By Simon Baskett
MADRID, Aug 26 (Reuters) - After a clear-out of several
high-profile players, the appointment of a new coach and a
series of astute signings Barcelona should have a good chance of
stopping Real Madrid from winning a hat-trick of league titles.
Real took full advantage of Barca’s woes to wrap up an easy
victory in the last title race, but a second season without a
trophy prompted a minor revolution at Barcelona.
Mild mannered Dutch coach Frank Rijkaard was jettisoned in
favour of former Nou Camp favourite Pep Guardiola.
The ex-midfielder has limited coaching experience but
possesses the sort of inside knowledge that should enable him to
handle the fraught atmosphere that so often prevails at the
Catalan club.
Out have gone the under-performing Ronaldinho and the
unwanted Deco, together with the fading defensive talents of
Edmilson, Lilian Thuram and Gianluca Zambrotta.
In have come the dynamic Daniel Alves and the assured Martin
Caceres to bolster a shaky-looking back four, while Seydou Keita
and Aleksandr Hleb have been brought in from Sevilla and Arsenal
to add some much needed bite to the midfield.
Although he was initially seen as surplus to requirements by
Guardiola, the explosive Samuel Eto’o earned a reprieve with a
succession of impressive pre-season performances.
If he avoids a repetition of the injuries that have hampered
his progress in the past two seasons, the Cameroon striker could
prove to be one of Guardiola’s most important players.
Even though they failed to hit it off last season, Eto’o,
Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry remain three of the most feared
forwards in world football.
DISTRACTED
While Barca have concentrated on rebuilding both their squad
and team morale, Real appear to have been distracted by their
fruitless summer romance with Cristiano Ronaldo.
With the Portuguese winger deciding to stay at Manchester
United, Real missed out on their man and also managed to put
Robinho’s nose out of joint following reports that they were
prepared to use the Brazilian to raise funds for the deal.
As a result Robinho is angling for a move to Chelsea and the
champions have reinforced their squad with just one recruit,
Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart from SV Hamburg.
Real have a wealth of resources in midfield, with Spain
international Ruben de la Red back after a successful loan spell
at Getafe and Arjen Robben back fit following a series of injury
problems last season.
Unless they make a late swoop for a new striker, however,
they look short-staffed up front and dangerously over-reliant on
Ruud van Nistelrooy and Raul for goals.
Villarreal, who pipped Barca to the runners-up spot last
season, have made their usual raft of astute signings and are
likely to challenge for the Champions League berths once again,
but they will have to do without injured Turkish striker Nihat
Kahveci for the early part of the campaign.
Sevilla have been in scintillating form in pre-season
despite losing the influential Alves and Keita to Barcelona and
Christian Poulsen to Juventus.
Last season the Andalucians’ ambitions were dealt a hammer
blow by the tragic death of Antonio Puerta and the departure of
coach Juande Ramos, but with morale restored they should be
battling for the top places in the table.
After a traumatic period on and off the pitch, Valencia will
be hoping normal service can be resumed under new coach Unai
Emery.
The club have managed to hang on to Spain midfielder David
Silva, but they will need to do the same with prolific striker
David Villa if they are to challenge for the top places.
Of the rest, Atletico Madrid will be looking to consolidate
their position among the elite after a fourth-place finish last
season.
(Editing by Rex Gowar)