Kicking off on winning note

THE two European leagues, considered by many observers to be the best in the world, as evidenced by the fact that they have provided eight representatives to the Champions League final in the last six seasons, both kicked off in style last weekend.

In Germany, Bayern Munich got the ball rolling with a comfortable 2-1 home victory over Wolfsburg, this being their first meaningful outing having fielded a weakened team in the Super Cup loss to Borussia Dortmund.

Last season, Pep Guardiola’s first in charge since his move from Barcelona, saw them romp to the top, beating their own record in the process, cruising to their 23rd Bundesliga title with seven games to spare.

They may not find it so easy with cracks starting to appear with star midfielder, Toni Kroos, having been sold to Real Madrid for a knockdown price after refusing to sign a new contract having, allegedly, become upset by criticism he was receiving from the boardroom over a perceived lack of effort.

This starkly contravened a direct request from Guardiola who valued his input. Mandzukic has also left for Spain although Bayern do look stronger upfront as a result of the free-transfer arrival of Lewandowski.

The team he left after scoring 74 times in four seasons, Borussia Dortmund, got off to the worst start in Bundesliga history, conceding after only nine seconds in their opener. Karim Bellarabi was the Bayer Leverkusen player who applied the finishing touch with Stefan Kiessling doubling the margin in the closing seconds.

Dortmund are considered by many to be the only side capable of challenging the current holders to the title, having recruited well over the summer. 

It is hoped that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (he who dons a mask on scoring) and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will have adapted in their first season to Jurgen Klopp’s high-pressing style and complement Adrian Ramos and Ciro Immobile, while Ilkay Gundogan returns from a season-ending injury and it is hoped that starlet, Marco Reus, can be persuaded to stay for another season.

Elsewhere, last season’s third-placed team, Schalke 04, have also managed to retain their star players, a further indication of the desire amongst Europe’s elite to ply their trade in Germany. Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg should also provide stiff opposition.

Over in Spain, La Liga started without one of the top two kicking off as defending champions for the first time since 2004, with many predicting it will be another 10 years before an outsider gets a look in. However, ignore Atletico Madrid again at your peril.

While they have famously lost Costa and Courtois to Chelsea over the summer, they have quietly spent approx. 100 million euros and look stronger as a result, although goalkeeping could be a weakness.

Mario Mandzukic will be the man tasked with playing alone upfront, holding the ball and finding a supporting midfield cast that now includes pacey French winger Antoine Griezmann and Saul Niguez who returns from loan at Rayo Vallecano.

Almost as important as bringing in replacements was the need to retain the majority of their squad and limit the losses to a couple of players. They persuaded Godin and Thiago to stay while also resisting attempts to lure Koke away. Youngster, Saul, may also have an opportunity to shine.

They will be without their inspirational coach, Diego Simeone, who started this season as he finished the last (in the Champions League final) by getting sent off! On this occasion Cholo patted the head of the fourth official in the home leg of the Spanish Super Cup final and will now miss eight games. With the first leg against Real Madrid having finished even, Mandzukic netted after only 81 seconds to score what turned out to be the winner.

Simeone can now add the Super Cup to the Spanish League title, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and Copa del Rey to the collection he has delivered to Atletico in his three years in charge.

Los Rojiblancos will certainly hope that Real Madrid and Barcelona are distracted by off-field legal battles, with the former being challenged over a compensation deal struck with local government while the latter have been slapped with a transfer embargo (meaning they have been busy this summer before it starts) and face tax evasion questions over the acquisition of Neymar.

In addition to the embargo, Barcelona enter the new season after their first trophy-less campaign since 2007 and have turned to a new manager with a strikingly similar background to Guardiola, the man who inspired a golden-era that brought 14 trophies in his four years at the helm. 

Argentinian Tata Martino has been replaced by Luis Enrique who, like the new Bayern boss, was an immensely popular player (winning the title twice) for Barca and started his coaching career managing the club’s B team.

He will have to juggle a squad that has been rebuilt over the summer at a reported cost of 143 million euros, with the acquisition of European golden boot winner, Luis Suarez, making the headlines and after suspension giving the forward line even more bite, said, to quote the late British DJ Kenny Everett, in the ‘best possible taste’.
 
At the back Thomas Vermaelen and Jeremy Mathieu will battle to partner Pique while they have three new goalkeepers who will compete for the place between the sticks.

But, with Xavi consigned to a part-time role having decided to stay with the club when at one point it looked as though he may leave for a pre-retirement payday, the most vital signing could be that of Ivan Rakitic from Sevilla who is expected to add some vibrancy in the middle of the park. Yet, with all the talk of transfers, it is easy to forget the likes of Messi and Neymar who will ensure Barca remain in the reckoning.

Not to be outdone, Los Blancos from the Bernabeu bought the World Cup Golden Boot winner, James Rodriguez. Although aged only 23, he is not a standard Galactico signing. Real have also snared the bargain of the summer in Kroos who arrived for a multi-million euro snip, in relative terms, after he entered the final year of his contract with Bayern Munich.

The other intriguing value-for-money signing is that of Keylor Navas who will put pressure on long-standing goalkeeper, Iker Casillas. Navas made more saves than any other goalie in La Liga last season.

Barca kicked off their campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Elche, despite Mascherano being sent off in the first half. Two goals from Messi sealed the victory although the absence of Suarez allowed another product from La Maisa Academy, Munir El Haddadi, to impress and score his first league goal.
 
La Liga is also witness this season to one of the most remarkable success stories in football.
 
It is incredible that Eibar, with a town population of 27,000 and (Ipurua) stadium capacity of just 5,000, are even playing the league, let alone starting with a victory. Javi Lara’s free-kick condemned Real Sociedad to a 1-0 defeat. They are also debt-free and intend to stay that way!

* Editor’s debate:
Those close to our esteemed Editor will testify that he has been socially touting a conundrum that is as follows:
Assuming you are an international football manager and are allowed to choose any two players from Bale, Messi, Neymar, Rodriguez, Ronaldo and Suarez, which would you select and why?

My personal choice would be Bale and Ronaldo. While I accept that Messi and Neymar have better ball control and are more adept at dribbling out of tight spaces and Suarez and Rodriguez run better lines and are more natural goalscorers, I would prefer to have the attributes offered by the Real Madrid pair.

Both offer tremendous pace and speed endurance (meaning that they can continue to fly past defenders late in the game) while offering versatility to play on either wing or through the middle.

These two, who gelled quickly last year, also offer a threat in the air and from direct free-kicks while they work hard defensively for the team and track-back. Ronaldo is currently the world player of the year and I believe that Bale complements him perfectly and could be a future contender for the crown.

 Put it another way, I wouldn’t bite your hand off for Suarez but I might for Bale and Ronaldo. Of course, this is on current form – ask me again in 10 years and offer each player at the peak of their powers and it’s a whole new debate!