Football fans effectually the earth volition tune in as LaLiga returns to action (stream matches, highlights on season on ESPN+). Spain's peak flight kicks off Fri with Osasuna hosting Sevilla, while Barcelona host Rayo Vallecano on Saturday at Camp Nou. On Sunday, Real Madrid brainstorm their title defence against promoted side Almeria.

Coaches take swapped dugouts, players take departed, others have arrived with much fanfare (and lots of controversy), and fans are already debating whether Karim Benzema or Robert Lewandowski will score more goals.

Before the action gets underway, though, permit's examine some of the biggest storylines worth following as the 2022-23 season begins to unfold. ESPN contributers Alex Kirkland, Sam Marsden and Sid Lowe look at players to sentry for, and Cesar Hernandez rounds upwardly United States and Mexico players in LaLiga.

- Stream every LaLiga match on ESPN+ (U.Due south. just)
- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.Southward. simply)
- Don't accept ESPN? Get instant access

Who are the faves? | Who volition struggle, who will thrive | Big questions | Players to note | USMNT, Mexico stars in LaLiga

Title favourites?

Real Madrid

The euphoria generated by Existent Madrid'south 14th Champions League win in May hasn't faded yet. That victory over Liverpool, shut on the heels of a 35th LaLiga title wrapped up a month earlier, left Madrid feeling self-assured and confident about this team's trajectory. Stability and prudence have been the watchwords this summer, with no panic buying, and a determination to motility but for elite players who can genuinely add together something to the side.

- Stream Alive: Real Madrid vs. Almeria, Lord's day, 4 p.chiliad. ET, ESPN+

Antonio Rudiger -- a Champions League-winning fundamental defender at Chelsea -- fits into that category, and so does superlative midfield prospect Aurelien Tchouameni, who joined from AS Monaco. Otherwise, Madrid trust in the players who won it all last year -- and unflappable coach Carlo Ancelotti -- to leave and do it over again.

There's a belief that veterans like Karim Benzema and Luka Modric can evangelize for ane more year; that up-and-coming stars such as Vinicius Inferior and Rodrygo have fifty-fifty more than room for comeback; and that generational change is already underway with Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde in midfield. -- Kirkland

play

2:07

Will Benzema or Lewandowski have the better season this yr?

Julien Laurens and Don Hutchison argue whether Real Madrid'southward Karim Benzema or Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski will accept the better flavor this year.

Barcelona

Barcelona finished second final flavour and it was reluctantly accepted as a success after Xavi Hernandez took over as director in November with the team languishing ninth in LaLiga. A second-placed finish this time round will not be so highly regarded after what could peradventure be dubbed one of the most remarkable transfer windows of all time.

More than on Barcelona'south mess:
- Lowe: How is the guild signing, chasing players?
- Marsden: Explaining who can, tin't nonetheless register and why
- Barcelona, reimagined: What if they made no signings afterwards 2016?

After losing Lionel Messi a year ago because they could not beget to go on him, Barca accept since sold off 25% of their domestic telly rights and 25% of in-house product visitor Barca Studios for over €600 million.

That money, as well as helping reduce debt, has fuelled the signings of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Jules Kounde, Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen. And president Joan Laporta says they are not done however, either -- although a bloated payroll also needs reducing first. As a result, Xavi has been handed a stacked, highly competitive squad. The team looks especially exciting in attack, with Ansu Fati, Ousmane Dembele, Ferran Torres and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang complementing Lewandowski and Raphinha. Finishing 13 points behind Madrid this flavour will not be adequate. -- Marsden

Atletico Madrid

Terminal year's LaLiga season was characterised by the failure of whatever of Real Madrid'due south rivals to deliver a proper title race. Nowhere was that more evident than at Atletico Madrid, whose bid to defend the 2020-21 crown fell autonomously in an identity crisis every bit coach Diego Simeone struggled to find a residual between defense and attack.

This season could be dissimilar, especially with the departure of Luis Suarez -- Joao Felix is increasingly influential at ane end of the pitch, while Reinildo Mandava has brought back some of the old bite at the other. Summertime business concern has been express to the gratuitous transfer signing of Axel Witsel and the belated arrival of a specialist right-back in Nahuel Molina.

Elsewhere around the league, there are concerns nearly Sevilla's readiness for a top four boxing, having lost both Jules Kounde and Diego Carlos, although sporting director Monchi looks to be readying a late sweep of the transfer market. Villarreal are strong contenders to follow up last year's remarkable Champions League semifinals run by pushing for fourth, while Real Betis and Real Sociedad will both look to claiming. -- Marsden

Teams to struggle ...

Valencia

Gennaro Gattuso's coaching record in Italian republic (Air-conditioning Milan and Napoli) was passable, if not exceptional, merely Valencia represent a different challenge altogether.

Los Che are one of the biggest teams in Spain, just it feels like until the continued confrontation between supporters and possessor Peter Lim ends, they will struggle to be where they should be in LaLiga: at least competing for the Champions League places.

For years now Valencia take struggled to fill up their potential, in part because of that tension between Lim and the fans. Stability has also been a trouble equally they have raced through coaches. Each of the by four campaigns has at present begun with a new manager. Their summer has been low-key, with Samu Castillejo and Samuel Lino interesting signings, but there remains uncertainty around two of their best players. Both Carlos Soler and Jose Luis Gaya are in the final 12 months of their deals, with no immediate resolution to their futures in sight. -- Marsden

Sevilla

If there's a club that has fabricated a virtue of departures, e'er able to assimilate loss and reinvent itself, that gild is Sevilla. And even so, this fourth dimension feels unlike: sales are happening because they have to rather than because they are planned per se, both central defenders (Jules Kounde and Diego Carlos) have departed, and they take actually not been very practiced for quite a while now -- expect at their results since the turn of the year and they don't lose oftentimes at all simply they don't win much either.

The signing of Isco and the loan of Alex Telles from Manchester United tin assist, simply there's already a slight sense of loss and maybe even a little mistrust that might accelerate problems if things don't commencement well for manager Julen Lopetegui. There are stalwarts such equally Ivan Rakitic and Youssef En-Nesyri, but no sign of a new striker yet. Conceding 6 at Arsenal in a preseason friendly was a alarm. -- Lowe

play

0:47

Isco: Real Madrid did not let me play

New Sevilla signing Isco explains why he decided to join Julen Lopetegui'southward side and insists he will requite his all for the club.

... and teams to surprise?

Athletic Club

Ernesto Valverde is back at San Mames for a 3rd spell in charge of Athletic Lodge and refreshed after over two years out of the game post-obit his departure from Barcelona. During his 2nd spell in Bilbao, which lasted iv years and ended in 2017, he led the Basque side into the Champions League and never failed to finish outside the top seven, qualifying for Europe in every campaign. In the five seasons since he left, Athletic take finished 16th, 8th, 11th, 10th and 8th.

Able-bodied volition ever have their easily tied due to the fact they are committed to signing only Basque players, but Valverde knows the club inside and out and how it operates. There is talent in the squad in the course of Inigo Martinez, Iker Muniain and Inaki Williams, and the club's university at Lezama continues to produce talent for the first squad. -- Marsden

Getafe

Getafe's transfer window -- led by new director of football Ramon Planes -- has been quietly excellent. Defender Domingos Duarte, midfielders Jaime Seoane and Luis Milla and forrard Portu and Borja Mayoral are all sensible additions who will strengthen a team that lost a record vii consecutive games at the outset of last flavour.

Quique Sanchez Flores has also steadied the send later previous coach Michel'due south struggles. Sanchez Flores is a seen-it-all, underrated director who knows how to build a solid, effective team, and will exist hoping for a straightforward midtable finish rather than a relegation battle. -- Kirkland

play

ane:36

Hutchison blasts 'amateur' Barcelona for registration issues

Don Hutchison and Julien Laurens discuss Barcelona'due south bug with registering their new signings.

Can busy Barcelona stop Real'southward repeat?

First of all, allow'due south assume all of Barcelona'southward signings can be registered and there is a satisfactory outcome to the Frenkie de Jong situation. If so, in that location tin can be no excuses for Xavi and Barcelona this season. While information technology'due south true Xavi transformed Barca last flavor later on floundering midtable for a part of it, information technology'south as well true he was given much more leeway than his predecessor, Ronald Koeman.

Xavi was backed in Jan with the signings of Ferran Torres and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and has been spectacularly backed this summer. Robert Lewandowski is the standout arrival at €45 million, but big coin has too been invested in heady Brazil winger Raphinha and vibrant defender Jules Kounde. Information technology's going to be fascinating to meet how all the new signings do at Camp Nou, but also to see how Ousmane Dembele progresses afterwards signing a new contract and how youngsters Pedri, Gavi and Ansu Fati continue to evolve.

Club president Joan Laporta says success is a requirement at Barca and that is why he has sanctioned this summer's spending. Now it's up to Xavi to stop Ancelotti's Madrid, who have also strengthened with the signings of Antonio Rudiger and Aurelien Tchouameni, retaining the title. The Clasico battles (Oct. 16 in Madrid, March 23 in Barcelona) for the top of the tabular array will be full of promise. -- Marsden

Will Madrid be fazed past Mbappe snub?

"Kylian who?" That's been the bulletin from the Bernabeu ever since Madrid missed out on their long-term top target when France star Kylian Mbappe signed a new contract at Paris Saint-Germain. The timing of that abrupt U-turn -- a calendar week earlier the Champions League terminal -- looked awkward at first only turned out to exist a godsend when Madrid's victory over Liverpool helped reassure fans that not signing Mbappe was, possibly, no big bargain. In fact, information technology'southward been remarkable how chop-chop the saga has disappeared in the rearview mirror.

In any case, Mbappe'southward arrival would have caused Ancelotti an unnecessary headache, likely shifting Vinicius Junior from his preferred left-wing berth simply equally he'd established himself. Even so, Madrid are all-in on Vinicius at present. The Brazil winger will practice well to echo his 17-goal booty from terminal season. With no frontward expected to make it, information technology will be down to him and Rodrygo to support Karim Benzema (can Eden Hazard rebound from his injuries?) in the goal-scoring section. -- Kirkland

play

1:28

Eden Hazard 'focused' on proving himself at Real Madrid

Eden Take a chance speaks about potentially joining MLS and his hopes for this flavor with Real Madrid.

What most the coaching carousel?

Appointing a new motorcoach refreshes expectations, and three LaLiga sides will be hoping a change of face on the touchline volition improve their fortunes this season. It proved truthful for Cadiz and Mallorca last term, who dramatically stayed up subsequently appointing Sergio Gonzalez and Javier Aguirre, respectively.

Ambitions volition be high at Athletic Club, Valencia and Espanyol, though. Ex-Barca boss Ernesto Valverde returns to Athletic with the task of helping the Basque side back into European football game. That will also be the task facing Gennaro Gattuso at Valencia. The former AC Milan and Napoli autobus replaced Jose Bordalas this summer.

Finally, Diego Martinez is an intriguing appointment at Espanyol. He produced miracles to take Granada to the Europa League, and the Barcelona-based side will want the same success. Realistically, though, they will struggle to pause free from the no-homo's land between the relegation battle and the hunt for European places. -- Marsden

Promoted sides offering a challenge?

There's an element of intrigue to the owners of all three promoted teams. Real Valladolid are endemic past Brazil fable Ronaldo, Almeria past Saudi Arabian billionaire Turki Al-Sheikh and Girona'southward majority possessor is the City Football Grouping. Modern football, eh?

Of the three, Real Valladolid accept had the most easygoing summer, perhaps because information technology'south been only a year since they were last in the top flight. Even so, Almeria take spent over €15 million, which is a fortune in Castilian football for a team exterior the elevation four. Among their key signings is Brazilian defender Kaiky, who is just 18 and was scouted past Barcelona. The real sign of Almeria's wealth, though, is that they have so far resisted bids for star frontward Umar Sadiq, a Nigeria international with over 40 goals in his ii years at the club.

Girona, meanwhile, have had a good summer on paper. David Lopez adds feel to a squad that already includes veteran striker Cristhian Stuani. And the Metropolis Football Grouping has used its network of clubs to make some interesting additions, none more so than Valentin "Taty" Castellanos, who joins on loan after winning Major League Soccer's Golden Kick in 2021 and leading NYCFC to the MLS Cup title.

Yangel Herrera and Yan Couto have been added from Manchester Metropolis and Rodrigo Riquelme from Atletico Madrid. Go along an eye on young, versatile defender Arnau Martinez, too. -- Marsden

And so, who wins LaLiga? Who'll play in Champions League?

"The hunger is the concluding thing I am worried nigh," Carlo Ancelotti said. If Madrid tin can maintain the basis of final year, and integrate Rudiger and Tchouameni, plus last flavour'south big signing Eduardo Camavinga, information technology feels like they should exist the strongest side again -- although the absence of some other striker might be a business organization.

Given the manner that they finished final season and how they accept signed in the summer, Barcelona actually should compete all the style to the cease this time.

And not being defending champions might be expert for Atletico Madrid. Sevilla and Real Betis probably won't be as good as they were. Because the stability and resources, 4th place should be there for Villarreal. Look for Existent Sociedad to aim for 5th place and the Europa League booth.

Looking for a revelation: how adept might Athletic Club be with the render of Ernesto Valverde as autobus? Or what about Getafe, who impressed in one case Quique Sanchez Flores took over and seem to accept signed well besides. -- Lowe

play

1:06

Lewandowski: I don't want to be compared with Benzema

New Barcelona signing Robert Lewandowski praises Existent Madrid'south Karim Benzema but says he isn't keen on being in directly competition with him.

Benzema, Lewandowski. Anyone else in Golden Boot mix?

At that place'south nada like a head-to-head Gold Kicking race betwixt two of the biggest names in globe football game to go people'south attention. That'due south been absent since Cristiano Ronaldo and then Lionel Messi left LaLiga, but the arrival of Robert Lewandowski from Bayern means information technology's dorsum with a vengeance.

Last season, Karim Benzema walked information technology -- his 27 goals were ix more 2nd-placed Iago Aspas' eighteen, with Vinicius Inferior and Raul de Tomas each having 17 -- simply this year will be a different story altogether. Lewandowski won the European Gold Shoe in both 2021 and 2022, and if anyone can outgun Ballon d'Or favourite Benzema, it's he.

Otherwise, expect Celta Vigo icon Aspas to retain his crown as the top-scoring Spaniard. De Tomas' prospects depend on whether he's still at Espanyol come the terminate of the transfer window, and three players who disappointed in terms of numbers final season -- Villarreal's Gerard Moreno (ix), Real Sociedad's Alexander Isak (6) and Atletico Madrid'south Antoine Griezmann (iii) -- should all improve their tallies significantly. -- Kirkland

'Taty' to keep Girona up?

Girona's signing of Valentin "Taty" Castellanos from Major League Soccer champions New York City FC would have been more out of left field if both clubs were not owned by the Metropolis Football Group. Nonetheless, despite that fact, the Argentine forward's loan move to Catalonia still has the potential to exist one of the about exciting deals in Spain this summer.

Castellanos, 23, who won the MLS Golden Boot last year and was leading this season's race before leaving, already has Girona fans excited after preseason goals against Principality of andorra and Napoli. If you take goals in your side, you take a good gamble of staying in LaLiga, and with Castellanos and veteran Cristhian Stuani, Girona should have them in abundance. -- Marsden

Morales central to Villarreal'southward top four hopes?

The player known as "El Comandante" built a reputation as i of LaLiga's most fun-to-watch players at Levante. Jose Luis Morales' all-time efforts -- and xiii goals -- couldn't proceed them up concluding flavor, and his tears of frustration on the pitch when relegation was eventually confirmed were hard to spotter.

The 35-year-old'south initial insistence on staying at Levante in Segunda was admirable, only he shouldn't exist judged besides harshly for the change of heart that saw him bring together Villarreal. Morales deserves a late-career fissure at European football, playing alongside footballers of a similar calibre. His quality might help Villarreal break into the top four. -- Kirkland

U.South., Mexico players in Spain

The two traditional powerhouses from the CONCACAF region volition each have a handful of representatives in LaLiga for the 2022-23 flavour.

Starting with the U.s.a., 24-yr-old midfielder Luca de la Torre is the newest USMNT player in LaLiga, making the movement over to Celta Vigo this summer. Fullback Sergino Dest will be inbound his third season with Barcelona, and midfielder Yunus Musah should characteristic more for Valencia. All three appear to be USMNT roster locks for the upcoming Earth Cup.

Another name to keep an heart on is Espanyol'south 17-year-old midfielder Luca Koleosho. Concluding season, Koleosho became the youngest American-born player to debut in Espana's height flying. Also eligible for Canada, Koleosho hasn't made a conclusion but yet regarding his national team future.

play

1:45

Is De la Torre's Celta movement a risk in a World Loving cup yr?

The Futbol Americas team discuss the USMNT's Luca de la Torre moving to Celta Vigo with the World Loving cup on the horizon.

As for Mexico, Sevilla's Jesus "Tecatito" Corona is the about noteworthy name from the El Tri contingent. The 29-year-old winger has looked promising in the preseason with a couple of goals during July friendlies. Mexico captain and veteran Andres Guardado will exist entering his sixth year with Existent Betis, helping the team win the Copa del Rey last flavour.

Over at Existent Sociedad, fullback Jonathan Gomez will aim to break into the first team after earning consistent minutes for Real Sociedad B last flavor. Gomez has represented both the United States and United mexican states at the youth and senior level, merely concluding featured for El Tri during a friendly in April. He has yet to commit to either side.

Both Corona and Guardado are shoo-ins for Mexico's Globe Cup roster. Gomez is unlikely to be included due to his national team condition being upwardly in the air, but plenty could change if he establishes himself with Real Sociedad's outset squad.

Also of note for Mexico are three newcomers in Spain'due south 2nd partition. Real Oviedo accept brought in Daniel Aceves and Arsenal university product Marcelo Flores, while Gijon have added Liga MX Rookie of the Year Hashemite kingdom of jordan Carrillo from Santo Laguna.