Well before we get drawn into all this life in La Liga without Lionel Messi saga, let’s remember the Spanish league has had Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Rivaldo et al in days gone by and it’s still going strong and will again – as it has proved after three years without, alongside Messi, the other top player in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo.
In fact, forgive my cynical side, but if Messi really had loved Barcelona as much as he and his advisers have pledged in the past seven days, why didn’t he offer to play this season for free!
Perhaps that’s not realistic but food for thought at the end of a nauseating week which involved four separate media conferences: one for Barcelona to announce the Argentine maestro was leaving, one for Messi to say goodbye personally, one for Paris Saint-Germain to announce his arrival and then one for Messi to greet his new friends in France.
Talk about overkill!
Anyway, back to Spain and, following an opening weekend of La Liga 2021 highlights in which the big three all won, my viewpoint is that Spain’s premier division will continue to thrive, even if some of the stellar star names it has become accustomed to may be absent for a year or two.
Having said all of that, there may be one or two big incoming signings before this transfer window closes. And anyway, events this summer could make for some more exciting, unpredictable results, with none of the top three big-hitters (Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona) as certain of winning as they were a few years back.
We certainly saw plenty of excitement in the results during the opening weekend of the new campaign.
There are also plenty of reasons for compelling viewing further down the league with the return of some truly historic Spanish clubs.
Rayo Vallecano, Real Mallorca and Espanyol are all back in the top tier and desperate to avoid ending up in a relegation scrap come April and May – it should be fascinating as they try to better the likes of Getafe, Levante, Elche and Cadiz to survive.
In terms of the big three, let’s start with the defending champions, Atletico Madrid.
They may only be third favourites with the SBOTOP La Liga 2021 betting odds and I do not think they will retain the crown but they were also third favourites last season and that was when they managed to overcome a Messi-inspired Barca and a Real team managed by Zidane.
The character and will to win imposed by coach Diego Simeone was certainly evident as a double from Angel Correa saw off Celta Vigo, this with the likes of Luis Suarez and Kieran Trippier only playing a part from the bench.
Strength in depth will be key, of course, and at Real, featuring new boy David Alaba, there seems to be more than most.
Sure, the superstar names like Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland continue to be linked with possible moves to the Spanish capital.
But even without them, there appears to be substance as shown when Carlo Ancelotti got his second stint in charge off to the perfect start as Los Blancos earned a 4-1 victory away at Alaves.
A dominant second-half performance saw Karim Benzema pick up where he left off at the end of last season, scoring twice in addition to goals from Nacho and Vinicius.
I think Real will reclaim the title with Ancelotti’s guile proving a difference – although I don’t think either of the leading Spanish clubs are yet ready to win the Champions League again.
Barcelona also hit four to start the post-Messi era with victory and it was perhaps fitting that defender Gerard Pique scored the opener.
The Spanish centre-back agreed to reduce his wages earlier in the week so the club could register three new signings in time for the new season.
That allowed Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia and Rey Manaj to be included as part of Barcelona’s matchday squad on Sunday, with Garcia and Depay in the starting XI.
The fans will not forget that gesture.
Of course, even before he was ruled out for 10 weeks with a calf injury, Sergio Aguero and Depay faced the seemingly impossible task of filling the Messi void in Catalonia and to me they will fall short in the title race.
Funnily enough, the last time Messi was not playing in La Liga was in 2003/04 when Barcelona still had a phenomenal team, with the likes of Rafael Marquez in defence alongside Carles Puyol, behind midfield legends Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez.
In front of that solid spine stood the creative genius of Ronaldinho.
Despite such star names, it wasn’t Barcelona that tasted glory that year, falling five points short in second place to Valencia.
Although unlikely to happen again, that should give hope to any challengers.
La Liga 2021/22 is up and running.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
