Page 50 - Soccer360 Issue 106

LA LIGA SEASON REVIEW
TOP LEFT:
Vinicius Junior was the victim of several incidents of racist abuse
TOP RIGHT:
Xavi was convinced to reverse his decision to step down as Barcelona head coach
BELOW:
The goals of Iago Aspas helped Celta Vigo secure survival
as Andalucian trio Almeria, Granada and Cadiz all eventually slipped through the trap door to the second tier for next season. In fairness to Cadiz, they put up a fight compared to the other two. Almeria did
not win any of their opening 29 games, an embarrassing record that left them with no chance of survival.
Celta Vigo once again showed their ability
to dig in and fight when needed as their trademark Galician grit came to the fore once again. The club was criticised for sacking big-name coach Rafael Benitez during a relegation battle, but they managed to survive the storm, as the ageless Iago Aspas donned his cape and led them to safety in May.
Outside of the Champions League race, Athletic Club and Real Sociedad secured a Basque double in the European spots, with the former not needing the insurance policy of winning the Copa Del Rey in the final placings. Cup success offered Athletic Club a safety net but they kept on course in the final weeks of the league season to ensure they remained on the European road via merit within La Liga. The financial security of European football is a plus for both teams but their final league placing underlines the sense of glass ceilings scattered throughout La Liga.
With Girona and Barcelona not really able to get close to Real Madrid in the final reckoning, the divide between fourth and
fifth remains in place, with Atletico Madrid having enough to hold off Ernesto Valverde’s Bilbao. With very different objectives in place, both Madrid sides showed an ability to hit autopilot when faced with a pressure, and that indicates a lack of overall change, masked by the superb Girona.
The changed structure of the Champions League next season, including extra games on the calendar, could see a renewed Barcelona really go toe-to-toe with Real Madrid, but they will need a few variables to fall in their favour in the months ahead. A strong El Clasico benefits La Liga as a whole concept, and one side of the divide falling short allows the other to storm away with little challenge, and that is Barcelona’s summer objective.
Xavi is also boosted by the meteoric emergences of Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi as the La Masia production line reopens with two stars instantly improving a Barcelona squad short on numbers in
key areas. Teenagers able to go straight into the first team of a leading team are incredibly rare and the duo have shown the temperament and talent to do just that on both the La Liga and Champions League stage with no fuss.
With Pedri and Gavi alongside them, there are perfect role models in place, with the only current concern focusing on burnout if they are called up for a Euro 2024 and Olympics double header with little rest
before the new club season gets underway in August.
Finances are likely to dictate Xavi into releasing at least one of his star names with deals for Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo in the balance despite their preference to stay in Barcelona. Mbappe will likely be the only major new face in Madrid but the real transfer focus will fall on Girona and their ability to juggle plans and keep players off Pep Guardiola’s summer shopping list at Manchester City.
The ownership structure appears certain to shuffle at least one or two players towards Manchester with Girona forced to reshuffle and prepare for what will be a historic season in store at the Estadi Montilivi.
48 SOCCER360 SUMMER 2024