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Are the big teams’ struggles self inflicted or because of stronger competition?

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As yet another international threatens to spoil the general football fan’s weekend, it’s worth casting a look at the La Liga table and analysing why none of last season’s Top 5 appear to be hitting top gear - some less so than others, it has to be said. Is it because of a drop in quality from the main charges or have the chasing pack upped their game? It’d be unfair to bunch all five into one category [although I might have just done that myself back there] so let’s break them down one team at a time; starting with the worst performing side of last year’s top five:

SEVILLA

Record: 2W, 2D, 3L with -4 GD

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Now Sevilla have been helped by their two wins prior to this international break as the situation was looking increasingly grim. They had only managed two draws before then, against lowly Getafe and Levante while losing to Atletico Madrid, Celta Vigo and Las Palmas.

So what has changed? It appears the scrappy win over Rayo has boosted their confidence. They’ve clearly got problems at the back due to injuries, which can be held partly responsible for their poor start. Any side competing at this level would feel the squeeze with three centre backs out as well as a left back. Sevilla were a tough nut to crack last season, especially at home, but they’ve looked extremely vulnerable against anyone and everyone this campaign. The international break has perhaps come at a great time as it’ll allow some of their walking wounded to return before La Liga gets back underway.

Unai Emery could perhaps be accused of being overly cautious when it came to integrating some of his new attacking players, or perhaps wasn’t convinced by their fitness levels during the summer. Much like Simeone at Atletico Madrid, Emery demands a lot from his players, physically, which perhaps Konoplyanka and Immobile have yet to prove. The latter’s lack of involvement is worrying, especially now Fernando Llorente seems way ahead of him in the pecking order.

Verdict: The squad has suffered huge losses in Aleix Vidal and Carlos Bacca but you could argue that while the first XI is perhaps weaker compared to last season, the squad is certainly stronger. Once they’ve got their full compliment of defenders at their disposal the side should be much harder to beat and with the eventual inclusion of Konoplyanka alongside Ever Banega further up the field, goals won’t be an issue.

VALENCIA

Record: 2W, 3D, 2L with -1 GD

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Perhaps the pressure has eased down in Sevilla but it continues to heat up at Valencia with Nuno Espirito Santo feeling the brunt of it. Expectations were high at the start of the season after the club spent over €100m in permanently signing players they had last year on loan as well as reinforcing the squad ahead of competing in the Champions League again.

After squeezing past Monaco in the qualifiers Los Che have struggled to get going. There are huge issues when it comes to the striking department as Nuno can’t quite find a system that works for any of Paco Alcacer, Alvaro Negredo or Rodrigo Moreno so far. It was also an issue last season but one the midfield and defence covered up with their goalscoring exploits.

There is a case for the Champions League qualifier taking precedent over the league at the start of the season and it’s a juggling act Nuno will need to manage better. It’s clear the money from the Champions League – and continued campaigns in the competition – is key to the long-term success of the club both on and off the field. An opening loss to Zenit was followed by a key victory away at Lyon although the rotations of the squad cost the team valuable points in the league.

Verdict: Valencia are a side lacking leadership. Most of the mainstays in the first XI are confidence players and without someone to bark orders at them, they look a little lost. Mustafi has done a great job replacing Otamendi’s influence in defence but the loss of Diego Alves is a major blow, as has been the continuing stop-start season of midfield starlet Andre Gomes. You’d expect them to improve and be in and around the Top 4 but they need to manage competing on two fronts much better or they are in danger of giving themselves too big of a mountain to climb.

ATLETICO MADRID

Record: 4W, 1D, 2L with +6 GD

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Diego Simeone’s men have largely been impressive this season but there appears to be a mental block when it comes to facing the top sides. They were fortunate enough to face Sevilla early on in the season when they were in disarray but have since struggled against the likes of Barcelona, Villarreal and Real Madrid. In those three games they’ve only managed to earn one point and two of those were at home.

Another summer of upheaval probably hasn’t helped matters either. The club managed to hold onto Griezmann which was key but Jackson Martinez and Luciano Vietto have struggled early on, both in performances as well as regarding fitness. The signing of Angel Correa could help propel them to the next level while easing the loss of Arda Turan, especially in the tougher fixtures, but you sense they’ll be nearly men again.

Verdict: It’s never easy when you lose so many key members of the squad but it’s a task Diego Simeone has grown accustomed to. Arda Turan, Mario Mandzukic, Mario Suarez, Miranda and Raul Garcia offered a lot of experience and their places have largely been filled with promising youngsters. It’s no surprise to see them struggle in games where experience is vital but, once it all clicks, they could be a very dangerous outfit by the end of this – as well as the beginning of next – season. Of course, it’s vital they don’t sell any of their stars next summer.

BARCELONA

Record: 5W, 0D, 2L with +3 GD

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Barcelona started the season with four straight wins in the league before being brought down to earth with a bump against Celta. If truth be told, Barcelona were far from convincing before that loss and it wasn’t as big a shock for those who had been following both sides going into the fixture. Last weekend’s loss to Sevilla was tough to take but while the losses of Messi and Iniesta were noted, it’s defensively where Los Culés are suffering.

Gerard Pique’s indiscipline against Athletic Club meant he missed the opening four La Liga matches, then his replacement Thomas Vermaelen succumbed to injury yet again. Dani Alves, Adriano and Jordi Alba have all missed games through injury resulting in a major reshuffle at the back. This, on top of losing La Liga mainstay Claudio Bravo in goal meant it wasn’t going to be a routine start for Barcelona.

The chopping and changing in midfield hasn’t helped solidify the side either. Last season the team managed to stay clear of any major losses in terms of personnel but it’s only taken two months for everyone to realise just how thin this Barcelona squad is.

Verdict: The side isn’t doing too badly in the face of a mounting injury crisis but there are areas which need to be improved. Bravo will probably regain his La Liga spot from Ter Stegen while the return of Pique is a welcome one. If the side manages to get its key players back and remain in the fight for the title until January, the inclusion of Vidal and Turan will prove crucial as Barcelona look to defend the three trophies they won last season.

REAL MADRID

Record: 4W, 3D, 0L with +13 GD

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Los Blancos won’t be too displeased with the start they’ve made to the new season. You always sense the biggest danger for Real Madrid is themselves as demonstrated again by the need for scapegoats whenever the team fails to win.

There’s an issue with Cristiano, too. He seems consumed by his own need to break Raul’s record that he is forgetting about what benefits the team first and foremost. He made the wrong choice over and over again versus Atletico as he decided to shoot with teammates in much better positions. Imagine the fallout if Bale was doing this?

Karim Benzema has taken over the mantle of leading the side in the goalscoring department and was rightly upset as he made way for Gareth Bale at the weekend. Rafa Benitez needs to make the big decisions and hope they pay off – he can’t afford to always be safe as the fans won’t tolerate it.

There are no other major concerns at the club. Qualifcation in the Champions League appears to be fairly straightforward ahead of a trip to Paris followed by another one up at Celta Vigo in the league. Two big tests which will go a long way to deciding how good this Real Madrid side truly is.

Verdict: Real Madrid did the unthinkable in the summer and instead of looking for the next big star to crowbar into the starting XI, they actually improved their squad which is key - just ask Barcelona. Adequate cover for Modric in Kovacic could turn out to be a masterstroke as the season rumbles on. Cristiano will get his goal but his influence on the side is certainly slipping. The talk of him being finished at the very top is exaggerated though as he’s still one of the top two players in the world, even during a slump in form. Bale and James’ return will greatly aid a side which, on the whole, has been free-scoring. If any side finishes above Real Madrid this season they’ll win the league it’s as simple as that.

Pretenders or contenders?

The competition has certainly improved but I think it’s far too soon to write-off the usual suspects. Sevilla and Valencia might struggle to maintain their form across two major competitions but over the course of the season will almost certainly finish in the Top 7/8. The likes of Villarreal and Celta will push them hard for that final Champions League spot with the former having a stronger squad than the men from Celta.

The title will be between the same two come the end of the season but the gap is most definitely closing. It might be a bridge too far for Atletico this time around but the nucleus of the squad is very strong going forward. Barcelona can spend again in January and you just know they’ll have been working on major deals even with the ban in place. Real Madrid are still the side to beat and once their attacking trident is back on the pitch and in form, it’s hard to look beyond them.

This is probably the toughest La Liga campaign in the past 5-6 years. Whoever wins will have to work damn hard, which could have a knock-on effect in regards to Spanish sides’ chances in Europe this season. For now at least, let’s embrace the unpredictability.