Hang on to your sombreros everyone! La Liga is on its way back and we’re buckling up for another rollercoaster ride.
The top three teams will dominate the La Liga 2019 news headlines as the endless pressure to win silverware and bragging rights shows no sign of abating, while three promoted teams will become embroiled in the frenzy to avoid relegation.
Osasuna, Granada and play-off winners Real Mallorca are all set to take on Europe’s finest, taking the places of Girona, Huesca and Rayo Vallecano who all fell through the trap door.
Welcome to the Jungle!
With a sub header like this I don’t want to strike fear into the newly promoted teams. But all three will need to learn how to fight and be fleet of foot, or prepare to suffer a mauling at the hands of some fierce predators.
The big three teams have all been spending big to strengthen their hands, but it’s the other 14 clubs that the promoted three need to focus on. If they pick a point up from any of the top three then that will be a bonus, and a memorable one.
The new boys can’t afford to look too closely at who Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico have recruited. The Madrid giants have spent over a half a billion Euros between them, while champions Barca have secured the services of Atleti’s Antoine Griezmann.
Osasuna
The La Liga 2019 betting odds predict at least two of the three promoted teams will return to the Segunda Division but Osasuna has a decent chance of survival.
The Pamplona outfit stormed the Segunda Division last season, winning the league by eight points, finishing with an impressive total of 87. Their hopes of survival rest on home form where they were outstanding last season, winning 19 and drawing two.
Osasuna needs to stand tough; and experienced midfield general Roberto Torres will be a key figure when times are hard. If he stays fit then I can see more joy for the Osasuna fans.
Granada
Finishing second was a fantastic outcome for the Andalusians and it means they return to the top flight after an absence of two seasons. They said goodbye in 2017 after a disastrous end of season spell under former England international Tony Adams.
Granada finished comfortably in second place and will start the season in hopeful mood, though fans hope Chinese owner Jiang Lizhang will continue to invest in the hope of a prolonged stay at the top table.
Real Mallorca
The islanders secured back to back promotions with a stunning turnaround in the 2018/19 play-off final to defeat highly fancied Deportivo La Coruna. They were two down after the first leg, but goals from Ante Budmir, Salva Silva and a late strike from Abdon Prats sent 21,000 island supporters wild, including tennis star Rafael Nadal.
Mallorca was last in the top flight in 2013, and two seasons ago suffered relegation to the third tier for the first time in its history. But a fifth placed finish and a dream play-off campaign has brought the good times back to Mallorca.
Only time will tell if the Islanders’ momentum can continue in the toughest circumstances.
Three Colossal Match Ups
We won’t have to wait long for some blockbuster ties as La Liga gets underway so keep these dates in the diary.
The Madrid Derby 29th September
Real Madrid and Atletico meet at the Wanda Metropolitano in September and they have already clashed in the ICC tournament; but fans on both sides of Madrid won’t worry about anything that comes before this monumental tie.
Diego Simeone has moved to strengthen his side after losing two big names in Griezmann and Diego Godin, and he’ll be confident of drawing first blood against Los Blancos if his side can keep their new creative threat, Eden Hazard, quiet.
El Clasico 27th October
Barca finished 19 points ahead of Los Blancos last term and it would be a major state of intent if Zinedine Zidane can inspire his team to a result at the Camp Nou in October.
Griezmann will be desperate to impress on the biggest stage and this game will be a cracker.
Granada vs Osasuna 20th October
The first reunion of the promoted sides pitches the Segunda Division’s top two together. Osasuna has the best chance of survival, and avoiding defeat in Granada will be a decent result for them.
And, of course, we’ll be there all the way with the latest news, views and SBOBET odds to make sure this is another memorable season in Spain’s premier league.
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