La Liga don return for new season, but plenty things don change. Real Madrid don bring back Jose Mourinho, the Special One, after two seasons without trophy. But e get one big wahala – Barcelona still dey stand strong as title favourite.
Florentino Perez press the button again. He promise Mourinho return if dem re-elect am for June. Announcement come on opening day of World Cup. Mourinho don start work one month before im contract begin, no official unveiling. E just talk say ‘na for Real Madrid wey I dey work, not just working for dem.’
Last season na real chaos for Real Madrid. Xabi Alonso sacked, Arbeloa take over, Valverde and Tchouameni fight, dem lose title to Barcelona for clásico. Mbappé petition reach 30 million signatures. Vinícius Júnior no wan stay, but now e don sign new six-year deal.
New signings plenty: Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Konaté, Dumfries, Carlos Espí, and the young star Yan Diomandé wey cost £115m. Diomandé play for Leganés B last year, now e be galáctico. E write emotional article for Players’ Tribune about im sister Roxane wey die.
But Barcelona still be favourite. Dem lose Lewandowski to MLS, but Lamine Yamal still dey there, now 19 years old, world champion. Flick dey try to win third straight title. First clásico go happen for Camp Nou for end of October.
Because of World Cup extended, Real Madrid and Barcelona no go play for opening weekend. Real Madrid go play im first match on August 22 against Espanyol, Barcelona go play Elche on August 23. Their rescheduled openers later: Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad on Aug 26, Barcelona vs Athletic on Aug 27.
Other teams don prepare well. Racing Santander back after long time, Sergio Canales return. Deportivo and Málaga also back, Aubameyang don join Depor at 37. Atlético lose Griezmann but sign Lee Kang-in. Villarreal get new coach Iñigo Pérez. Real Sociedad get Pellegrino Matarazzo, Athletic get Edin Terzic.
La Liga schedule dey staggered. Opening game na Alavés vs Getafe on Saturday, then Sevilla vs Rayo. Getafe go play for Europe. E be like say the season go hot.
