Ten things to watch in La Liga

Gareth Bale, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez return to Sky Sports screens when the new La Liga season gets underway this weekend.

Barcelona are bidding to defend their crown after beating Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid to the title last season, and there is intrigue up and down La Liga ahead of the big kick-off.

Who will come out on top between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo? How will Sevilla line up under Jorge Sampaoli? And who exactly are La Liga new boys Leganes? Here are 10 things to watch out for this season in Spain…

Messi v Ronaldo

Messi and Ronaldo were outscored by Luis Suarez last season. It was the first time since 2008/09 that one of the pair hasn’t topped the scoring charts, but they remain the headline attractions in La Liga. The 2016/17 season opens up a new chapter in their extraordinary rivalry.

They come into it on the back of very different summers. While Ronaldo won Euro 2016 with Portugal, Messi announced his retirement from international football as Argentina were agonisingly beaten by Chile in the Copa America final. Ronaldo is now the strong favourite for the 2016 Ballon d’Or, but Messi will be eager to change the narrative.

They will have to wait until December for their first Clásico meeting, but their weekly battle for individual supremacy starts when the first ball is kicked this weekend. Can Messi reclaim centre stage? Will age finally slow Ronaldo’s phenomenal scoring rate? As always in Spain, Messi v Ronaldo will be more than a mere subplot.

Sevilla under Sampaoli

It has been a summer of change at Sevilla. Unai Emery departed for Paris Saint-Germain after guiding them to a third consecutive Europa League trophy in May, and he has been followed through the exit door by key players Grzegorz Krychowiak, Kevin Gameiro, Ever Banega, and Coke.

In Emery’s place, Sevilla have appointed Jorge Sampaoli. The Argentine has a burgeoning reputation thanks to his Copa America-winning spell in charge of Chile, but his methods are untested in Europe. Will his high-intensity playing style be a success in La Liga?

It is an intriguing prospect, and Sevilla’s summer transfer business certainly suggests a big emphasis on attacking football. Sampaoli has brought in no fewer than seven new forwards, including Paulo Henrique Ganso from Sao Paulo, Franco Vasquez from Palermo and Wissam Ben Yedder from Toulouse.

There were promising signs in Sevilla’s narrow European Super Cup defeat by Real Madrid, but Sampaoli insists the hectic pre-season schedule has been tough on his players. He hasn’t got much time to whip them into shape, but whatever happens next, it is unlikely to be dull.

Can Barcelona be stopped?

Barcelona head into the new campaign aiming for their seventh La Liga title in nine years, and while they only clinched last season’s crown by a one-point margin, the bookmakers have made them strong favourites for 2016/17.

They will certainly take some stopping. Messi, Suarez and Neymar are set for another season of tearing La Liga defences apart having combined for 90 goals in 2015/16, and Barcelona have also addressed the lack of squad depth that was exposed at times last season.

Andre Gomes and Denis Suarez have come into midfield from Valencia and Villarreal respectively, with France internationals Samuel Umtiti and Lucas Digne bolstering their defensive options. It all adds up to what Luis Enrique describes as his best squad since taking over at Barcelona – and there could be attacking reinforcements to follow.

“We have a squad that has been strengthened brilliantly,” he …

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