Real completed the double last season by winning a record 35th La Liga title before also conquering Europe, winning a record 14th Champions League title.
Carlo Ancelotti will rely on almost the same group of victorious players to make his mark this season. The additions of former Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger as a free agent and French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco for up to €100m will further strengthen the squad.
With 34-year-old French striker Karim Benzema and 22-year-old Brazilian winger Vinicius Jr forming a powerful attacking duo, Real have a good mix of youth and experience to meet the toughest challenges, such as in their incredible comeback streak. against Paris St Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City in the Champions League last year.
Determined to end their three-year La Liga title drought, Barcelona were the biggest spenders in Europe at the end of the season as they spent around 150 million euros ($155.21 million ) to build an all-star team, signing Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich, the Brazilian winger. Raphinha of Leeds United and defender Jules Kounde of Sevilla.
We can’t wait any longer… 😮🙏⚽ 🗓🚨 This is what the first day of #LaLigaSantander 2022/23 looks like!🔗… https://t.co/ixJO4itD3Q
– English LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) 1656000196000
However, due to a deep financial crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and, limited by LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, Barca are still unable to register their new players. ahead of Saturday’s season opener against Rayo Vallecano.
Barca are racing against the clock trying to activate one last financial lever, alongside their bid to sell Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong which would see them get the green light from La Liga for their new signings.
Their deadline is the end of the transfer window, August 31.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid will also want to consider themselves among the title contenders after their triumphant title run in 2021.
But they have kept a low profile during the tight season with the priority being to ensure they don’t lose any of their key players as they prepare for their opener against Getafe on Monday.
They extended the contract of goalkeeper Jan Oblak until 2028 and that of French international midfielder Thomas Lemar until 2027, and signed full-back Nahuel Molina from Udinese.
Striker Alvaro Morata is back after spending a season on loan at Juventus and he will add much-needed firepower to Atletico, alongside Antoine Griezmann and Joao Felix.
Julen Lopetegui’s Sevilla, who kicked off their campaign against Osasuna on Friday, signed playmaker Isco Alarcon as a free agent after his contract with Real Madrid expired at the end of last season. With Champions League semi-finalists Villarreal, they will be eager to challenge the dominance of the top three in the league.
