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Can Real Madrid challenge Barcelona? A team-by-team look at the prospects of every Liga team ahead of the big kick-off this weekend.

ALMERIA

Strength: Coach Hugo Sanchez has shown an ability to breed confidence in his team as they again seek to avoid relegation to the second tier.

Weakness: The departure of Bruno, Mane and Carlos Garcia has left the defence in disarray.

Star: Kalu Uche - the Nigerian rediscovered his form under Sanchez and rejected a move to the Premier League to stay with Almeria.

Player to watch: Hernan Bernardello - the young midfielder was the main man for Newell's Old Boys in Argentina and could have moved to Italy before opting for Spain.

Future star: Chico - fast and strong, now is the time for the youngster from Cadiz to fulfil his promise.

Aim: To avoid relegation - while a mid-table finish to match that of last season is not beyond them.

ATHLETIC BILBAO

Strength: The only team to spend their entire history in the top division apart from Real Madrid and Barcelona, Athletic will once again put their faith in a Basque-born squad which fights for the cause.

Weakness: Losing 4-1 to Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey last season hurt as one of the most traditionally successful clubs in Spain struggles to fight for titles.

Star: Fernando Llorente - a tall and strong striker who bagged 13 goals last season, he deputises for Fernando Torres and David Villa in the national team.

Player to watch: Inigo Diaz de Cerio - another forward, signed in the summer after the end of his contract with Basque rivals Real Sociedad.

Future star: Oscar de Marcos - a 20-year-old midfielder joining from Alaves.

Aim: A mid-table finish and later rounds of the Copa and Europa League.

ATLETICO MADRID

Strength: Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan, one of the best forward pairings in Europe.

Weakness: Perpetual finishes behind Real Madrid and Barcelona leave the Rojiblancos fighting for third spot at best.

Star: Sergio Aguero - Forlan may get the goals, but Aguero is the 'crack' - the man who can make the difference at any point.

Player to watch: Juanito - veteran defender brought in from Betis to shore up the defence.

Future star: Leandro Cabrera - teenage centre-half signed from Uruguay for 1.5 million euros.

Aim: A Champions League place.

BARCELONA

Strength: As reigning Spanish and European champions and Copa del Rey holders, Barca are the team to beat this season.

Weakness: The Blaugrana will feature in several competitions including the Club World Cup.

Star: Lionel Messi - the best player in the world; the man who can change a game with a moment of brilliance.

Player to watch: Zlatan Ibrahimovic - can the Sweden star live up to his enormous billing after an immense transfer fee plus Samuel Eto'o took him to the Camp Nou from Inter?

Future star: Pedro - it is the two-footed Masia graduate's year after Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola decided against signing a winger in the summer.

Aim: To win everything again: they have a first team of the highest quality and the youngsters to fill in when legs become tired.

DEPORTIVO

Strength: Coach Miguel Angel Lotina has built a solid, consistent team over the last few years.

Weakness: A lack of funds means new arrivals at Depor are usually on loan or free transfers, while some key players have departed in the summer.

Star: Andres Guardado - the Mexican can shine if he avoids the injuries that have plagued his career in each of the last two seasons.

Player to watch: Juca - an experienced central midfield man who will form one of the most important pieces of the team's collective jigsaw.

Future star: Lassad Nouioui - a French-Tunisian forward who has come through the junior ranks.

Aim: If they can produce results in the first half of the season as well as during the run-in, they will aim for a Europa League spot.

ESPANYOL

Strength: In good form, having finished the last campaign strongly and demolished Liverpool 3-0 in pre-season.

Weakness: The death of club captain Daniel Jarque has rocked Espanyol, in similar fashion to what Sevilla went through following the death of Antonio Puerta.

Star: Luis Garcia - the unofficial team leader who encourages his team-mates from his attacking berth.

Player to watch: Joan Verdu - one of the signings of this summer, the attacking midfielder came up through the ranks at city rivals Barcelona before a switch to Depor and now Espanyol.

Future star: Ben Sahar - a skilful and fast striker who scored twice against Liverpool and has been an Israeli international since the age of 17. He has a point to prove after his spell at Chelsea.

Aim: Top half of the table using young players.

GETAFE

Strength: President Angel Torres is sensible, prudent and does not put up with nonsense from his players.

Weakness: The departure of strikers Uche and Esteban Granero has left coach Michel short of striking options.

Star: Roberto Soldado the former Real Madrid striker scored 13 goals last season.

Player to watch: Mane the left-sided attacking midfielder fills the void left by Lucas Licht and Franck Signorino.

Future star: Dani Parejo another ex-Real Madrid man, tipped for the top by Alfredo Di Stefano.

Aim: A mid-table finish away from the relegation scrap would do nicely.

MALAGA

Strength: The commitment of the players to the team gets the fans behind them, even in times of struggle.

Weakness: Malaga will be weaker this season after the exit of Eliseu, Lolo, Duda and Goitia and their replacement with loan and cheap signings.

Star: Albert Luque - after bad experiences with Ajax and Newcastle, the forward scored eight goals for Malaga last season.

Player to watch: Xavi Torres - joined Malaga from Barcelona, where he was always praised by Guardiola, in order to feature more often. He is crucial to the team's midfield play.

Future star: Fernando Forestieri - the former Boca youngster will put the ball in the back of the net.

Aim: To match the eighth-place finish from last season.

MALLORCA

Strength: Mallorca begin their 13th consecutive season in the top division this year despite having to build a new team practically every summer due to departures.

Weakness: Many important players have abandoned the island while there is a new chairman - leaving no time for Gregorio Manzano to bring in new faces.

Star: Pierre Webo - the Cameroon striker's running is important to the cause.

Player to watch: Dudu Aouate - the Israel keeper will have to be at his best to keep Mallorca competitive in matches.

Future star: Sergio Tejera - the teenage midfielder joined from Chelsea in January and helped keep Mallorca up.

Aim: To stay in the division.

OSASUNA

Strength: The strong defence which kept them up last season.

Weakness: Inability to score goals - needing four or five chances before hitting the back of the net.

Star: Javad Nekounam - The Iran midfield lynchpin is the team leader.

Player to watch: Carlos Aranda - having shown potential at Numancia, now is the time for the forward to shine, provided he can avoid injury.

Future star: Cesar Azpilicueta - one of the most promising Spanish players, he is versatile and watched frequently by bigger clubs.

Aim: To stay up.

RACING

Strength: New coach Juan Carlos Mandia who joins after guiding Hercules to fourth spot in the Segunda last season.

Weakness: The loss of important players from all over the pitch.

Star: Pedro Munitis - the tiny veteran striker is an idol thanks to his professionalism.

Player to watch: Alex Geijo - the last chance for him to shine in the top division, while there will be pressure on him to replace giant striker Nikola Zigic.

Future star: Brian Sarmiento - compared with Lionel Messi from a young age, the teenager showed his class on loan at Xerez last season.

Aim: To finish well clear of the relegation zone.

REAL MADRID

Strength: It's all change at Los Merengues: a new president, coach, general manager and eight players have all come in - including the biggest stars from the Premier League, Serie A and Ligue 1.

Weakness: There can be no excuses this year: after a fruitless 2008-09 including an early departure from the Champions League, Manuel Pellegrini has to work his star-studded squad into a unit.

Star: Cristiano Ronaldo - at 94 million euros, the Portuguese is the most expensive player in history. After winning everything with Manchester United, he now has to do the same in Madrid - and go head to head with Messi in the battle to be considered the world's greatest player.

Player to watch: Kaka - the Brazil star, signed from Milan at huge expense, will link Xabi Alonso with the strikers and be responsible for setting the speed at which the team plays.

Future star: Esteban Granero - after two seasons starring at Getafe, he returns to Real to fight for a place in one of the best midfields in the world.

Aim: To win back the Liga title and challenge for the Champions League.

SEVILLA

Strength: The only team capable of competing with Real Madrid and Barcelona for the title. Sevilla's home ground, the Sanchez Pizjuan, is intimidating for visiting teams.

Weakness: Psychological - after threatening to fight for the title for a few years, can they go the next step and win La Liga?

Star: Fredi Kanoute - the Malian's game is about goals, goals, goals, with the help of lethal strike partner Luis Fabiano.

Player to watch: Alvaro Negredo - the striker signed from Real Madrid after two seasons on loan at Almeria and is considered one of Spain's hottest properties.

Future star: Diego Perotti - the winger's last-gasp goal to guarantee third place last season marked him out as a hero of the future.

Aim: The title - but more realistically perhaps second place would be an excellent season for the Sevillistas.

SPORTING GIJON

Strength: Team spirit and understanding fostered over several years.

Weakness: A dependency on the goals of David Barral, plus other sides now know what to expect from them in the top division.

Star: David Barral - a former Real Madrid Castilla striker who scored 10 goals last season and became a hero to the fans.

Player to watch: Miguel de las Cuevas - the midfielder is keen to take his chance after suffering from injuries throughout his time at Atletico Madrid.

Future star: Alberto Botia - one of the most promising players in Barcelona's youth ranks, defender Botia made his debut in the final match of last season and has joined on a season-long loan.

Aim: to start well and retain their Primera Division status at the season's end.

TENERIFE

Strength: Tenerife return after seven years in the second tier keen to re-establish their Liga credentials with the majority of their promotion-winning side intact.

Weakness: Their counter-attacking system may not suit the top tier.

Star: Nino - 29 goals last season. Need any more be said?

Player to watch: Roman Martinez - on loan from Espanyol, the Argentine will conduct the team from midfield.

Future star: Aitor Nunez - the right-back arrives from Atletico's B side and could be crucial to their defensive aspirations.

Aim: To stay up.

VALLADOLID

Strength: After a poor attacking show last season, Valladolid signed four forwards in the summer to put that straight in 2009-10.

Weakness: Between the sticks. Last season's hero Sergio Asenjo has left for Atleti and neither of his replacements, Justo Villar and Fabricio, are as good.

Star: Jonathan Sesma - the forward is of top quality, scores goals and is an idol to the club's fans.

Player to watch: Manucho - the Angola striker signed a five-year contract after he was deemed surplus to requirements at Manchester United and has set himself a target of 34 goals in the coming campaign.

Future star: Alberto Bueno - another forward star who chose to leave Real Madrid to pursue first-team aspirations.

Aim: A mid-table finish - and Europe if the first half of the season goes well.

XEREZ

Strength: With nothing to lose, Xerez enter La Liga capable of springing a few surprises.

Weakness: Little reinforcement during the summer - and those who have arrived have done so late on.

Star: Emilio Jose Viqueira - the experienced midfielder will play a hugely important role in a side containing few players with top-level experience.

Player to watch: Leandro Gioda - a goal on debut - in pre-season, admittedly - bodes well for the Argentine as long as he can avoid injury.

Future star: Emiliano Armenteros - the Sevilla midfielder, also from Argentina, will relish the chance to play regularly against the top clubs.

Aim: everyone expects them to go down, and they probably will - but not without a fight.

VALENCIA

Strength: The retention of their best players: David Villa, David Silva, Juan Mata and Joaquin.

Weakness: A new president, Manuel Llorente, has calmed the internal strife of the debt-ridden club - but off-field problems will no doubt plague Los Che throughout the season and they have been unable to add to their squad.

Star: David Villa - somehow the pocket rocket that is Villa will again turn out at the Mestalla next season in a World Cup year, and his goals will be crucial to their cause.

Player to watch: David Silva - the new president says that when Silva plays, Valencia play better - and the winger will again be fundamental.

Future star: Juan Mata - at 21 already a Spain international, the defender will fill the void left by Raul Albiol's move to Real Madrid.

Aim: A European spot - although a top-four finish will be difficult to achieve.

VILLARREAL

Strength: An attractive style of play which Ernesto Valverde should continue after Manuel Pellegrini left for Real, plus a familiar line-up.

Weakness: They don't have anything like the financial muscle of Real and Barca, their principal rivals, or even Sevilla.

Star: Marcos Senna - the Spain international holds the show together in midfield.

Player to watch: Diego Lopez - the third-choice Spain goalkeeper has improved year on year and is among the best in the world.

Future star: Jonathan Pereira - the lightning-quick striker has promised much since scoring two minutes into his debut in 2006. After two seasons on loan, his time has now arrived at the Yellow Submarine.

Aim: To qualify for the Champions League first and challenge for the title second.

ZARAGOZA

Strength: They have their tails up after returning to the top flight at the first attempt.

Weakness: The stars of the past are long-gone as the club have had to build a new team.

Star: Roberto Ayala - the veteran, now in his mid-thirties, is still a solid centre-half.

Player to watch: Jermaine Pennant - joined after Liverpool decided against offering him a new deal. How will the winger adapt in Spain?

Future star: Ivan Obradovic - Serbia left-back who joined from Partizan Belgrade.

Aim: Top half of the table.

Eurosport