The new LaLiga season begins on Friday with defending champion Barcelona heading north to play Athletic Bilbao at the San Mamés. Last year, Barça cantered to the title by an 11-point margin over second-place Atlético while Real Madrid finished 19 points back. However, the La Liga preview 2019/20 sees the challengers refreshed and reloaded with the likes of Eden Hazard and João Félix ready to come at the king.
The transfer window looms for the Premier League clubs, and time is ticking for some huge deals that are still on the table. While sales can still happen until late August, all Premier League acquisitions must be finalized by Aug. 8 by 5 p.m. Here are some of the Premier League transfer rumors still on the table as the end of the window nears.
Kieran Tierney — Arsenal
The Camp Nou was just over half full on Sunday as Barcelona — already confirmed league champion — hosted Getafe in the penultimate game of the LaLiga season. Ernesto Valverde named a strong lineup for the meaningless match, giving the 57,000 in attendance the chance to voice their displeasure at the capitulation the team suffered last Tuesday at Anfield.
Barcelona maintained its five-point lead at the top of LaLiga with a comfortable 3-0 win over Eibar at the Camp Nou on Sunday. Luis Suarez opened the scoring for the hosts after a wonderful interchange with Philippe Coutinho, and then Suarez turned provider for Barca’s second, finished by Lionel Messi — his 400th league goal for the club.
Barca’s third was Suarez’s second of the game after a quick Sergi Roberto throw-in found Eibar’s defense asleep.
Bayern Munich is by far the most successful club in Germany and one of the richest. Its power in the transfer market is hard to contend with, evidenced by its constant trophy haul every year.
Munich’s big club (sorry 1860 Munich fans) doesn’t seem to be letting up in its chase for trophies, although this season the club has struggled under new manager Niko Kovac.
Since 2013, the CIES Football Observatory has annually been releasing a list of the top 100 valued footballers from Europe’s “Big-5” leagues. It’s a fascinating concept because rather than just saying “Messi is the best, he’s No. 1. Ronaldo is second-best, he’s No.
The match was always going to be a draw — that would put Barcelona on the cusp of passage to the Round of 16, and that would be enough for Internazionale to put Tottenham firmly in the rearview mirror.
And so it was a draw.
Inter constantly put nine defenders behind the ball, leaving Mauro Icardi to halfheartedly pressure Gerard Pique while Radja Nainggolan played the role of attacking midfielder in name only, but things didn’t go exactly to plan for Luciano Spalletti's men.
Barcelona vs. Real Madrid | Camp Nou
Sunday, October 28, 2018 | 11:15 a.m. ET
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