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Minute-by-minute updates as the champions get underway
Sid Lowe: Big clubs’ different outlooks after summer spending
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7.23pm BST
Athletic Bilbao: Unai Simón, Capa, Yeray, Núñez, Yuri, Dani García, Unai López, De Marcos, Raúl García, Muniain, Williams.Subs: Herrerín, Beñat, Larrazabal, Aduriz, Balenziaga, Vivian, Sancet
Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Semedo, Piqué, Lenglet, Alba, Aleñá, Roberto, De Jong, Suárez, Dembélé, Griezmann.Subs: Rakitic, Busquets, Rafinha, Umtiti, Junior, Iñaki Peña, C. Pérez.
7.04pm BST
La Liga is back, and back with a vengeance. Alarmed by the Premier League takeover of Europe’s major competitions last season, Spain’s top clubs have spent and spent big. Atlético have splashed €256m to revamp an ageing team while Real Madrid’s total is closer to €300m. Frenkie de Jong and Antoine Griezmann lead the incomings at Barcelona and the battle to secure Neymar’s signature is still raging.
Barcelona are the champions and remain the team to beat but a trip to Athletic Bilbao is a tough way to start, especially without Lionel Messi. The Argentinian was injured in the Copa América and Ernesto Valverde has decided not to rush him back for the season’s opener. How will Barça cope? Is Dembéle ready to step up? Will Griezmann slot in seamlessly after his controversial move from Atlético? Or can Athletic give the chasing pack an early shot in the arm? It’s the Basques v the Catalans to see who will draw first blood in Spain’s top division. Continue reading...