The 2020-21 edition of the Spanish top-flight is set to start this weekend, and things could not be any hotter before the start of a new campaign.
Unfortunately for fans around the world, La Liga determined to give some extra resting days to Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético, Sevilla, Getafe, and Elche, which means that Matchday 1 in the Spanish Primera División will only have seven games being played this weekend.
Even with the absence of the three most popular Spanish teams, there are some interesting matches taking place this weekend, which is why we will give you all the information you need to keep track of all of them.
Team news - Who's in and who's out?
Athletic Club - Ibai Gómez (injured); Yuri, Peru Nolaskoain (doubtful).
Cádiz - Luismi Quezada, Jon Ander (injured); Alberto Perea (suspended).
Real Betis - Dani Martin, Victor Camarasa, Francis (injured); Juanmi (suspended); Antonio Sanabria, Víctor Ruiz (doubtful).
Real Sociedad - Asier Illarramendi, Ander Guevara, Luca Sangalli, Martín Merquelanz (injured); Willian José, David Silva, Joseba Zaldúa, Nacho Monreal (doubtful).
Valencia - Goncalo Guedes, Kevin Gameiro, Jasper Cillessen, Toni Lato (doubtful).
Villarreal - Alberto Moreno, Ramiro Guerra (injured); Carlos Bacca (doubtful).
Key stats ahead of Matchday 1
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Deportivo Alavés have failed to score in any of their last four home matches in La Liga.
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Cádiz will make their return to the Spanish Primera División after a 14-year absence.
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Real Sociedad are undefeated in 10 of their last 11 games against Real Valladolid in all comps.
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Real Betis have lost six of their last seven La Liga games away from home.
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Valencia will enter their clash against Levante on a 13-game streak without a loss.
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Huesca will try to end a seven-game streak without a win in La Liga when they visit Villarreal.
Player quotes ahead of Matchday 1
The game between Granada and Athletic Club was supposed to be the first to take place in La Liga this season, but a rift between Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish Football Federation, and La Liga's main man Javier Tebas, forced the game to be rescheduled until Saturday. This was not the best way to start a league that will be different in many ways, and some of Granada's top players are truly upset by this call, especially since they had to change their training habits before the game.
"I can't understand why the league and the federation are still talking about when we will have our first game. We had a plan and we had to change it two days before the game," Roberto Soldado stated.
