What do you get when you take Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi out of La Liga? Well, you get frustrated. But it’s still La Liga. Very, very different to what we’d become used to in the past decade – but it’s still La Liga. The money seems to be tight, the stars aren’t quite as bright as before, but there is still plenty of talent for us to care.La Liga’s wounds inflicted by Messi’s farewellThis year’s La Liga campaign will kick off on Friday the 13th. As if the Spanish top tier hasn’t had its share of horrors and bad luck already. This is the league that featured Ronaldo and Messi just two years ago. Today, neither of world’s two best players will excite football fans. Famed El Clasico matches between Barcelona and Real Madrid are going to be strange, but hey – that’s only two matches of the season. There’s 188 more – and we at Mozzart Sport Kenya will try to give you the best and the worst La Liga throws at us.So, what is there to see? Let’s take a look!Title contendersLast season, the race was a nervous and exciting one. Three contenders, Atletico, Barcelona and Real Madrid had their fine runs and days to forget – but the red and whites of Madrid crossed the finish line with their noses just in front. They were the runaway leaders for the first half of the season. Led by Barca reject Luis Suarez, Los Rojiblancos secured a 10-point gap at the top of the table. Although the lead did melt away slowly, Diego Simeone’s army had just enough of energy to put their arms around the trophy.Always 100% 💪 pic.twitter.com/fKNn79s773— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) August 11, 2021 This season, Atletico look like the biggest favourites to make it two on the bounce. It’s been 71 years since they managed to win two titles in a row, but with the disarray at Barca and many question marks all over Real Madrid – you’d feel that the red and whites have a chance to repeat the last season’s success. They signed Udinese’s Argentinean playmaker Rodrigo De Paul to bolster their midfield options. It could prove one of the best signings the club has made in recent years. The team will once again rely on veteran Uruguayan Suarez to supply the goals, but maybe this is the breakout season for Joao Felix.Bad timing! Toni Kross will miss the start of the season with a niggling groin injuryReal Madrid have re-hired the supremely experienced Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti after the sad breakup with their legend Zinedine Zidane. In terms of transfer activity, David Alaba has joined from Bayern while the long-serving captain Sergio Ramos chose to resume his career in Paris. It’s not often that a transfer window passes without Los Blancos splashing many millions on new players, but that’s 2021 for you. Their season will largely depend on Ancelotti’s ability to squeeze the most out of his ageing stars Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Marcelo, Toni Kroos and Eden Hazard.Lionel Messi amekubali mkataba wa miaka 2 na klabu ya PSG na anatarajiwa kufanyiwa vipimo vya afya hapo kesho. Kwa mwaka Messi atakuwa anapokea mshahara wa Euro milioni 35 kwa mwaka. pic.twitter.com/qxvfhEZc3o— Mozzart Bet Kenya (@mozzartbetkenya) August 10, 2021 Barcelona, oh, Barcelona. Where do we begin? A crippling wage bill means that the club is yet to register new signings Sergio Aguero, Emerson Royal, Eric Garcia and Memphis Depay. There was something else… Oh, right, we almost forgot: Lionel Messi is gone. The unthinkable has happened. Barca’s captain and the best player they’ve seen in a long time has left following the expiration of his contract. The financial regulations of La Liga meant the club’s hand were tied. So, what’s left? Only despair and many disgruntled players. It’s up to coach Ronald Koeman to get his players focused on their job. They still have the quality, but it’s hard to imagine that Barca could play better than they’ve done last season.Dark horses and European hopefulsSevilla have swapped their promising youngster Bryan Gil for Spurs’ experienced Argentina international Erik Lamela. They’ve also secured the signing of free agent goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic from relegated Eibar. The excellent shot-stopper should improve the side that’s already one of the best going forward. In the meantime, Europa League winners Villareal hope to build on their continental success with a strong season back at home. Coach Unai Emery added attacker Boulaye Dia and defender Juan Foyth for a combined fee of around $20 million. We expect The Yellow Submarine to improve on their last season’s seventh-place finish.Gerard Moreno ndiye mfungaji bora wa muda wote kwenye historia ya klabu ya Villarreal. Moreno amewafungia Villarreal magoli 83. pic.twitter.com/ImSbrMjFph— Mozzart Bet Kenya (@mozzartbetkenya) August 12, 2021 NewcomersEspanyol returned to the top flight after just a year in Segunda Division. They managed to keep most of the players who also played for them in the relegation season, so it comes as no surprise that they’ve managed to bounce straight up. However, the club’s decision to trust the same group of players who were relegated to do better this time around is a brave one.Working-class team from a poor neighbourhood comes again to torment the richThe other two clubs who returned to La Liga are Real Mallorca and Rayo Vallecano, clubs with plenty of experience in the top flight.LA LIGA – Round 1Friday22.00: (2.50) Valencia (3.00) Getafe (3.10)Saturday18.00: (2.30) Osasuna (3.10) Espanyol (3.35)20.30: (3.20) Mallorca (3.25) Betis (2.30)20.30: (2.75) Cadiz (3.05) Levante (2.75)23.00: (7.00) Alaves (4.30) Real Madrid (1.47)Sunday18.30: (3.90) Celta (3.40) Atletico Madrid (2.00)21.00: (1.75) Barcelona (3.60) Sociedad (4.90)23.15: (1.50) Sevilla (4.10) Rayo Vallecano (7.00)Monday21.00: (1.60) Villareal (3.80) Granada (6.00)23.00: (3.80) Elche (3.10) Athletic Bilbao (2.15)*odds are subject to change
