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| Thursday, August 29, 2002 21:01 EST |
Spanish first division team-by-team guide
[Reuters]
MADRID -- Prospects for the Spanish first division ahead of the 2002/03 season, which starts this weekend (last season's final position in brackets):
VALENCIA (1)
The reigning champions face an uphill task if they are to
make a successful defense of the title they won for the first
time in 31 years last season.
With the experienced Santiago Canizares in goal and
Argentine international Roberto Ayala marshalling the back four,
the defense promises to be as resilient as ever, but the team
looks desperately short of firepower upfront.
Coach Rafael Benitez relied on the impressive midfield
combination of Ruben Baraja and Pablo Aimar to supply the key
goals in last season's triumphant run-in, but he must be praying
that one of his out-of-favor strikers finally hits form this
term.
With no major new recruits the demands of Champions League
participation are likely to take their toll.
DEPORTIVO CORUNA (2)
The Galician side, who has finished second in each of the
two seasons since taking its first championship in 2000, has
long since shed its underdog tag and will be one of the title
favorites.
The signing of Paraguayan international midfielder Roberto
Acuna and young Portuguese defender Jorge Andrade look to be
astute additions to what is already the most well-balanced
outfit in the league.
And with the classy Juan Carlos Valeron providing the link
between a durable midfield and the dangerous frontmen Diego
Tristan and Roy Makaay, Javier Irureta's side is sure to be in
the running for more silverware.
REAL MADRID (3)
Even though the heavily-hyped addition of World Cup winner
Ronaldo to the glittering Real squad appears to have fallen
through, the presence of Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Roberto
Carlos and Raul in the lineup makes for intimidating reading.
With an attack-minded midfield and a strike partnership of
Raul and Fernando Morientes -- with promising young forward
Javier Portillo waiting in the wings -- goals are guaranteed but
question marks remain over the defense.
Veteran center-back Fernando Hierro is still the cornerstone
of the back four, but he struggles against nippy opposition
strikers while the departure of Cameroon international Geremi
and Aitor Karanka has left the European champions short of cover
at the back.
The success of Real's season is likely to hinge on whether
Figo, who disappointed last term, is able to recover his
appetite for the game.
BARCELONA (4)
A third season without silverware has led to a major
shake-up at the Nou Camp that has seen the return of Dutch coach
Louis van Gaal and the departure of Brazilian Rivaldo.
Van Gaal's rigorous methods will be a sharp contrast to the
relaxed regime of Carles Rexach, but a firm hand looks to be the
order of the day for a club that has badly under-performed in
recent seasons.
Experienced defenders Abelardo and Sergi headed a long list
of departures, but the mercurial Argentine playmaker Juan Roman
Riquelme and the workman-like Gaizka Mendieta are appetizing
recruits.
Although the individual brilliance of Rivaldo will be
missed, Barca has the look of a better-balanced team and is
more than capable of snatching the title.
CELTA VIGO (5)
The Celta squad remains essentially the same as last season
apart from the departure of influential Russian midfielder
Valery Karpin and the arrival of Jose Ignacio from relegated
Real Zaragoza. But the major change for the Galicians is on the
coaching front. The highly-rated Victor Fernandez leaves after
four seasons and is replaced by former Osasuna boss Miguel Angel
Lotina.
The big question is whether Lotina, who has become a
specialist in relegation dog-fights, will be able to bring out
the best from the talented squad which will should be targeting
Champions League qualification.
REAL BETIS (6)
Given his reputation as an exponent of the attractive
attacking soccer, Betis fans will be expecting big things from
new coach Victor Fernandez. The former Celta boss certainly has
one of the most exciting squads of young players at his
disposal.
The attack has been spiced up with the return of former
crowd favorite Alfonso on loan from Barcelona while the
addition of the powerful Brazilian Marcos Assuncao from Roma
should add weight to the midfield.
With the speedy wingers Joaquin and Denilson on the flanks,
Betis will look to go one step further than last season and make
the Champions League.
ALAVES (7)
The modest Basque club, who stormed to the final of the UEFA
Cup two seasons ago, has made it into Europe once more. But
down-to-earth coach Jose Manuel Esnal, known as Mane, will
probably be more concerned at consolidating the team's position in
the first division.
Former Spanish international defender Abelardo and French
keeper Richard Dutruel have joined on frees from Barcelona, but
the team may find itself struggling to find the net unless
striker Ruben Navarro can rediscover his form.
SEVILLA (8)
Sevilla surprised many by staying well clear of the
relegation zone in its first season back in the top flight,
but Joaquin Caparros's team has proved it has the
determination and quality to stay up. A crop of classy young
local players led by the impressive Jose Antonio Reyes has been
bolstered by the addition of experienced midfielders Vinny
Samways and Marcos Vales.
ATHLETIC BILBAO (9)
After a promising start, late season inconsistency torpedoed
the historic club's hopes of a return to Europe. The only
notable addition to the all-Basque squad is central defender
Aitor Karanka, who returns to his old club after five years at
Real Madrid.
Striker Ismael Urzaiz finally opted to accept a contract
renewal and should be ably supported by promising young
midfielders Tiko, Pablo Orbaiz and Francisco Yeste.
MALAGA (10)
Little change at Malaga, who will once again rely on a
combination of the shrewd tactical guidance of coach Joaquin
Peiro and the combative strike pairing of Dario Silva and Dely
Valdes to help the club fulfil its aim of achieving a top half
finish.
RAYO VALLECANO (11)
Under the guidance of Gregorio Manzano, Rayo staged a
near-miraculous late-season recovery to avoid relegation last
term, but the studious Andalucian has now decamped to Mallorca.
Successor Fernando Vazquez has limited resources to work with
and avoiding the drop will be a major success for the humble
Madrid-based club.
VALLADOLID (12)
Cash-strapped Valladolid has no resources left for new
recruits and the departure of terrier-like forward Tote, his
strike partner Luis Garcia and the classy midfielder Fernando
after spells on loan will be a severe blow to its chances of
retaining its top-flight status. Veteran midfielder Eusebio
Sacristan, who has retired after nine seasons at the club, will
also be sorely missed.
REAL SOCIEDAD (13)
Despite possessing an undeniably talented squad Real has
spent most of the last three seasons fighting off the threat of
relegation. After a string of unsuccessful signings in recent
years, the club will be pinning its hopes on the arrival of new
coach Raynald Denoueix from Nantes and the return of experienced
Russian midfielder Valery Karpin.
ESPANYOL (14)
New coach Juande Ramos, who had very successful spells at
Rayo and Betis, has a reputation for making the most of his
resources and looks to be the ideal candidate to take over the
reins of the Catalan club.
There has been plenty of movement on the playing staff with
forwards Enrique De Lucas and Paco Palencia and defender Pablo
Rotchen among those who have left. On-loan Yugoslav striker Savo
Milosevic will team up with Raul Tamudo to lead the attack,
while former French international Alain Boghossian should add
experience to the midfield.
VILLARREAL (15)
Although Victor Munoz's side has been strengthened with the
arrival of Brazilian defender Belletti and former Barcelona
goalkeeper Jose Manuel Reina, the club will need to resolve its
problems upfront and hope for more from a fully-fit Martin
Palermo if it doesn't want to be drawn into the messy battle to
avoid relegation.
REAL MALLORCA (16)
The Balearic islanders will be desperate to avoid a
repetition of last season's traumatic near-relegation
experience. After going through three coaches last season the
club has opted for the steady hand of Gregorio Manzano.
The former Rayo boss will be relying on Cameroon
international Samuel Eto'o to shoulder the burden in attack,
while he will be hoping for big things from Argentine midfielder
Ariel Ibagaza who returns after missing most of last season
through injury.
OSASUNA (17)
Former Mexico coach Javier Aguirre takes over at the
Pamplona-based club who has done well to avoid the drop for the
last two seasons. Aguirre brings with him Mexican internationals
Manuel Vidrio (defender) and Carlos Ochoa (forward), who have
signed season-long loan deals with the club. Uruguayan
international Pablo Garcia has also been recruited to strengthen
the midfield. A mid-table finish would be a major success.
ATLETICO MADRID (champions, division two)
Despite its much-publicized financial problems, Atletico
have been amongst the league's biggest spenders with nine major
new recruits to a team that returns to the top flight after
spending two seasons in the second division wilderness.
President Jesus Gil shelled out an estimated $19 million to
bring striker Javi Moreno and Brazilian midfielder Emerson from
AC Milan and Deportivo, while loan deals have brought in Jose
Mari, Demetrio Albertini and Fabricio Coloccini from the Serie A
club.
But the new signings will have to gel quickly if the club
is to match the ambitious plans of its president. Wily coach
Luis Aragones has tried to tone down talk of a return to the
first division elite by saying that survival is the priority
this season.
RACING SANTANDER (second, division two)
Racing will have its work cut out if it is to avoid a
rapid return to division two. Israeli internationals Yossi
Benayoun and Ilan Bechar are the club's two major signings, but
the squad has a lightweight feel to it.
RECREATIVO HUELVA (third, division two)
Recreativo, Spain's oldest established club, is back in the
first division for only the second time in its history. The
last time the team was promoted in 1978 it went straight back
down and despite a string of bargain basement signings it will
take a minor miracle for the club to avoid the same fate this time
out.
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