Atletico Madrid is the first beneficiary

Real Madrid and Barcelona turmoil opens the competition for the Spanish League title for everyone

  • Barcelona team will appear in the new season without Messi.

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  • Carlo Ancelotti returns to lead Real Madrid, replacing Zidane.

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If the new season of La Liga follows the drama of the past few months, then surprises are in place.

The 2021-2022 season begins today, although Spanish football is still affected by the departure of Argentine Lionel Messi from Barcelona.

After Messi moved to Paris Saint-Germain, he became one of the oldest clubs without his traditional star, while Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, Barcelona's traditional rival, left for the French capital in a free transfer deal.

However, Barcelona still has many world-class players in its arsenal and this season will rely on Pedri, Frenicy de Jong and Antoine Griezmann, and the team will also hope to rely on Memphis Depay.

But it will be difficult to get over the shock of Messi's departure.

Messi participated in half of Barcelona's shots last season, whether through his attempts or making shots, and missed only three games, so Ronald Koeman, coach, must change the way he plays.

Barcelona felt the player's absence due to injury, as Barcelona won three quarters of nearly 520 league matches in which Messi participated with the team, but won only 57% of the 120 games he did not participate in, and this crisis will not be resolved now.

Money is scarce in Madrid as well, but Real Madrid faced this reality, cut costs and agreed to leave after high-paid players such as Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane.

Despite the departure of Zinedine Zidane, the team also looked better on the eve of the new season.

Madrid finished last season unbeaten in 18 games, the best results in the competition, and with disappointing draws in the last rounds against Getafe, Real Betis and Sevilla - all within five games - Real moved away from Atletico Madrid, leaders, by only two points.

Club officials had a familiar face with his record-breaking record of succeeding Zidane, as 2014 Champions League winner Carlo Ancelotti returned to Real Madrid.

And in a phenomenon unique to the Atletico Madrid team, Atletico Madrid were in the lead and their players were not targeted for transfer from the team.

It is likely that Atletico Madrid players will not be targeted while Barcelona and Real Madrid suffer from a financial crisis, as Barcelona are reported to be seeking to bring Griezmann back to the Atletico Madrid team.

However, developments in Messi's departure appear to have put an end to that notion, and instead Atletico Madrid spent the week leading up to the season's opener extending the contracts of their defensive stars.

Clubs outside the title race seem to be enjoying unprecedented comfort as well, as Europa League winners Villarreal have been able to keep their best players - including Gerard Mourinho, who finished second in the league's top scorer behind Messi, with 23 goals. Also, Real Sociedad will enter the new season with the same team that achieved fifth place last season.

And if Ancelotti cannot restore the glory of the aging Real Madrid team, the competition for the top of the table may become open to all teams.

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