The 2021-22 LaLiga season kicks off on Friday. In addition to the fact that it will stream live on ESPN+ in the United States, it will be a historic event, the first tournament without Lionel Messi as the star in Barcelona after 15 years.
To follow every detail of the most important football competition in Europe, we will bring you our Power Rankings every week, starting with the position in which every team ended the last campaign, assessing their chances as well as their pros and cons.
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1. Atletico Madrid
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 15 at Celta Vigo, 11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN+
The reigning champions ooze optimism. This season, manager Diego Simeone will celebrate his 10th year at the helm, with arrivals such as midfielder Rodrigo de Paul, after the club paid a €35 million transfer fee to Udinese. However, Atletico are assessing moving Saul Niguez, looking to invest revenues from his transfer fee to sign a forward, thus rounding the attack in which Luis Suarez and Joao Felix remain as main players. This season will be full of challenges, though. Atleti are going for broke in LaLiga, while trying to become a strong challenger in the Champions League after failing to get close to its decisive stages.
2. Real Madrid
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 14 at Alaves, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Los Blancos will face a brand-new season without any major signings. After starting centre-backs Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane left the Bernabeu over the summer, Real will compete with David Alaba as their only signing of the window so far, arriving from Bayern Munich. The club are trying to do their financial homework in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis; however, an attempt to sign Kylian Mbappe in the home stretch has not been ruled out. The goal for this year is the same as last season: to fight until the end for all titles at stake, no matter what.
3. Barcelona
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 15 vs. Real Sociedad, 2 p.m. ET, ABC
The Culers will start the season among the top candidates to win LaLiga during Ronald Koeman's sophomore season as manager. The shocking departure of Messi is a major blow to the Dutchman's project, and the side are aware of their weaknesses, despite the recent arrivals of Emerson, Eric Garcia, Memphis Depay and Sergio Aguero (now sidelined for at least 10 weeks). Despite the flurry of bad news, Barca still boast one of the most competitive squads in LaLiga, and they can make more changes until Aug. 31, when the window closes. After two years without a LaLiga title (a development not seen since 2008), not claiming the throne would be a disappointment, if not an obvious failure. However, Messi's absence may still impact the club in unpredictable ways.
4. Sevilla
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 15 vs. Rayo Vallecano, 4:15 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Last year, the side managed by Julen Lopetegui managed to sneak into the Champions League early and unexpectedly. Looking ahead to this season, the third for Lopetegui at the Nervion, the goal is to improve even more. The signing of former Eibar keeper Marko Dmitrovic and midfielder Erik Lamela as a piece of the Bryan Gil-to-Tottenham Hotspur transfer means that Sevilla have enough tools to challenge for everything at stake. And then some, knowing that there are still several players to negotiate, such as Jules Kounde. The transactions for replacement players are already sealed by the shrewdest football operations department in all of Europe, led by Ramon "Monchi" Rodriguez Verdejo.
5. Real Sociedad
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 15 at Barcelona, 2 p.m. ET, ABC
While we wait on the decision of Willian Jose, whether he stays or leaves following a weak performance while on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers last season, La Real will face a new season trying to deal with the absence of forward Carlos Fernandez, after he suffered an ACL injury in his right knee, which means he won't be available to manager Imanol Alguacil until the final stages of the season. The loss of the Andalusian striker, one of last season's best players, is a blow to the hopes of a side strengthened with the additions of former Bournemouth full-back Diego Rico and keeper Mathew Ryan, who will challenge his colleague Alex Remiro for the No. 1 shirt. The Basque squad will rely again on the ability of young Alexander Isak (who scored 17 goals last season). Playing in Europe is the primary goal, and a Champions League spot would be an astonishing success.
6. Real Betis
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 14 at Mallorca, 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Manuel Pellegrini's Eurobetis look forward to a strong start, after the Verdiblancos secured their return to Europe. In that regard, the Chilean manager strengthened their goal with the arrival of keeper Rui Silva through a free transfer from Granada, and Youssouf Sabaly, who played at Bordeaux and will replace Aissa Mandi after his contract expired and he left for Villarreal. With Borja Iglesias as icing on the cake, the most electric Aitor Ruibal we've seen on the flanks and the presence of Andres Guardado and Guido Rodriguez in the midfield, Betis won't make any compromises this season.
7. Villarreal
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 16 vs. Granada, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Villarreal keep the core of last season's squad, ensuring that the Argentine centre-back Juan Foyth remains with the side. After their first season with Unai Emery as manager, closing in on a Champions League spot and ultimately sealing a Europa League place, the challenge is to keep on growing, with a fourth-place finish as their top (and quite challenging) goal. Villarreal play a solid and steady brand of football, and will look to strengthen their defence, relying on the scoring abilities of Gerard Moreno as the main asset for the Yellow Submarine.
8. Celta Vigo
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 15 vs. Atletico Madrid, 11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN+
Last season, Celta Vigo went from strength to strength, particularly after the arrival of manager Eduardo Coudet to Los Celestes. Since then, the team started firing on all cylinders, thanks to the Denis Suarez-Iago Aspas partnership, reaching the final matchday with options to play in Europe. This year, Celta will try to remain in a similar position, hoping for a chance for a place in European tournaments, considering that they boast a squad with lots of potential that could take them anywhere. Franco Cervi, Matias Dituro and Javier Galan complete a squad that could go through some changes from here until the end of the transfer window.
9. Granada
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 16 at Villarreal, 2 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Granada will start a new project with Robert Moreno at the helm. The manager, former assistant to Luis Enrique at Barcelona and the Spain national team, will face his first big European adventure after coaching AS Monaco in Ligue 1. And Moreno seems to have everything figured out. After the critical loss of Roberto Soldado, who is now playing for Levante, Los Nazaries signed Carlos Bacca and Luis Abraham, and landed midfielder Monchu, one of last year's biggest stars in the Spanish second division, on a free transfer after the former Barcelona player spent a year on loan at Girona. Strengthening last year's midtable project is the main goal for a side that sealed a Europa League spot two years ago under Diego Garcia.
10. Athletic Bilbao
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 16 at Elche, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Without any significant changes to the squad, and Marcelino Garcia Toral at the helm, Athletic have guaranteed intensity as the primary tactical approach of a side oozing scrappiness but lacking footballing flair. The talents of Raul Garcia, Inaki Williams' goal-scoring abilities and the defensive presence provided by Inigo Martinez, surpassing Unai Simon, are the main cards for an Athletic side that will look to improve on last year's 10th-place finish.
11. Osasuna
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 14 vs. Espanyol, 11 a.m. ET, ESPN+
With Jagoba Arrasate as manager for a fourth straight term, Osasuna will try to keep building on their third consecutive season in LaLiga, after finishing the latest two terms in midtable. Osasuna have confirmed the arrival of Ante Budimir, a key piece that scored 11 goals last year, after paying an €8 million transfer fee to Mallorca to seal the deal. The Navarra-based squad keep their core intact. The challenge, for starters, is to join the second tier on the LaLiga table (between sixth and 10th place). If they can pull it off is yet to be seen.
12. Cadiz
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 14 vs. Levante, 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Cadiz were one of last season's biggest surprises. The recently promoted side, managed by Alvaro Cervera, avoided relegation with five matchdays remaining on the LaLiga schedule without major issues. This year, they will try to end the campaign with similar fate. That's the reasoning behind signings such as Tomas Alarcon, Santiago Arzamendia and Milutin Osmajic, and acquiring keeper Jeremias Ledesma from Rosario Central. A continuity project, with intentions of taking one step further.
13. Valencia
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 13 vs. Getafe, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN+
A revolution has landed at the Mestalla with new manager Pepe Bordalas, known for his big personality and charisma. After working miracles with Getafe, Bordalas has quite the challenge to regain glory and power with a Valencia side that have stumbled after the departure of Marcelino. Immersed in debt, Valencia have barely made waves in the market. A historic club that should aim for the fourth spot in the table and its corresponding Champions League place, a stark reality calls for more modest ambitions. Finishing fourth would be a major success; landing fifth or sixth is a more reasonable proposition.
14. Levante
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 14 at Cadiz, 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
After signing Roberto Soldado, the tireless striker from Granada, Levante start a new season aware of their limitations, boasting one of the lowest budgets in LaLiga. But they have a clear aim: to remain as a midtier side, just like last year, when they were able to secure the eighth spot in the middle of the season. With Paco Lopez as manager for the fifth straight term, their defensive relentlessness and quick-fire transitions will be essential for a team with no stars and a clear ensemble approach.
15. Getafe
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 13 at Valencia, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Getafe are set to start a new season looking to avoid repeating the nightmare they experienced last term. The final year of Jose Bordalas as manager was almost indigestible for the supporter base, after the multiple issues that put them on the brink of relegation. That's the reason why Michel has arrived at a squad he knows well after his previous stint between 2009 and 2011, when he secured a place in the former UEFA Cup. New arrivals include winger Vitolo, on loan from Atletico Madrid; former Chivas striker Jose Macias; as well as Carles Alena and Sandro Ramirez, signed from Barca and Huesca, respectively. The intention is quite clear: to avoid struggling.
16. Alaves
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 14 vs. Real Madrid, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN+
After saving last season thanks to a remarkable final push with just two losses in their final nine games (the second being inconsequential) with Javi Calleja as manager, Alaves are aware from the start that they are doomed to struggle for survival, while looking to ensure their sixth season in LaLiga. This is an extremely limited side, financially speaking. With hardly any signings to speak of, they will again rely on the trifecta of Fernando Pacheco, Florian Lejeune and Joselu, looking to avoid a looming relegation. Matching last year's performance (worthy of 16th place) would be a good result.
17. Elche
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 16 vs. Athletic Bilbao, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN+
A side that enjoyed a miraculous rescue in the final matchday last season, Elche have a clear goal in 2021-22: to avoid relegation -- again. A squad strengthened by the arrivals of centre-back Enzo Roco and keeper Kiko Casilla, the challenge for manager Fran Escriba, appointed at last season's halfway point, is to build a cohesive team that's capable of beating opponents in their tier of long-suffering teams while improving their form at the Estadio Martinez Valero. Avoiding relegation before the final matchday would mean "mission accomplished." Finishing above 16th place would be quite a feat.
18. Espanyol
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 14 at Osasuna, 11 a.m. ET, ESPN+
After just one season in the second division, paying their dues after 2019-20's fiasco, Los Periquitos are back at the highest level in Spanish football with the intention of staying there and building the foundations of a forward-looking project and grander ambitions. With Vicente Moreno as manager for his second season, financial constraints have limited Espanyol when it comes to signings. Centre-back Sergi Gomez is the only addition so far; however, they have been able to keep their core intact. This is a squad that would be more than content with a midtable finish.
19. Rayo Vallecano
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 15 at Sevilla, 4:15 p.m. ET, ESPN+
The so-called "third Madrid team," according to history and tradition, is back in LaLiga after a nail-biting playoff: Rayo were able to squeeze into the promotion playoffs after the final matchday in Segunda Division, eliminating favourites Girona to seal their return to the Spanish football elite. Manager Andoni Iraola will rely on signings such as Ivan Balliu, Randy Nteka and Pathe Ciss who, alongside Fran Garcia, will strengthen an already well-rounded side hungry to stay in LaLiga.
20. Mallorca
Next LaLiga match: Aug. 14 vs. Real Betis, 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
RCD Mallorca are back playing first-division football after a year in the Segunda Division "inferno." The squad led by Luis Garcia Plaza had a brilliant run, sealing promotion with several matchdays remaining in the league schedule. The goal this season is to stay in the highest category in Spanish football. That's why Mallorca have signed players such as Victor Mollejo, once again loaned from Atleti; Amath Ndiaye; Jaume Costa; right-back Pablo Maffeo; and forward Angel Rodriguez, who is searching for the continuity he never enjoyed at Getafe.