MADRID: Penpix of the 20 clubs in Spain’s top flight ahead of the start of the 2012-13 season on Saturday:
ATHLETIC BILBAO
2011-12 position: 10th
Coach: Marcelo Bielsa (ARG)
- Only finished 10th in La Liga last season but reached Copa del Rey final, losing to Barcelona, and charmed the continent on run to Europa League final, which they lost to Atletico Madrid. Flamboyant Argentine coach Bielsa remains after agreeing to sign new one-year contract, but preparations overshadowed by impending dpearture of star striker Fernando Llorente, a huge blow to their hopes of challenging once again. Striker Aritz Aduriz from Valencia is most notable signing.
ATLETICO MADRID
2011-12 position: 5th
Coach: Diego Pablo Simeone (ARG)
- Enjoyed excellent second half to last season following appointment of popular former player Simeone, just missing out on Champions League qualification and winning Europa League for second time in three seasons. Turkey midfielder Emre is most notable summer signing but club have serious financial problems and were unable to sign Brazilian playmaker Diego permanently after loan spell, while promising defender Alvaro Dominguez has been sold. Will again look to deadly Colombian striker Radamel Falcao to lead push for top-four finish.
BARCELONA
2011-12 position: 2nd
Coach: Tito Vilanova (ESP)
A new era begins at the Camp Nou with Pep Guardiola having departed after four glorious seasons to be replaced by his assistant Tito Vilanova. Guardiola’s final campaign saw Barca surrender the title to Real Madrid and exit the Champions League in the semi-finals, but they did win the Copa del Rey, Club World Cup, European Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup. Vilanova’s task will be to wrestle back the Liga crown, and he will rely on much the same squad as last year, although Spain left-back Jordi Alba has arrived from Valencia and popular midfielder Seydou Keita has left.
BETIS
2011-12 position: 13th
Coach: Pepe Mel (ESP)
- One of Spain’s best-supported clubs, Betis returned to top flight last season after two-year absence and led the table for a time early on before fading to finish 13th. Seville-based side have made few major summer signings, with young striker Joel Campbell on loan from Arsenal one of the most high profile. Key players from last season remain, however, including Ruben Castro and newly-capped Spanish international midfielder Benat. Survival the aim once again.
CELTA DE VIGO
2011-12 position: 2nd (Segunda)
Coach: Paco Herrera (ESP)
- Galician club who reached Champions League last 16 in 2004 are back in La Liga after five years in second tier. Coach Paco Herrera was assistant to Rafa Benitez at Liverpool during 2004-05 Champions League-winning campaign and later worked as sporting director at Espanyol. His task will be to consolidate club’s position in top flight. May rely on Iago Aspas, who scored 23 goals in promotion campaign, to make successful step up to top flight. Galician derby between Celta and Deportivo will be welcome addition to fixture list.
DEPORTIVO
2011-12 position: 1st (Segunda)
Coach: Jose Luis Oltra (ESP)
- Won the second-tier title by six-point margin last season to secure an immediate return to La Liga. Regularly punched above their weight at beginning of last decade, winning title in 2000 and reaching Champions League semi-finals in 2004. Key players from promotion campaign, such as Andres Guardado, Lassad and Diego Colotto have gone, but veteran World Cup-winning centre-back Carlos Marchena (Villarreal) and young Portuguese international striker Nelson Oliveira (Benfica) come in. Coach Jose Luis Oltra, who has overseen relegations from top flight with Levante and Tenerife, would be happy to stay up “in the final minute of the final game.”
ESPANYOL
2011-12 position: 14th
Coach: Mauricio Pochettino (ARG)
- Appeared well-placed to qualify for Europe at one stage last season before sliding away to 14th. Barcelona’s second club are in good hands under Argentine coach Pochettino and boast one of best stadiums in Spain but are limited financially. Rely on impressive stream of young talent, with striker Alvaro Vazquez a standout. However, he is currently in dispute with club over unpaid wages. Defence has been strengthened by signings of Diego Colotto and World Cup-winning left-back Joan Capdevila and Espanyol will again hope for solid season.
GETAFE
2011-12 position: 11th
Coach: Luis Garcia (ESP)
- Modest club from southern Madrid suburbs begin ninth consecutive season in top flight. High point of last season was home win against Barcelona. President Angel Torres is a Real Madrid ‘socio’ and club has enjoyed considerable success plucking talent from capital giants’ reserves in recent years. Getafe regularly attract lowest crowds in La Liga but Torres has targeted a top eight-finish and hopes to keep hold of talented Moroccan midfielder Abdul Barrada. Has lost mean Argentine defender Cata Diaz to Atletico Madrid but goalkeeper Miguel Moya signs permanently from Valencia and midfielder Pedro Leon remains on loan from Real Madrid.
GRANADA
2011-12 position: 17th
Coach: Juan Antonio Anquela (ESP)
- Avoided immediate return to second tier on final day of last season. Southern club have since brought in Juan Antonio Anquela, who almost led tiny Alcorcon to promotion to top flight last season, to replace Abel Resino. Owned by the Pozzo family, who also control Serie A club Udinese and have bought English outfit Watford. Summer signings Antonio Floro Flores and Youssef El-Arabi should make Granada much more of a threat going forward.
LEVANTE
2011-12 position: 6th
Coach: Juan Ignacio Martinez (ESP)
- Despite tiny budget and ageing squad, Levante led La Liga for a time last season and looked on course for Champions League place until fading to finish sixth. That still marked a best-ever league performance and also secured European qualification for first time ever for Valencia’s second club. Financial limitations mean they are set to lose Ivorian striker Arouna Kone, last season’s top scorer, and may struggle this time around.
MALAGA
2011-12 position: 4th
Coach: Manuel Pellegrini (CHI)
- Broke into top four last season to earn Champions League qualification but it has been a wretched summer for Costa del Sol club. Sporting Director Fernando Hierro has resigned and investment from Qatari owners has suddenly stopped, leaving wages unpaid and money still owed in transfer fees to other clubs. Coach Pellegrini remains for now, but Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Salomon Rondon (Rubin Kazan) and Joris Mathijsen (Feyenoord) have left and more departures could follow.
MALLORCA
2011-12 position: 8th
Coach: Joaquin Caparros (ESP)
- Strong end to last season allowed Mallorca to finish eighth. Islanders appear in good hands under former Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao coach Joaquin Caparros but have lost the likes of defender Ivan Ramis and Uruguayan midfielder Chori Castro. Caparros still needs to strengthen squad but, like most clubs in La Liga, money is tight and Mallorca’s first focus will be to make sure they avoid the drop.
OSASUNA
2011-12 position: 7th
Coach: Jose Luis Mendilibar (ESP)
- Pamplona side finished seventh last season, just one point shy of a European place, in their best campaign since coming fourth in 2006. Traditionally strong at home, they beat Barcelona in Pamplona, but lost 8-0 at Camp Nou and 7-1 at Real Madrid. One of only four Spanish clubs owned by its members, or ‘socios’, Osasuna have a new president in Miguel Archanco, but coach Jose Luis Mendilibar has had little funds for new signings. Will miss Raul Garcia after excellent loan spell but have signed veteran striker Joseba Llorente on loan from Real Sociedad.
RAYO VALLECANO
2011-12 position: 15th
Coach: Paco Jemez (ESP)
- Madrid’s third club, from the southern Vallecas neighbourhood, avoided relegation on the final day of last season. Despite survival, coach Jose Ramon Sandoval was not kept on and has been replaced by Paco Jemez, who took Cordoba to second-tier promotion play-offs last season but has never coached in top flight. Club remain in administration and have lost several key members of squad, including Michu, who was sold to Swansea City. Likely to face another relegation dogfight.
REAL MADRID
2011-12 position: 1st
Coach: Jose Mourinho (POR)
- Jose Mourinho’s side were irresistible last season, winning title with 100 points and a record 121 goals, and are set for another bitter battle for the title with Barcelona. Champions League success is the main aim, though, for a club desperate for a tenth continental crown and a coach eager to win European Cup with third different club. No significant changes to what is a very strong squad in all areas.
REAL SOCIEDAD
2011-12 position: 12th
Coach: Philippe Montanier (FRA)
- Basque club, back-to-back league champions in early 1980s, finished an unremarkable 12th under French coach Philippe Montanier last season. Most notable summer signings so far are Uruguayan midfielder Chori Castro from Mallorca and full-back Jose Angel on loan from Roma. Montanier survived at the helm despite constant scrutiny last season and will be happy with a campaign of mid-table respectability.
SEVILLA
2011-12 position: 9th
Coach: Michel (ESP)
- Last season’s ninth-place finish was their worst since 2003 but Sevilla have started rebuilding over summer and will hope for improvement in first full season under Michel, the former Real Madrid and Spain midfielder and ex-Getafe coach. Veteran striker Freddie Kanoute, considered one of the club’s greatest ever players, has left but goalkeeper Diego Lopez (Villarreal) and defender Hedwiges Maduro (Valencia) are among those who have come in. Not the force they once were but still aiming for return to Europe.
VALENCIA
2011-12 position: 3rd
Coach: Mauricio Pellegrino (ARG)
- The ‘best of the rest’ in each of the last three seasons, a new era begins at Valencia after coach Unai Emery departed to be replaced by Mauricio Pellegrino. Argentine has never worked as coach before but won two Liga titles and UEFA Cup with Valencia as a player and was assistant to Rafa Benitez at Liverpool and Inter Milan. Spain star Jordi Alba has been sold to Barcelona but Portugal right-back Joao Pereira, Mexican creator Andres Guardado and Argentina midfielder Fernando Gago should all strengthen squad.
VALLADOLID
2011-12 position: 3rd (Segunda - promoted via play-offs)
Coach: Miroslav Djukic (SRB)
- Valladolid finished third in second tier last season, missing out on automatic promotion by three points, but returned to top flight after a two-year absence via play-offs. Something of a yo-yo club in recent years, Valladolid can expect to struggle. Serbian coach Miroslav Djukic is a familiar face in Spanish football - as a Deportivo player, his last-minute penalty miss on final day of 1993-94 season denied club title, while he later won La Liga and reached two Champions League finals with Valencia.
ZARAGOZA
2011-12 position: 16th
Coach: Manolo Jimenez (ESP)
- Club in chaos behind the scenes have avoided relegation on the final day in each of last two seasons. Coach Manolo Jimenez was inspirational in successful survival battle last time around but knows life will not be easy as he begins first full season in charge. Significant changes made to playing staff over summer, with Ivorian midfielder Romaric (Sevilla) among the new recruits.
