The dawn of a new season is upon us. LaLiga 2022-23 is starting next Friday, Aug. 12, and it's time to share with the world what our sharpest minds are predicting for the campaign ahead.
Will Real Madrid be able to retain the title? Did near-bankrupt Barcelona pull enough levers and magical financial tricks to challenge Los Merengues? Is there anyone else around? Questions, questions and more questions.
To go to the point, these are the categories we're predicting:
- Champion
- Top Four
- Top Scorer
- Best Signing
- Biggest Surprise
- Biggest Disappointment
- Best Concacaf Player
- First Coach Fired
- Bottom 3
- Who is going to do better in El Clasico
LaLiga Predictions 2022-23
Here we are listing the predictions of 10 of our staffers for the upcoming season.
Colby Conetta (Sales Support)
- Champion: Barcelona
- Top Four: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Real Betis
- Top Scorer: Robert Lewandowski (provided Barça can pay him)
- Best Signing: Robert Lewandowski
- Biggest Surprise: Girona (City Football Group $$$$)
- Biggest Disappointment: Villarreal lose their magic
- Best Concacaf Player: Yunus Musah (not biased at all)
- First Coach Fired: Julen Lopetegui
- Bottom 3: Getafe, Espanyol, Almería
- Who is going to do better in El Clasico? Barcelona (draw at Bernabeu, win at Camp Nou)
Giancarlo Cornejo (Writing Intern)
- Champion: Real Madrid
- Top Four: Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla
- Top Scorer: Karim Benzema
- Best Signing: Takefusa Kubo and Raphinha
- Biggest Surprise: João Felix
- Biggest Disappointment: Barcelona
- Best Concacaf Player: Tecatito Corona
- First Coach Fired: Sergio González, Cadiz
- Bottom 3: Cadíz, Girona, Getafe
- Who is going to do better in El Clásico? Whoever's coach raises their eyebrow higher.
Connor Fleming (Writer)
- Champion: Real Madrid
- Top Four: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético, Real Sociedad
- Top Scorer: Robert Lewandowski
- Best Signing: Lewandowski
- Biggest Surprise: Real Sociedad returns to the UCL for the first time in a decade.
- Biggest Disappointment: Raphinha — he'll suffer a dip in form, take a spot on the bench, get lost in the attacking rotation and then be "open to offers" next summer.
- Best Concacaf Player: Yunus Musah
- First Coach Fired: Pacheta (Valladolid)
- Bottom 3: Valladolid, Cádiz, Girona
- Who is going to do better in El Clásico? Real Madrid
Mariel McCown (Video Producer)
- Champion: Barcelona
- Top Four: Barcelona, Atletico, Real Madrid, Sevilla
- Top Scorer: Vini Jr
- Best Signing: Lewa
- Biggest Surprise: Raphina
- Biggest Disappointment: Kounde
- Best Concacaf Player: Musah
- First Coach Fired: Osasuna
- Bottom 3: Cadiz, Elche, Almería
- Who is going to do better in El Clásico? Barca
David Moore (Writer)
- Champion: Barcelona
- Top Four: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Real Sociedad
- Top Scorer: Robert Lewandowski
- Best Signing: Robert Lewandowski
- Biggest Surprise: Eden Hazard has a good season
- Biggest disappointment: Valencia does super bad. Not relegated, but pretty close.
- Best Concacaf player: Luca de la Torre
- First Coach Fired: Gennaro Gattuso
- Bottom 3: 18. Mallorca 19. Almeria 20. Valladolid
- Who is going to do better in El Clásico? Split. Barca wins one, Real wins one.
Joseph Reina (Writing Intern)
- Champion: Real Madrid
- Top Four: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Villareal
- Top Scorer: Benzema
- Best Signing: Tchouaméni
- Biggest Surprise: Girona FC
- Biggest Disappointment: Real Betis
- Best Concacaf Player: Tecatito or Musah
- First Coach Fired: Jagoba Arrasate
- Bottom 3: Cadiz, Mallorca, Real Valladolid
- Who is going to do better in El Clasico? Split, each wins one
Adam Snow (Writing Intern)
- Champion: Real Madrid
- Top Four: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Real Betis
- Top Scorer: Karim Benzema
- Best Signing: Franck Kessie to Barça on a free
- Biggest Surprise: Girona
- Biggest Disappointment: Player – Raphinha; Team – Villareal
- Best Concacaf Player: Luca de la Torre
- First Coach Fired: Francisco Rodríguez, Elche
- Bottom 3: Elche, Cádiz, Valladolid
- Who is going to do better in El Clasico? Both teams will win at home, Madrid will top the standings
Travis Yoesting (Writer)
- Champion: Barcelona
- Top Four: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Villarreal, Atlético Madrid
- Top Scorer: Karim Benzema, Real Madrid
- Best Signing: Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona
- Biggest Surprise: Xavi completes Barcelona's return to the top
- Biggest Disappointment: Raphinha struggles at Barça
- Best Concacaf Player: Yunus Musah, Valencia
- First Coach Fired: Javier Aguirre, Mallorca
- Bottom 3: Mallorca, Girona, Cádiz
- Who is going to do better in El Clásico? Real Madrid wins the series, Barcelona finishes higher in the table
Luis Vidal (Writer)
- Champion: Barcelona
- Top Four: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Real Betis, Atlético de Madrid
- Top Scorer: Karim Benzema, Real Madrid
- Best Signing: Raphinha, Barcelona
- Biggest Surprise: Real Betis and its new player Luiz Henrique
- Biggest Disappointment: Atlético de Madrid
- Best Concacaf Player: Yunus Musah, Valencia
- First Coach Fired: Pacheta, Real Valladolid
- Bottom 3: Almería, Cádiz, Elche
- Who is going to do better in El Clásico? Barcelona
Bianca Coca (Video Producer)
- Champion: Barcelona
- Top Four: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Real Betis
- Top Scorer: Karim Benzema
- Best Signing: Dani Alves at Pumas UNAM (I googled this)
- Biggest Surprise: Athletic Club wins it all
- Biggest Disappointment: Real Madrid doesn't make the top 4
- Best Concacaf Player: Yunus Musah
- First Coach Fired: Gennaro Gattuso
- Bottom 3: Cadiz, Levante, Alaves
- Who is going to do better in El Clásico? Real Madrid