The Golden Nuggets: 2010/11 - Spanish La Liga

By Sports Magician

La Liga Without The Big Two

Barcelona and Real Madrid will be expected to fight for the title in a two horse race, but what of the rest? The Golden Nuggets have identified two sides that can be competitive in this market - one a usual suspect and the other a side steeped in its own heritage.

Valencia

After years of speculation the two David’s are no longer Valencia players – Villa has joined Barcelona, while Silva has made the move to England to join Manchester City. This surely signals the demise of Valencia as a consistent force in La Liga outside of the big two, right? Wrong. Valencia have been heavily in debt and the sales of their two biggest assets was long expected, and it’s clear from Valencia’s involvement in the transfer market over the summer that a plan was in place to ensure the team remained strong and competitive.

You can’t replace Villa like for like, he is a one of a kind striker, and so Valencia have filled the void he has left behind with Roberto Soldado (from Getafe) and Aritz Aduriz (from Mallorca). Between them the pair scored 28 goals in La Liga last season at clubs where chances were not always in abundance. Both will surely revel in the service provided by a Valencia midfield that includes Ever Banega, Juan Mata, Joaquin and the newly acquired Alberto Costa. Sofiane Feghouli has arrived from Grenoble to increase competition in midfield; a player whose primary goal is to create play rather than be the one finishing moves off. David Albelda is starting to get too long in the tooth and the arrival of Turkish holding midfielder Mehmet Topal is an indication that the club has recognised the need to get younger and more athletic at the position.

At the back, Unai Emery has increased his options with the arrival of Ricardo Costa on a free transfer from Lille. The Portuguese defender was a member of Portugal’s World Cup squad and ended it on a sour note – receiving a late red card against Spain in the second round. All in all the Valencia squad remains strong and there is no reason why they should dramatically fall off the radar in La Liga.

PICK: 4*VALENCIA WIN LA LIGA WITHOUT THE BIG TWO (BARCELONA & REAL MADRID) @ 6.00 (STAN JAMES)

Athletic Bilbao

Athletic Bilbao are the great bastions of heritage and local pride, choosing to only sign players native to the greater Basque Country or players who have no Basque ancestry but were developed in Basque clubs. It’s a romantic ideal and one that ensures Bilbao fans are fiercely proud of their team, as they truly embody the spirit and feeling of the region. Lack of pride or passion is rarely a criticism of Bilbao sides; it’s the one trait they can count on at all times. Bilbao haven’t won La Liga since the 1983/84 season and its no wonder given the transfer restrictions they impose upon themselves. It’s hard to imagine them being able to win the league ever again against the financial and global powerhouses that Barcelona and Real Madrid are.

Despite the constraints, they still managed to finish second in La Liga in 1997/98 and were runners-up in the Copa del Rey in 2009. Bilbao finished eighth in the league last season during which 37 of their 54 points came at San Mames. Summer activity at Bilbao is rarely about which big names they can bring in, but more about which young and talented prospects they can keep a hold of. On that front Bilbao have had a good off-season, Javi Martinez, who at the age of 21 has already played over 100 games for the club remains a mainstay in midfield. Martinez represented Spain at Under-17, 19 and 21 levels before making his full international debut in 2010. He was part of the Spain squad that just claimed their first ever World Cup.

Iker Muniain is the youngest player to ever wear a Bilbao shirt, when he made his debut in July 2009 at the age of 16 years 7 months and 11 days old. The forward/winger earned rave reviews for his performances last season and he will only improve as time moves on. Muniain will inevitably move on to bigger things in years to come, but for now, Bilbao fans have the chance to enjoy the talents of one of their own. Muniain helps provide the ammunition for Fernando Llorente, who scored 14 goals in La Liga last season. The 6”5 striker is a classical number nine who can score goals with his head or either foot. Llorente, like Martinez, was also a part of Spain’s World Cup squad and arguably did more in 30 minutes of action against Portugal than Fernando Torres did in the entire tournament.

If Bilbao can improve on their away performances they can make a mockery of the huge price available on them to win La Liga without the big two. The further development and maturation of some of their young talents will be the key to whether this happens or not.

PICK: 1*(EACH-WAY) ATHLETIC BILBAO WIN LA LIGA WITHOUT THE BIG TWO (BARCELONA & REAL MADRID) (1/3 ODDS 1-2 PLACES) @ 41.00 (TOTESPORT)

Sports Magician