體壇英語資訊：Barca, Real expected to dominate as Spanish league prepares kickoff

?Football club Barcelona and Real Madrid are again expected to dominate the competition as the Spanish La Liga prepares to kick off the new season next weekend.

The economic power of Spain's two biggest clubs, which comes partly through their lucrative TV contracts, means the battle for the title is almost certain to be a two-horse race.

Last season saw Barcelona edge out Real Madrid for the second successive season, winning the title by three points. But just as revealing was the fact that Madrid finished 25 points ahead of third placed Valencia and 33 points above Sevilla, the side that finished fourth and while Madrid's squad looks stronger this time around, those of Valencia and Sevilla do not.

Barcelona will look to defend its title and coach Pep Guardiola has got his side playing possible the best football in the World. This season Barcelona will be able to field eight members of the triumphant Spanish World Cup winning squad, plus Leo Messi, who is considered to be the best player in the World.

Barcelona's squad has suffered few changes from last season. striker David Villa has arrived from Valencia and will guarantee at least 20 goals a season, while former Sevilla player Adriano offers cover in a variety of defensive and midfield roles.

Barca will miss the presence of Toure Yaya, who has joined Manchester City, while Rafael Marquez, Thierry Henry and Chygrynskiy have all left the club.

The summer saw Pep Guardiola put his faith in players from the club's productive youth system, but there is a feeling that Barcelona's squad could lack depth if injuries strike key players during a long season.

Barcelona's season has already got off to a winning start with a 5-3 aggregate win over Sevilla in the Spanish Supercup, with the 4-0 win in the Camp Nou making their superiority very clear for all to see.

Real Madrid meanwhile is once again the biggest spending club in Spain with six new faces arriving along with coach Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho's past record as coach of Porto, Chelsea and reigning European Champions Inter Milan, suggests he guarantees success, although he himself has said that he will need time to have his players working as a unit.

The arrival of Mourinho as well as Angel de Maria, Pedro Leon, Ricardo Carvalho, Sergio Canales and German duo Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil has cost around 100 million Euros (around 130 million dollars) and Mourinho can be expected to form his squad into a tight, combative unit, with Cristiano Ronaldo a player able to win any game.

Barcelona will still win more hearts with its flowing football, but expect Mourinho's side to be tough to score against and able to graft its way to wins.

Valencia can again expect to battle for a top four finish, but how well the side coached by Unai Emery does will be determined by the ability of new strikers Roberto Soldado and Aritz Aduriz to replace Spain internationals David Villa and David Silva, who have moved to Barcelona and Manchester City.

Carlos Marchena has also moved on, but Ricardo Costa looks to be a solid replacement in defense. A poor start could see Emery put under early pressure.

Sevilla's season depends on the continued form of strikers Freddy Kanoute and Luis Fabiano and winger Jesus Navas.

If Kanoute continues to struggle with injuries while his Brazilian strike partner focuses more on a lucrative transfer at the end of the season, Sevilla could struggle. That is bad news for coach Alvaro Alcaraz, given that club president Jose Maria del Nido is not a patient man.

Atletico Madrid looks to have bought well to tighten up in defense with the arrivals of Godin and Felipe Luis. Meanwhile the return of Thiago Cardoso on loan and the signing of Fran Merida should give Quique Sanchez Flores' side creativity in midfield.

Perhaps just as important is the fact that the club has retained the services of star strikers Kun Aguero and Diego Forlan, which means Atletico should be candidates for a top four finish.

Elsewhere a Villarreal side based on the exciting players from its youth system could also mount a top four challenge, while Athletic Club Bilbao will be hoping to continue its improvements under coach Joaquin Caparros.

Athletic has several exciting young players such as Mikel san Jose and Markel Susaeta, while Spain internationals Fernando Llorente and Javi Martinez will be vital for any top six challenge.

Mallorca and Getafe finished fifth and sixth last season, but their squads look to be weaker this time around.

Economic problems saw Mallorca kicked out of Europe and new coach Michael Laudrup will do well to fashion a competitive side following the departure of nearly all of his best players. Indeed Mallorca kicks off the season among the favorites for relegation.

Getafe meanwhile have added Adrian Colunga to their squad, but Colunga will do well to score as many goals as the departed Soldado.

It is no exaggeration to say that virtually every other team in the league is a candidate to relegation -- sides such as Sporting Gijon, Osasuna, Espanyol and Zaragoza will look to their home form and passionate support to keep them up and all four should be good enough to avoid the drop.

The newly promoted teams, Real Sociedad, Levante and Hercules could all struggle and Hercules especially will be under the spotlight after match-fixing allegations were left hanging in the air after a judge refused to make incriminating evidence available to the Spanish FA.

Racing Santander can expect a difficult season after losing Canales to Madrid, while the writing is on the wall for a Deportivo la Coruna team that struggles to score goals and which suffered a dreadful second half to last year.

Malaga has appointed the experienced Jesualdo Ferreira and made over seven signings in an attempt to avoid last season's suffering, while Almeria should have just enough to ensure finishing above the bottom three.

?Football club Barcelona and Real Madrid are again expected to dominate the competition as the Spanish La Liga prepares to kick off the new season next weekend.

The economic power of Spain's two biggest clubs, which comes partly through their lucrative TV contracts, means the battle for the title is almost certain to be a two-horse race.

Last season saw Barcelona edge out Real Madrid for the second successive season, winning the title by three points. But just as revealing was the fact that Madrid finished 25 points ahead of third placed Valencia and 33 points above Sevilla, the side that finished fourth and while Madrid's squad looks stronger this time around, those of Valencia and Sevilla do not.

Barcelona will look to defend its title and coach Pep Guardiola has got his side playing possible the best football in the World. This season Barcelona will be able to field eight members of the triumphant Spanish World Cup winning squad, plus Leo Messi, who is considered to be the best player in the World.

Barcelona's squad has suffered few changes from last season. striker David Villa has arrived from Valencia and will guarantee at least 20 goals a season, while former Sevilla player Adriano offers cover in a variety of defensive and midfield roles.

Barca will miss the presence of Toure Yaya, who has joined Manchester City, while Rafael Marquez, Thierry Henry and Chygrynskiy have all left the club.

The summer saw Pep Guardiola put his faith in players from the club's productive youth system, but there is a feeling that Barcelona's squad could lack depth if injuries strike key players during a long season.

Barcelona's season has already got off to a winning start with a 5-3 aggregate win over Sevilla in the Spanish Supercup, with the 4-0 win in the Camp Nou making their superiority very clear for all to see.

Real Madrid meanwhile is once again the biggest spending club in Spain with six new faces arriving along with coach Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho's past record as coach of Porto, Chelsea and reigning European Champions Inter Milan, suggests he guarantees success, although he himself has said that he will need time to have his players working as a unit.

The arrival of Mourinho as well as Angel de Maria, Pedro Leon, Ricardo Carvalho, Sergio Canales and German duo Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil has cost around 100 million Euros (around 130 million dollars) and Mourinho can be expected to form his squad into a tight, combative unit, with Cristiano Ronaldo a player able to win any game.

Barcelona will still win more hearts with its flowing football, but expect Mourinho's side to be tough to score against and able to graft its way to wins.

Valencia can again expect to battle for a top four finish, but how well the side coached by Unai Emery does will be determined by the ability of new strikers Roberto Soldado and Aritz Aduriz to replace Spain internationals David Villa and David Silva, who have moved to Barcelona and Manchester City.

Carlos Marchena has also moved on, but Ricardo Costa looks to be a solid replacement in defense. A poor start could see Emery put under early pressure.

Sevilla's season depends on the continued form of strikers Freddy Kanoute and Luis Fabiano and winger Jesus Navas.

If Kanoute continues to struggle with injuries while his Brazilian strike partner focuses more on a lucrative transfer at the end of the season, Sevilla could struggle. That is bad news for coach Alvaro Alcaraz, given that club president Jose Maria del Nido is not a patient man.

Atletico Madrid looks to have bought well to tighten up in defense with the arrivals of Godin and Felipe Luis. Meanwhile the return of Thiago Cardoso on loan and the signing of Fran Merida should give Quique Sanchez Flores' side creativity in midfield.

Perhaps just as important is the fact that the club has retained the services of star strikers Kun Aguero and Diego Forlan, which means Atletico should be candidates for a top four finish.

Elsewhere a Villarreal side based on the exciting players from its youth system could also mount a top four challenge, while Athletic Club Bilbao will be hoping to continue its improvements under coach Joaquin Caparros.

Athletic has several exciting young players such as Mikel san Jose and Markel Susaeta, while Spain internationals Fernando Llorente and Javi Martinez will be vital for any top six challenge.

Mallorca and Getafe finished fifth and sixth last season, but their squads look to be weaker this time around.

Economic problems saw Mallorca kicked out of Europe and new coach Michael Laudrup will do well to fashion a competitive side following the departure of nearly all of his best players. Indeed Mallorca kicks off the season among the favorites for relegation.

Getafe meanwhile have added Adrian Colunga to their squad, but Colunga will do well to score as many goals as the departed Soldado.

It is no exaggeration to say that virtually every other team in the league is a candidate to relegation -- sides such as Sporting Gijon, Osasuna, Espanyol and Zaragoza will look to their home form and passionate support to keep them up and all four should be good enough to avoid the drop.

The newly promoted teams, Real Sociedad, Levante and Hercules could all struggle and Hercules especially will be under the spotlight after match-fixing allegations were left hanging in the air after a judge refused to make incriminating evidence available to the Spanish FA.

Racing Santander can expect a difficult season after losing Canales to Madrid, while the writing is on the wall for a Deportivo la Coruna team that struggles to score goals and which suffered a dreadful second half to last year.

Malaga has appointed the experienced Jesualdo Ferreira and made over seven signings in an attempt to avoid last season's suffering, while Almeria should have just enough to ensure finishing above the bottom three.