Barça are clear favourites for LaLiga

Ernesto Valvede's Barcelona showed how reliable they were in the league last season. They only lost once in LaLiga and that was in a meaningless match against Levante. This season, in which even the wisest heads in football admit that Barcelona have strengthened their squad well, they are even clearer favourites. They now have serious alternatives on the bench and more a refined style, not one which was rushed together following the late departure of a key first team player.

Barça are also favourites because their eternal rival, Real Madrid, have barely added to their squad after selling a striker who guaranteed them at least 40 goals per season. They were humilated by Atletico in the UEFA Super Cup final.

And, even with Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid were only able to win a couple of league titles in the last nine seasons. It's hard to believe that Lopetegui's team will compete at the top of the table without the Portuguese forward's goals.

A team which could prove to be a genuine challenger for the league title is Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid. They've strengthened well and, according to a Madrid-based newspaper, Atletico now have a squad which is valued higher than that of Real Madrid.

Atletico will once again be in the race for the league title but it appears, for this season at least, the competition isn't a priority for anyone. Lionel Messi even said in his first speech as Barcelona's captain that the title he wanted to win the most this season was the Champions League. Although the Argentine is one of those people who has a desire to win everything and won't dismiss one title in order to capture another.

Only in time will we see if this Barça side is capable of repeating the trebles Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique achieved. However they start the season as favourites and, fresh after winning the Spanish Super Cup, the next objective is retaining their LaLiga crown.