Amidst the footballing drought that has emerged due to the end of World Cup,LaLiga has released its set of fixtures for the upcoming session of 2018-19.The Spanish top flight begins on the third weekend of August 18-19 as the twenty best bulls of Spanish football compete for the trophy that is the harder to lift than the UCL, atleast as per Zinedine Zidane.
1. Deportivo Alaves
Nickname: El Glorosio (The Glorious One)
Founded in 1921,Alaves are the third best team from the autonomous Basque region of Spain.Alaves were the first team to be promoted to the LaLiga top flight in 1930.Deportivo managed a modest 14th place finish in the last concluded season of top flight Spanish football.
Stadium: Mendizorrotza
Manager: Abelardo Fernández
Main Man: Manu Garcia,Rodrigo Ely.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Mid-table.
2. Athletic Bilbao
Nickname:Los Leones (The Lions)
The embodiment of the Basque region, Bilbao are just one of the three sides never to have been relegated from Laliga top flight.Athletic are recognised for their cantera(quarry) policy meaning their entire squad consists of players with Basque inheritance only.
The Basques were off their game last season,managing a 16th placed finish.
Stadium: San Mamés
Manager: Eduardo Berizzo
Main Man: Aritz Aduriz,Markel Susaeta.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Mid-table.
Spanish Honours
Laliga: 8 times.
Copa del Rey: 24 times.
3. Atlético de Madrid
Nickname:Los Colchoneros (The Mattress Makers) ,Los Rojiblancos (The Red and White)
The third most successful club in Laliga was founded in 1903 by a group of Bilbao fans living in the capital.Despite being based in the same city as Real,Atlético have carved out a place of their own in Spanish and European legacy.
Atletico were impressive last season,finishing 2nd behind the champions Barcelona and lifting the Europa league trophy.They won the legue in Women’s division,piping Barcelona by 1 point.
Stadium: Wanda Metropolitano
Manager: Diego Simeone
Main Man: Antoine Griezmann,Jan Oblak.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Champions League spot.
Spanish Honours
Laliga: 10 times.
Copa del Rey: 10 times.
4. Real Club Celta de Vigo
Nickname: Célticos (Celts/Celticos)
Founded in 1923 in the city of Vigo,Celta managed a modest 13th place finish and were the only side Barcelona couldn’t beat as both their meetings ended in a 2-2 stalemate.
Squad depth remains a concern for the club from Galicia.
Stadium: Balaidos.
Manager: Antonio Mohamed
Main Men: Iago Aspas,Hugo Mallo.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season:Mid-table.
5. SD Eibar
Nickname: Los Armeros (The Gunsmiths)
Founded in 1940,SD Eibar were impressive last season,finishing in 9th place.For a club that is relatively new in LaLiga,Eibar have shown great spirit and zeal to be among the best.
SD Eibar are the smallest club to play in Spanish top flight.
Stadium: Ipurua Municipal Stadium.
Manager: José Luis Mendilibar
Main Man: Pedro León,Takashi Inui.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Mid table.
6. RCD Espanyol
Nickname: Periquitos (Budgerigars)
Hailing from the city of Barcelona in Catalonia,Espanyol were founded in 1900.Their RCDE stadium is the only place in the city where they curse F.C. Barcelona.
Espanyol’s performance last season was below par as they finished 11th just below Girona.
Stadium: RCDE stadium.
Manager: Rubi
Main Men: Gerard Moreno,David López.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Mid-table.
Spanish Honour
Copa del Rey: 4 times.
7. FC Barcelona
Nickname: Blaugrana ( Blue and Red)
The current champions of Spain are known for their exquisite possession based football which helped them conquer all of Europe.El Classico, one of the most watched sporting events,is played between Barcelona,the most successful Copa Del Rey side and Madrid,the most successful side in Spain.
Barcelona were on a rampage in Spain last year,losing just once in 38 league encounters and captured the Cup as well to complete an impressive domestic double.Infact,Barcelona have won Laliga 7 times in the last 10 seasons.
Stadium: Camp Nou
Manager: Ernesto Valverde
Main Men: Lionel Messi,Sergio Busquets.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Champions league spot.
Spanish Honours
Laliga: 25 times.
Copa del Rey: 30 times.
8. Getafe CF
Nickname: Azulones (The Deep Blues)
Refounded in 1983,Getafe have established themselves in Laliga top flight as they missed just one season in the last 14.Getafe were impressive last season as they finished just below the Europa league qualification spot,in 8th place.
Due to geographical proximity,Getafe has formed a rivalry with Leganes.
Stadium: Coliseum Alfonso Pérez.
Manager: Eusebio Sacristán
Main Men: Djené Dakonam,Damián Suárez.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Europa league spot.
9. Girona FC
Nickname: Blanquivermell (White and Reds)
The Last season was Girona’s first in top division in their 87 year history.Based in the city of same name,Girona are the third club from the state of Catalonia in Spanish top flight.
Girona performed above expectations and finished on an impressive 10th place which included a 2-1 victory over European champions,Real Madrid.
Stadium: Montilivi Stadium
Manager: Eusebio Sacristán
Main Men: Christaian Stuani,Álex Granell.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Europa league spot.
10. SD Huesca
Nickname: Azulgrana (Blue and Scarlet)
The upcoming season will be Huesca’s first in Spanish top flight.Based in the community of Aragon,SD Huesca finished 2nd in Segunda Division to earn automatic promotion.Finding a place above relegaton spots will be a challenging task for Huesca.
Stadium: El Alcoraz
Manager: Leo Franco
Main Men: Juan Hernandez,Gonzalo Melero.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Relegation spot.
11. CD Leganes
Nickname:Los Pepineros (The Cucumber Growers)
The Club was formed around the same time as Laliga started but it took the club from Madrid Metropolitan Area 88 years to break into top division.Leganes barely avoided relegation as they finished on a low 17th last season.Their Cup run was impressive as they reached semifinal stage which inluded knocking out Real Madrid.
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Butarque.
Manager: Mauricio Pellegrino
Main Men: Gabriel Pires,Rubén Pérez.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Relegation spot.
12. Levante UD
Nickname: Granotas (The Frogs)
Levante are a club based on the east coast of Spain in the city of Valencia.Levante were the club to end FC Barcelona’s unbeaten run last season,putting 5 past the Catalan defence as they won 5-4 in their penultimate fixture.Their local rivals are Valencia.
There is no Spanish silverware to show in Levante’s cabinet except for a Free Spain Cup competetion they managed to win by beating Valencia,a tournament they entered because FC Barcelona withdrew.Sadly for them,RFEF doesn’t recognise this competetion that was held during the Spanish Civil War.
Stadium: Valencia Stadium.
Manager: Paco López
Main Men: Jefferson Lerma,José Luis Morales.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Mid-table.
13. Real Betis
Nickname:Béticos (Betis)
Betis are a club based in the Andalusian region of Spain. They have been in and out of the Spanish top flight.However their performance in the recent season was anything but disappointing.Betis qualified for Europa league and look set to replicate their fine form.
They compete against Sevilla in the Seville derby which is one of the famous rivalries of Spain.
Stadium: Estadio Benito Villamarín
Manager: Quique Setién
Main Men: Fabián Ruiz,Aissa Mandi.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Europa League spot.
Spanish Honours
Laliga: 1 time.
Copa del Rey: 2 times.
14. Real Madrid
Nickname: Los Blancos
The most succesful side in Europe and Spain,Madrid are as grand a club can be,probably more.Founded in 1902 by Catalan brothers as Madrid CF,the capital club have never looked back.The Best Club of 20th century dominated the european map single handedly in the previous century.Thier performances in Spain are quite amusing since they have won most Laliga titles but when it comes to Cup competetion,Barcelona and Bilbao are ahead of Los Blancos.
In the past few seasons,Real have struggled to dominate Laliga like they do in Champions league,an issue they would look to rectify under new manager Julen Lopetegui.
Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Manager: Julen Lopetegui
Main Men: Isco,Sergio Ramos.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Champions league spot.
Spanish Honours
Laliga: 33 times.
Copa del Rey: 19 times.
15. Real Sociedad
Nickname: La Real (The Royal)
Real Sociedad are the second most successful club from the Basque region.Now well past their glory years,Sociedad are still a premier first division club in top flight having spent a toal of 72 seasons in it.
Sociedad finished on a modest 12th spot,something they would be looking to improve this time.
Stadium: Anoeta
Manager: Asier Garitano
Main Men: Asier Illaramendi,Willian José.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Mid-table.
Spanish Honours
Laliga: 2 times.
Copa del Rey: 2 times.
16.Rayo Vallecano
Nickname: Los Franjirrojos (The Red Sashes), Los Vallecanos (The Vallecans)
Based in Vallecas neighbourhood of Madrid, Rayo Vallecano have been in and out of the top division in the current century. The club was formed back in 1924, and has overseen a total of 18 seasons in La Liga.
Back in the first division after a two season absence, Rayo will be expected to maintain their attractive brand of football but shall not be the favourites to retain their status as a top tier club due to the lack of impressive depth in the squad.
Stadium: Compo de Fútbol de Vallecas
Manager: Míchel
Main Men: Óscar Trejo,Adrián Embarba.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Relegation spot.
17. Sevilla FC
Nickname:Los Hispalenses(The Ones from Hispalis)
Founded before Real and Barcelona,Sevilla are the most successful club from the region of Andalusia.Spain’s oldest club solely devoted to football,Sevilla have announced themselves to Spain and Europe as well.
Cup finalists last season,Sevilla would like to add consistency to their game as they aim for a Champions league spot finish.
Stadium: Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.
Manager: Pablo Machín
Main Men: Steven N’Zonzi,Éver Banega.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Champions league spot.
Spanish Honours
Laliga: 1 time.
Copa del Rey: 5 times.
18. Valencia CF
Nickname: Los Che
The third most supported club in Spain,Valencia’s brand of quick counter attacking football is an attractive one.Having won loads of trophies in Spain and announced themselves in Europe,the club from East of Spain has established itself in the top flight.
Valencia were a real threat last year,contesting ferociously in the initial phase of the league and their 4th placed finish is an understatement of the quality they displayed.It would be exciting to watch Los Che in Champions league this season.
Stadium: Mestalla
Main Men: Dani Parejo,José Gayá.
Manager: Marcelino
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Champions league spot.
Spanish Honours
Laliga: 6 times.
Copa del Rey: 7 times.
19. Real Valladolid CF
Nickname: Pucelanos
Founded in 1928,Valladolid have been swinging in and out of Laliga.Last season they beat Numancia 2-0 in promotional play-offs to qualify for top division.It will be a herculean task for them to sustain their position.
Stadium: Estadio José Zorrilla
Manager: Sergio González
Main Men:Jordi Masip,Borja Fernández.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Relegation spot.
20. Villarreal CF
Nickname:El Submarino Amarillo
(The Yellow Submarine)
Founded 95 years ago,Villarreal are a prime example of small but succesful club.In the past few decades,Villarreal have established themselves as top division regulars.
Although lacking in silverware,the club from Valencia have always been a great competitor and finished 5th last season.They compete against Valencia in Derby de la Comunitat.
Stadium: Estadio de la Ceramica
Manager: Javier Calleja
Main Men: Samu Castillejo,Mario Gasper.
Potential finish in 2018-19 season: Europa league spot.
Beyond Minute 90 
1 Comment