The race to be in LaLiga’s top four

As Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid look set to continue to dominate Spanish football, the conversation surrounding the team that might lift the 2024/25 league title fails to escape without mention of one of the heavyweights above.

Indeed, the last time a team other than Barcelona or one of the Madrid clubs won LaLiga was back in 2004, when Valencia claimed the prize, before a new generation of galacticos and footballing superstars were ushered in, stamping the authority of Spanish football’s big clubs over domestic and, often European competitions.

However, the conversation is always more open when it comes to providing an answer as to who might challenge those clubs, either muscling their way into the top three to temporarily demote one of LaLiga’s behemoths or by beating the rest of the chasing pack to finish within the top four and secure Champions League football. 

After LaLiga began with a flourish last weekend, as the 2024/25 campaign commenced, ambition and expectation for a number of Spain’s clubs was duly raised or altered.

Real Madrid arguably suffered a reality check, that despite hoarding some of football’s best talent, a big, classic number nine in the form of Vedat Muriqi can still provide difficulties.

Barcelona enjoyed palpable relief with an opening day victory over Valencia, after another summer transfer window was characterised by their manifold financial issues.

Villarreal, meanwhile, will have seen their ambition stay steadfast after an entertaining 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid proved that they can go toe to toe with Spanish football’s elite and potentially be the team to clinch the fourth spot.

Challengers will include Athletic Club and potentially the likes of Real Betis and Girona, however, the latter is expected to drop off after a summer of outgoings has seen their aspirations dented.

Villarreal, in contrast, have enjoyed a productive summer transfer window that has seen the Yellows bolster their attacking firepower while also filling in the holes in their leaky backline, as Marcelino plots a route back into Europe for the Yellow Submarine. 

Villarreal’s strong attacking options can be the key to success

While Villarreal’s defence last year struggled during a tumultuous campaign as they conceded a startling 65 goals, the third highest in the league behind relegated Almeria and Granada, it is their attacking options that are likely to catapult the side into Champions League contention.

A positive summer in the transfer window has seen them recruit heavily to fill the void left by the departure of Alexander Sorlorth, the club’s top goalscorer in the 2023/24 LaLiga campaign with 23 goals, second only to Girona’s Artem Dovbyk.

Former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe, and 21-year-old forward Thierno Barry, have both joined, with the latter signing on Thursday after impressive seasons in Switzerland and Belgium. Meanwhile, Ayoze Perez has also signed on a four year deal from Real Betis for the minuscule fee of €4m, representing excellent value for money in the inflated modern day market.

The new signings join up with the likes of Yeremy Pino and Gerard Moreno to offer Marcelino plenty of strength in-depth and quality at the top end of the pitch.

However, it was the returning Arnaut Danjuma who opened the scoring on match day one for Villarreal, with the forward recording a well taken finish that demonstrated some of the attacker’s best attributes, marking his return to Estadio de la Ceramica in style, after last year being deemed surplus to requirements under then manager Quique Setien.

A long ball over the top from Diego Conde saw Danjuma utilise his explosiveness and strength by beating Axel Witsel to the ball despite the Belgian having a good five yard head start over the Villarreal forward. The Dutch attacker quickly gathered the ball at his feet, turning inside onto his right before shuffling it to his left to drive a low strike into the far corner and past Jan Oblak.

Elsewhere, Nicholas Pepe impressed with his cameo off the bench, coming close to opening his goalscoring account for the Yellow Submarine when he saw his audacious curling free kick attempt ricochet off the bar.

Perez also made his first LaLiga appearance for Villarreal and will offer additional firepower for Marcelino’s side, with the EURO 2024 winner a versatile attacker who can play anywhere across a front three.

Indeed, the 31-year-old had highlighted the European ambitions of the club when he joined, saying: “I am aware of the demands of a club like Villarreal, of the project and of where we want to go.

“We have a great head coach and a great group to achieve important things. I want to do my bit, as an attacker with goals and assists, to help the team get back into Europe.”

If Villarreal are to realise their European aspirations and potentially secure fourth spot, then the rich wealth of attacking firepower currently at Marcelino’s disposal will be key to skyrocketing the club back into Europe’s elite club competition.

Defensive recruitments recognise need to solidify

After Villarreal sold the talented Pau Torres to Aston Villa in the summer of 2023, Los Amarillos went from conceding only four more goals (40) than Real Madrid in the 2022/23 campaign to letting in a staggering 65 goals last term.

Statistically speaking, this resulted in Villarreal having the third worst defence across the league, as defensive weakness punished the Yellow Submarine time and time again. The defensive liabilities of Villarreal arguably made their 8th place finish rather impressive, as attacking prowess made up for their deficiencies at the back.

While the defensive troubles caused a headache for the succession of coaches last season, Villarreal in the process became one of LaLiga’s most entertaining sides with their 38 matches over the course of the season seeing 130 goals in total, second only to high-flying entertainers Girona (131).

This summer, the club has clearly sought to address this issue, with some smart additions and the signing of some promising talent to address the frailties that stopped Villarreal from qualifying for Europe in the last campaign. 

Just this week, they have signed Cape Verdean international and now former Toulouse defender, Logan Costa, for a reported initial fee of €17.5m, the most they have ever spent on a defender. The 23-year-old centre-back has signed a six year deal at the Yellows and Marcelino will hope that he can have an immediate impact and help to solidify the rocky foundations of his side.

Highly-rated Manchester United youngster Willy Kambwala has also signed on a five year deal at the club for the fee of €11.5m, with United also rumoured to hold a buy back clause for the centre-back. In addition, Sergi Cardona has switched to the Yellows from fellow LaLiga outfit Las Palmas, and Pape Gueye has been brought in by Marseille to add defensive depth to the midfield.

With Kambwala and Costa still to feature for Villarreal, both signings will enthuse the fanbase of the Yellow Submarine who will see them as the long term solutions to their side’s defensive instability.

Girona expected to drop off

As LaLiga’s surprise package last year, City Football Group’s Girona impressed many with their high intensity, attacking displays under Michel as the small outfit capped a remarkable journey from Segunda Division regulars to a club that will now play in their inaugural Champions League campaign.

However, many key components of this rapid ascendancy up the ranks of Spanish football have now left the Catalan club leaving the side’s aspirations dented following last season’s stunning efforts.

Artem Dovbyk was one of Girona’s most high profile departures, with the Ukrainian goalscorer leaving to join AS Roma in a deal worth more than €30m. The 27-year-old was one of the club’s most important players last season, scoring 24 goals as he claimed the Pichichi award as LaLiga’s top scorer.

Furthermore, midfield stalwart Aleix Garcia has left to join Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen while the loan spells of the exciting Savinho, Eric Garcia and Yan Couto all came to an end.

With so many players departing that were key to the club’s success last season, Girona will not be expected to record anywhere near their impressive points tally of last year (81), opening the door to other challengers.

Athletic to challenge

One of these expected challengers from the chasing pack may be Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Club, who last season ended their major trophy drought of 40 years by beating Real Mallorca to lift the Copa del Rey in Seville’s Cartuja Stadium for the first time since 1984.

The challenge this summer has been keeping hold of the player of the match from that final, with Nico Williams now expected to stay for at least another year, despite reported interest from the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Liverpool.

After impressing throughout Spain’s victorious Euro 2024 campaign, as well as scoring and assisting in the final, Williams has demonstrated his credentials as one of the best attackers in Spanish football, and at his still tender age of 22, shown that he can be a potential superstar for the future.

Athletic Club will be expected to provide stern competition for Villarreal in the battle to finish within the top four, as Valverde’s side look to go one better than last year’s 5th placed finish.

However, while Villarreal are free to focus on LaLiga and domestic competitions, Athletic will also have to balance Thursday night football, something they have not had to do since the 2017/18 season.

With the Europa League final set to be played at San Mamas in May of 2025, there will be added incentive for the Basque team to reach the final and lift it in their iconic home.

While this would be a tremendous achievement for Athletic, it might also serve as double edged sword, with the dream of lifting the Europa League diverting their attention and focus from the domestic campaign, potentially allowing Villarreal to secure the coveted fourth spot ahead of their rivals.