Real Madrid are going to win La Liga. It's better to come to terms with this now so you can actually enjoy the season. If you go into the season thinking someone else might have a chance and Real Madrid open up a 10-point lead by Christmas, you are going to be disappointed. So ward off the disappointment. Barcelona are depleted and Atletico Madrid are plucky but outgunned. Real Madrid are going to win La Liga.
This is fine! Lots of people enjoy the Bundesliga even though they know Bayern Munich are going to win. You can still enjoy the season even if you know how it ends already.
Watch Real Madrid Set The World On Fire
This Madrid team is special. They have world-class players at every position and world-class players to back them up. They ran Barcelona off the field yesterday without starting Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Isco or Casemiro. Mateo Kovacic and Marco Asensio would each be the best player on many Champions League squads. They will struggle for minutes this season.
Cristiano Ronaldo is still a superstar even though he's on the wrong side of 30. Their midfield is one of the best ever. Their forward line has been overshadowed in recent seasons by Barcelona's three-headed monster, but is extremely effective. Their defense remains reliable even though their fullbacks are both actually attacking midfielders.
Be sure to tune in for what should be a season's worth of epic beatdowns. Real Madrid are going to kick a lot of ass and take a lot of names, and if you like to watch great players doing amazing things, this is the pinnacle.
The Best Player In The World Has His Back Up Against The Wall
Lionel Messi is in trouble. Neymar is gone. Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta are all injured. Barcelona's main summer signings have been Nelson Semedo and Paulinho. This does not bode well for the best footballer ever.
It could be fun, though. As it stands right now, the only way the title race stays even remotely competitive is if Messi goes nuclear for the entire season. At 30 years old, does he have the legs to sustain a La Liga title challenge by himself while making a respectable showing in the Champions League? If anyone in history had the type of season required in them, it's Lionel Messi. If he says "fuck it, I'ma try and win this thing by myself," we could be in for one of the most entertaining spectacles in sports history.
Messi scored 37 goals last season in La Liga, in what many considered a down year for him. He will have to get near or beat his personal record of 50 goals for Barcelona to be in with a chance. Get the popcorn.
Real Madrid will still win La Liga, but we might get an all-timer from Messi along the way. That would make everything worth it.