How Barcelona, Real Madrid & La Ligas big clubs will line up in 2014-15 Spains top teams have been busy strengthening over the summer and Goal takes a look at how they will compete over the next nine months Aug 21, 2014 09:00:00 By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Writer La Liga is back this weekend. Spains top 20 teams return to action on Saturday, Sunday and Monday as competition resumes again after ending on May 17 last season. Then, Atletico shocked Barcelona by claiming a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou to win the Primera Division from the Catalans, with Real Madrid in third place. Diego Simeones side start the defence of their title crown on Monday at Rayo Vallecano, with Madrid in action the same night at home to promoted side Cordoba while Barca begin on Sunday against Elche at Camp Nou. Here, Goal takes a look at how those three teams and the rest of Spains biggest clubs will line up in terms of tactics and personnel as the new season prepares to kick off this weekend. ATHLETIC CLUB Athletics policy for signing only Basque players means the Bilbao- based club are restricted in the transfer market and, following the summer sale of Ander Herrera to Manchester United, this team pretty much picks itself. Apart from Herrera, Athletic have held on to all of their players this summer and the only real doubt in their starting side is in central midfield, with Benat likely to be first choice this time around following an impressive pre- season for los Leones. Gorka Iraizoz will start in goal, although the veteran shot-stopper could find himself under pressure this term from youngster Kepa Arrizabalaga. Captain Carlos Gurpegui, a midfielder, is set to continue in central defence alongside former Barca target Aymeric Laporte, while Andoni Iraola is an experienced head at right-back. Markel Susaeta, Iker Muniain and Aritz Aduriz form a dynamic front three for coach Ernesto Valverde, who is also set to utilise 4-4-2 this term as well as his habitual 4-3-3 in La Liga and the Champions League. ATLETICO MADRID Atletico Madrid played 4-4-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday in their Spanish Supercopa first-leg clash against city rivals Real, but coach Diego Simeone is likely to revert to 4-2-3-1 for the majority of the time this season. Simeone used 4-2-3-1 initially at the Vicente Calderon, before switching to 4-4-2 to incorporate Diego Costa alongside Radamel Falcao in 2012-13. The Argentine has options in his squad to use both formations again this term: with the former, Mario Mandzukic will be utilised as the lone striker, while the latter would see the Croat supported by either Raul Jimenez or midfielder Raul Garcia in an advanced role. Summer signing Antoine Griezmann, a subsitute at the Bernabeu, is likely to be a starter once he has adapted to his new team, with Koke and Arda Turan adding to the impressive array of attacking talent at the Calderon.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 16:24:38 +0000
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