Real Madrid defend the Spanish title with "old guard"

After he missed the opening stage in order to get more comfort after the late season imposed by the outbreak of the new Corona virus, Real Madrid begins the campaign to defend its title next Sunday in the Basque Country against Real Sociedad in the second stage, while the absence of rivals Barcelona, ​​Atletico Madrid and Seville continues.

Zinedine Zidane's team did not participate in the opening season of the season last week, as a result of its competition in the Champions League final, where it lost to Manchester City last August.

Real was crowned champions for the 34th time in its history last July thanks to its "old guard", which Zidane relies on again, especially the eternal captain Sergio Ramos, French striker Karim Benzema, German Toni Kroos and Croatian Luka Modric.

Zidane has not signed any contract yet, but he gave up the Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez to Everton after playing in the past two seasons with Bayern Munich on loan, and Moroccan right-hand defender Ashraf Hakimi for the Italian Inter Milan, after he was on loan since July 2018 to Borussia Dortmund. .

And it appears the Welsh winger Gareth Bale is also on his way to return to his former team, Tottenham, after it has become clear since Zidane's return to the team's training that he is outside the accounts of the French coach, and the same is true for defender Sergio Regilon.

Zidane raises, in his endeavor to retain the title, the slogan of continuity and fortitude by relying on the same weapons that led the royal club to dislodge its opponent Barcelona from the throne, after winning ten consecutive matches since the return of competitions after a hiatus for months due to the outbreak of the new Corona virus.

Ramos and Benzema are the cornerstones,

and captain Ramos and Benzema, who together scored 13 goals in the last 11 league matches last season, are the cornerstones of Zidane's squad, hoping that the two young Brazilians, Venecos Junior and Rodrigo, secure the necessary offensive support, and that the Belgian playmaker Eden Hazar is at the top of his readiness. After a difficult first season full of injuries in the "Merengues".

Zidane stressed that "the goals are always the same, winning everything" as Real coach.

Zidane stressed that there is no "order of firsts" in Real, but that the Spanish league has only been won twice in the last eight seasons, he made the title (La Liga) "at the top of the top ladder", referring to the league’s suspension for months due to the outbreak of the new Corona virus and then returning to play behind The doors are closed, by saying, "After this stone (as a result of the virus), we thought that we would not play again, because this was the reality."

"To finally be able to resume, finish and win La Liga, for me it was the best day. Almost the best day of my life. Even if we always wanted to say that the Champions League is great, yes, it's great, I don't want the comparison. When We won this very complicated and difficult Spanish league, it was really the best day of my career. It's very hard to win. "

Zidane talked about his future as a coach for the Royal Club and about what he said previously that he will remain in his position "until something happens," stressing that nothing has changed regarding this topic "Whatever happens. This is what I am used to: I do not have a plan for my career. I just have desires." "I am enjoying training today just as much as I was when I was a player. And when things change, or when things have to be done differently, I will do it."

Barcelona, ​​Atletico and Seville,

after reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League competition, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid continue their long vacation, with each starting their season on September 27, when the first meets its guest Villarreal and the second with its guest Granada.

Seville continues to be absent as a result of reaching the European League final, "Europa League", where he was crowned champion at the expense of Inter Milan, while Getafe begins the league on Saturday at home against Osasuna after he missed the opening stage as a result of his continental career, where he reached the final price "Europa League." Before leaving at the hands of Inter Milan.

After stumbling at the opening at home to the return Huesca (1-1) in the first official match led by his new coach Unai Emery, who succeeded Javi Caija despite ending last season in fifth place and ensuring participation in the "Europa League", Villarreal hopes to compensate Saturday when he opens the second stage in His stadium is also against Eibar, while Valencia seeks on the same day for a second successive victory at the expense of its host Celta Figo, after he started his journey by converting his defeat against Levante 1-2 to a 4-2 victory thanks to a double by substitute Manuel Vallejo.

Sunday will witness a confrontation with a special flavor between the returnees of Huesca and Kadesh. On the same day, Real Betis will meet with Valladolid, and Granada with Deportivo Alaves.

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