Real changes fire up Barca and Atletico

BARCELONA: Change is in the air as the new La Liga season begins on Friday without one of its most emblematic players, Cristiano Ronaldo, and with video technology (VAR) being introduced for the first time in Spain’s top flight.

Ronaldo’s departure from Real Madrid to Serie A giants Juventus deprives Madrid of one of their best players ever and ends the compelling rivalry between the prolific Portuguese striker and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.

Madrid must not only cope without the man who scored 451 goals for them in all competitions, they must also adapt to life without hugely popular coach Zinedine Zidane, who walked out after winning a remarkable third Champions League triumph.

Real’s new coach Julen Lopetegui faces a mammoth task in following Zidane.

Real have yet to reinvest the e105m they received for Ronaldo with their biggest signing of the close season Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois

Lopetegui looks set to make Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio his leading forwards this campaign.

The huge changes at the Santiago Bernabeu should play into the hands of last year’s champions Barcelona, who swept to a Liga and Copa del Rey double and finished a staggering 17 points clear of Madrid.

Barca have adjustments of their own to make, however, with Andres Iniesta having left after 16 silverware-filled seasons to see out his career in Japan. Coach Ernesto Valverde has replenished the midfield by adding Brazilian duo Arthur Melo and Malcom and the highly experienced yet volatile Chile international Arturo Vidal.

The upheaval at Real Madrid also boosts the hopes of last year’s runners-up Atletico Madrid’s that they could repeat their unlikely title triumph of 2014.

Atletico have had a busy transfer window in signing electric French winger Thomas Lemar for a club-record e65m and adding Colombia international Santiago Arias and Portugal’s Gelson Martins.

Diego Simeone’s side have lost influential dressing-room figures Gabi Fernandez and Fernando Torres but, crucially, they have clung on to top scorer Antoine Griezmann.

The introduction of VAR will put to the test the idea that Spanish referees give more favourable decisions to the biggest clubs.

“It will make this sport a little more fair,” said Barcelona defender Gerard Pique.

“I’ve been in favour of it for a long time. There will still be lots of controversy because we love controversy in this country, but it will decrease. It will help referees.” – Reuters