Few signings, illness and empty stadiums have led to a flat pre-season – but there is cause for optimism with Manuel Pelligrini back, the Deyverson show and Lionel Messi still around
Nineteen days after the first division’s 20th club was finally decided, 2019-20 ending with Pere Milla scoring the “goal of my life”, a dramatic 96th-minute strike that took Elche up, the new season begins on Friday. Excitement builds and it all starts at the foot of the Sierra Nevada in Granada, home for the first time of a European team. Spain’s great revelation head to Albania next week; first they raise the curtain on La Liga by welcoming Athletic Club, who are playing their 2,877th top-flight game – more than anyone else.
Oh, wait, no. That’s not right.
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