Barcelona have announced that they plan to appeal against the four-match ban handed down from the Spanish FA to Gerard Pique after he was said to have insulted an assistant referee in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup. We’re working on strengthening the team because we counted on Pedro. “It will be a closely contested La Liga season, I see my team convinced they can do it. We want to keep making our fans happy and being the reference point for everyone”.
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The efficiency was not a lot better in a within the return leg, which means Barcelona have already misplaced the prospect to say all six obtainable trophies in 2015.
That said, Barca start the season by returning to Bilbao on Sunday night, and have another hard away trip to Atletico Madrid in week three.
However it’s the entire of the primary half of the season which could possibly be an actual check of Barcelona’s bodily endurance and resilience, in addition to Luis Enrique’s potential to handle a squad that’s brief on depth. They pushed us back and when they took the lead against the run of play it spurred them on.
A joint study by the Center for Sport Business Management at the University of Navarra and consulting firm Grant Thornton published last month suggested clubs like Las Palmas, Gijon and Real Betis, who were all promoted to La Liga last season, as well as Rayo Vallecano, Eibar and Malaga will earn far more. Manchester United lost out on the Argentine defender after he moved to their city rivals.
Barca were 5-2 victors at San Mames in February during an incredible 2014-15 season in which they secured a Liga, UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey treble, beating Bilbao in the final of the latter.
Having come through Valencia’s youth set-up, one of the very best in European football, 21-year-old forward Alcacer played a pivotal role in bringing the club back into the top four of La Liga with 11 goals and five assists last term.
Another Europa League title, their fourth in 10 years, provided a route back to the Champions League for Sevilla, but also acted as a shop window for some of their stars to snap up bumper contracts on offer around Europe.
“We’re in good condition and are ready to compete”. They will go into the new season with confidence sky-high following their 5-1 mauling of Barca to win the Spanish Supercopa – the Basque club’s first trophy in three decades.
However there are already indicators that it could possibly be one other sluggish begin to this season.
There’s English interest with former Everton colleagues David Moyes [at Real Sociedad] and Phil Neville [at Valencia] now in La Liga.
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As ever it seems as if the business carried out by Atletico is brilliant, ensuring another fine season and, given the likelihood of Barcelona not being as good as last season and Rafa Benitez not succeeding at Real Madrid, sights shouldn’t be set lower than another title challenge.
