Primera Predictions 2008-09

Certainly most fans feel that this season's La Liga race is going to be closer than the last. Barcelona never quite got going in the previous campaign, and eventually Madrid, unfettered even by an excellent Villarreal side, strolled towards the title.

This summer, though, the blaugrana have changed their manager and also strengthened significantly, signalling that they are once again looking for the Liga championship. Real Madrid, having already won the Supercopa, won't let their trophy go so easily, though, and with Valencia and Sevilla looking somewhat more accomplished is remains to be seen what becomes of this season's race.

As for players, Spain has welcomed some new imports. Rafael van der Vaart and Aliaksandr Hleb are among the most prominent newcomers, but there are others, too, like Romaric and Pablo Piatti.

I present below my predictions for the new campaign, based on all the developments that applied up until the second the article was published. Any subsequent signings or injuries, then, have no bearing on the below.

Still, these are my choices. I invite you to submit your own at the end of the article. Come next May we'll dig them up and see who was closest!

2008/09 Primera División Predictions

Title Winners: Real Madrid

Champions League qualifiers: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Villarreal

UEFA Cup qualifiers: Atlético Madrid, Valencia, Athletic Bilbao (cup runners-up)

Relegated: Recreativo de Huelva, Valladolid, Málaga

Copa del Rey winners: Sevilla

Best Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid) - He was the best last year and will be the best this year. Nobody comes close to Iker.

Best Defender: Daniel Alves (Barcelona) - Gianluca Zambrotta was a disappointment for the blaugrana. Alves, either in a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3, will be solid both at the front and at the back.

Best Midfielder: Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona) - His pre-season hasn't been the best but he has the class to succeed once more. It may take him a month or two to get going, though.

Best Attacker: Sergio 'Kun' Agüero (Atlético Madrid) - Despite being just 20 years old he is on track to become one of the world's best forwards. This will be his greatest year to date. His countryman, Leo Messi, was a close second.

Best Summer Signing: Koffi Romaric (Sevilla) - By 'best summer signing' I mean a player who not only has a lot to offer, but also didn't cost the world and fills a gap. Having lost Keita and Poulsen in summer Sevilla desperately needed a classy central midfielder, and in Romaric they have one - for just €8m, too. Rafael van der Vaart was a close second.

Worst Summer Signing: Mista (Deportivo La Coruña) - Singularly failed to impress at Atlético during those rare moments that he didn't occupy the treatment table. Depor may be largely restricted to freebies but Mista can't have come cheap in terms of wages - in my estimation he is a waste of money.

Golden Boot: Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona) - Last season he had the best minutes:goals ratio in the top flight and it could well be the same this time around. A goal-getter of the highest order.

Best Youngster (Under-21): Sergio 'Kun' Agüero (Atlético Madrid) - For the same reasons as previously mentioned.

Best Foreigner*: Arjen Robben (Real Madrid) - With Robinho largely out of the picture the Dutchman has the freedom to shine - a chance that he has so far taken in spades.

Best Spaniard*: Xavi (FC Barcelona) - The best player of Euro 2008 will be invaluable once again for the blaugrana. Like Iniesta, he could start slowly, but he will heat up around winter.

Player of the Year: Sergio 'Kun' Agüero (Atlético Madrid) - A clean sweep for the Argentine.

Coach of the Year: Bernd Schuster (Real Madrid) - A decent run in the Champions League and a close-fought title win will see him considered the top manager, even though there will be bumps along the way. Honourable mentions for Pep Guardiola and Manolo Jiménez, both of whom will improve their sides markedly on last season.