After four weeks of scintillating football the 2022 World Cup is all but over and when the final concludes on Sunday our attention will turn to domestic matters and, hey, there is plenty to look forward to.
Europe’s top leagues are set to reconvene and there are some fascinating situations to return to. In England, Arsenal have opened up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League, while Napoli’s lead in Serie A stretched to eight. FC Bayern are leading the Bundesliga and Paris Saint Germain are pulling away at the top of Ligue 1.
And the La Liga title race is bubbling up nicely, with Xavi’s Barcelona leading the way at the top of the table and El Clasico rivals Real Madrid two points behind, while Atleti are way off the pace, in fifth place and a full 13 points of the pace. With Real Sociedad in third, and nine points behind Los Blancos, it already looks like a two-horse race between La Liga’s most successful clubs.
So buckle up and let’s get ready to go again, and there will be plenty of stars getting fans off their seats as the title race gathers pace: the attacking players make the big plays that decide the games, and here are five who are sure to hit our screens over the next five months.
Robert Lewandowski – Barcelona
The latest La Liga 2022 betting odds have installed Barcelona as the outright favourites to win the title and that would mean the big call to bring Robert Lewandowski to the Camp Nou has paid off handsomely. Barca last won La Liga in 2019, and has since watched Real Madrid win in 2020 and 2020 while Atleti picked up the title in 2021. Los Blancos will undoubtedly push the Catalans all the way but this year it is Barcelona’s title to lose.
Lewi was sent off early on in Barcelona’s pre –World Cup win over Osasuna. But the Blaugrana went on to win and, while he will miss out on the derby with Espanyol on the resumption, with 13 goals from 14 games so far the Polish hitman is sure to make up for lost time.
Federico Valverde – Real Madrid
Uruguayan winger Valverde is having his best ever La Liga season having been challenged by head coach Carlo Ancelotti to score more goals. And how he has responded, having scored five in his first four seasons at the club, he has already bagged six this season and made two assists. He impressed for Uruguay at the World Cup and Valverde is ready to link up with Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo back in Madrid.
Antoine Griezmann – Atletico Madrid
France forward Griezmann is back to his best having returned from Barcelona to the Wanda Metropolitano and he has been one of the stand-out players in Qatar over the past four weeks. He has a chance to cement his reputation as one of the world’s best players in the World Cup final on Sunday as France aim to make it back-to-back world crowns, while Lionel Messi hopes to lead Argentina to long awaited glory. And if Griezmann brings his World Cup form back to Madrid then Los Rojiblancos can be confident of a better second half of the campaign.
Inaki Williiams – Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao are currently in the sought after fourth place and it looks like a four way battle for two Champions League spots, also involving Real Betis alongside Sociedad and Atletico. The Basque club is as well placed as any and they are relying again of one of their most established stars, Inaki Williams, who has been at the San Mames since 2014. With five goals and an assist this term the Ghana star is still the main man in Bilbao’s attacking unit and Los Leones will be counting on him to stay fit and firing until May.
Edinson Cavani – Valencia
Los Ches are in mid table with 19 points from 14 games; five wins, four draws and five defeats and, with five points to make up to a European place they need to find some consistency over the second half of the campaign. One man they can rely on is another Uruguayan striker, Edinson Cavani. The legendary goal scorer was incensed when his national team exited the World Cup, toppling a VAR screen in his anger at the referee’s performance in their final match, and Valencia will rely on his fire and passion back in Spain.
After a stint at Manchester United Cavani has moved back to the continent and seems happier in the warmer weather. Valencia fans will hope he is in red hot form on his return.
The SBOTOP team are ready and raring to kick off the new La Liga season and we’ll be watching these five players closely – we’ll get more than enough La Liga 2022 highlights from these boys!
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