, beyond the hype, La Liga remains competitive.  We may think its obvious who the eventual winners will be but – like the Premier League - it’s no stroll in the park for the favourites.
For all the millions spent, the perfect team does not exist. Real Madrid find a visit to Bilbao as uncomfortable as United found their trip to Burnley and, on Saturday, the new Galacticos created plenty, but like Liverpool, they can’t stop conceding at set pieces.
Even the world’s most expensive player can struggle and after being the perfect counter attacker at United:  Ronaldo must define a new role for himself in a passing team.
Manuel Pellegrini plays without wingers and Cristiano must adapt to combine his wide runs with build up play in the centre of the pitch.
While he finds his feet, on Saturday Cristiano felt he must justify his price tag and take centre stage, even if it meant seizing the ball from Kaka to step up and score from the spot.
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s big signing has failed to impress so far. Ironically, Barcelona criticised some of Real Madrid’s spending, yet saw fit to blow £58 million on Ibrahimovic (£38 million plus Samuel Eto’o).
They have spent a fortune on a striker who has scored around 50 fewer goals in the last five seasons than the one he has replaced.
Guardiola wanted Eto’o away from his club and felt he needed a different option to challenge the opposition this season.
He certainly has that: a striker who plays like a midfielder in place of one who scored 30 league goals last term. Why did Barcelona not sign David Villa? They had in agreement in place to sign the Valencia striker for £38 million.
Yet, the day after agreeing terms, Joan Laporta made a quick phone call to Massimo Moratti and diverted his private jet to Milan. After a long lunch with the Inter supremo, the Barcelona president found he had spent a club record fee on Ibrahimovic.
Barcelona’s season depends upon how well they re-write a winning formula. What do you say about fixing things that aren’t broken?