Page 36 - Soccer360 - Issue 103

BRACE?BARCELONA RETURNED TO THE TOP OF LA LIGA LAST SEASON BUT REAL MADRID AND
Giuliano Simeone could be vital to Alaves’ hopes of
survival
UD Almeria’s players celebrate after scoring the 1-1 tier during a Spanish LaLiga EA Sports soccer match between UD Almeria and Real Madrid
Alavés
The newly promoted minnows bounced straight back after just one season away in the most dramatic fashion thanks to a late converted penalty sealing play-off victory over Levante. Head coach Luis García Plaza will be targeting survival as the main priority and the Babazorros cause has been helped with the permanent signing of former Real Madrid defensive midfielder Antonio Blanco after a successful loan spell, and the loan addition of Diego Simeone’s son Giuliano, who netted nine times for Real Zaragoza in Segunda Division last season. One of the favourites for the drop, Garcia will have to hope Simeone can contribute the goals needed to survive.
ATLETICO MADRID ARE BOTH INTENT ON RECLAIMING THE CROWN IN WHAT LOOKS LIKE A VERY CLOSELY FOUGHT TITLE BATTLE. IAN WATERHOUSE LOOKS AT THE STATE OF PLAY FOR EACH TEAM IN 2023-24.
Almeria
Almeria left it late to guarantee a second consecutive season in Spain’s top-flight but a final day 3-3 draw with Espanyol just about kept them up on a dramatic
day in which a whole host of teams were in danger of dropping down a division. Despite being Saudi-owned, splashing the cash is not on the agenda of new head coach Vicente Moreno, who has been making shrewd rather than explosive moves in the market. The addition of Colombian international Luis Suarez to lead the
line and Edgar Gonzalez to shore up the defence look smart additions. However, young forward El Bilal Toure has been a key departure. Survival is the target once again but perhaps a little more comfortably this time around.
NICKNAME:
Rojiblancos, La Unión, Almeriensistas, UDA Indálicos
MANAGER:
Vicente Moreno
LAST YEAR FINISH:
La Liga, 17th
NICKNAME:
Babazorros
El Glorioso (The glorious one)
Los blanquiazules (The Blue and Whites)
MANAGER:
Luis García Plaza
LAST YEAR FINISH:
Segunda División, 4th
Athletic’s coach Ernesto Valverde offers a press conference in Lezama, Spain
Athletic Bilbao
Last season’s campaign ended in disappointment for the Red and Whites
as they missed out on a spot in the Copa Del Rey final and consequently a place in Europe at the hands of rivals Osasuna. Now in his third spell in charge, Ernesto Valverde will be looking to right those wrongs but will have to do it without experienced centre back Iñigo Martinez who is now at Barcelona. Holding on to young winger Nico Williams is a main priority for Valverde with attacking options looking likely to be Athletic’s main weakness. However, a top half of the table finish should be a minimum with a shot at a European spot not out of the question.
NICKNAME:
Lehoiak (The Lions) Zuri-gorriak (The Red and Whites)
Euskaldunak (The Basques)
MANAGER:
Ernesto Valverde
LAST YEAR FINISH:
La Liga, 8th
36 SOCCER360 MAGAZINE
2023-24 LA LIGA SEASON PREVIEW
A BARCA