Bayern, Barca, Real, PSG, Juve... They're all back! Our lowdown to the season ahead in the big European leagues

Star turn: Barcelona have added the many talents of Brazilian Neymar to those of Lionel Messi (below)

Star turn: Barcelona have added the many talents of Brazilian Neymar to those of Lionel Messi (below)

 

The new season is upon us, with leagues the length and breadth across Europe getting underway over the next few weekends.

And to look forward to the nine months of action ahead, Sportsmail previews the top four continental divisions - Spain, Germany, Italy and France.

 

SPAIN

Last season’s champions: Barcelona
Champions League qualifiers: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad
Europa League qualifiers: Valencia, Real Betis, Sevilla
Newly promoted: Elche, Villarreal, Almeria

October 27 will be incredible. The first El Clasico of the season could potentially see the four best players in the world go head-to-head.

Even if Gareth Bale doesn’t get his dream world-record move to Real Madrid, the prospect of Neymar adding his talents to the ever-more-mouthwatering clash that is Barcelona v Real makes the game all the more tantalising.

The £50million Brazil star arriving from Santos will give Barcelona a frightening double-pronged attack with Lionel Messi, one which Real are hoping to top with Cristiano Ronaldo and Bale.

But despite the new addition, it remains to be seen how the champions will cope with another change of manager.

Tito Vilanova has unfortunately had to step down due to his ongoing cancer battle, making way for Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino.

The Argentine is a long-time advocate of the free-flowing passing style that has become synonymous with the Catalan giants and was Messi’s choice for the role, but he is still stepping into a new environment, and it’s far from a given the team will settle straight away.

The new Galacticos: Tottenham's Gareth Bale (below) is being eagerly pursued by Real Madrid, where he would play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in a potent attack

Concern over the hapless manner in which Barca went out of the Champions League to eventual winners Bayern could manifest themselves if the new boss doesn’t deliver immediately.

Only a fool would bet against Messi continuing to deliver, but Neymar’s mercurial talent could need time to adapt, while the pursuit of Chelsea’s David Luiz exposes a desperate need for a revamp in defence.

At Madrid, meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti is repeating his job at Chelsea by providing much-needed calm in the wake of Jose Mourinho’s storm.

Real were a basket case of a club last season as they dismantled under a bitter player revolt under Mourinho, but look to go into the season all-guns blazing - Bale or no Bale.

New men in charge: Carlo Ancelotti (left) and Gerardo Martino (right) have control of Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively

How much can be taken from an impressive pre-season win over their former boss at Chelsea is debatable, but Ronaldo certainly looks in top form, and with the midfield freshened up with the captures of Isco and Asier Illaremendi, and Ancelotti a serial league-winner, it’s hard to back against them. With the talent Madrid have, a team happy and on form is a frightening prospect.

Unfortunately for the rest of the league, while Real and Barca get stronger, the also-rans continue to be shorn of their brightest talents.

Atletico Madrid will be hoping the cut-price deal for David Villa and keeping hold of Diego Costa will compensate for losing Radamel Falcao, and Spurs’ purchase of Roberto Soldado won’t do Valencia any favours, while last year’s surprise package Real Sociedad’s loss of Illaremendi won’t help their chances in the league or Champions League play-offs.

Gone: Striker Roberto Soldado has moved from Valencia to Tottenham

Manchester City have been the main beneficiaries of turmoil at Sevilla in snapping up Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo, but keep an eye on Villarreal.

They bounced back from the second division at the first time of asking, and have spent decent money on players like Giovanni Dos Santos and Real Mallorca’s Tomas Pina to ensure their return to the top flight is with flying colours.

Top three buys: Neymar (Santos to Barcelona, £50million), Asier Illarramendi (Real Sociedad to Real Madrid, £34million), Isco (Malaga to Real Madrid, £23million)

Young talent: Oliver (Atletico Madrid) - Madrid’s second team may be reeling after the loss of Falcao, but their supporters will follow up the jubilation of their Copa del Rey success over hated rivals Real with excitement over the emergence of 18-year-old midfielder Oliver, the silky pass-master that threatened to break into the first-team last season. A Spanish U21 international, Simeone is well aware of his talents and it’s nailed on he will feature more than last term’s eight matches.

Predictions: Champions Real Madrid 2nd Barcelona 3rd Atletico Madrid

OPENING WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday August 17

Real Sociedad v Getafe
Valladolid v Athletic Bilbao
Valencia v Malaga

Sunday August 18

Barcelona v LevanteOsasuna v Granada

Real Madrid v Real Betis
Sevilla v Atletico Madrid

Monday August 19

Rayo Vallecano v Elche
Almeria v Villarreal
Celta Vigo v Espanyol

Television coverage in the UK

Sky Sports will continue their long-standing coverage of La Liga this season with as many as four live matches a weekend and regular highlights.

GERMANY

Last season's champions: Bayern Munich
Champions League qualifiers: Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Schalke
Europa League qualifiers: Freiburg, Eintracht Frankfurt, Stuttgart
Newly promoted: Hertha Berlin, Eintracht Braunschweig

How do you improve on perfection? That's the almighty challenge facing Pep Guardiola as he begins a new chapter at Bayern Munich.

Champions of Europe, champions of Germany and winners of the Cup - Jupp Heynckes set the bar pretty high when he walked off into the sunset and the expectations in Bavaria are that those achievements will not only be matched but achieved again in a better way.

Can it get any better? Bayern Munich won the Treble last season, including the European Cup at Wembley (above), setting a daunting task for incoming manager Pep Guardiola (below)

Accordingly, Guardiola will be scrutinised like never before - his team selections, his tactics, his style of play and his mastery of the German language will be placed under the microscope right from the first whistle against Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday evening.

Luckily, he has by far the best squad in the Bundesliga to inspire with his tiki-taka and with their summer acquisitions, the best have got better.

The poaching of Mario Gotze from principal rivals Borussia Dortmund stuck a colossal psychological blow, though Jurgen Klopp has managed to cling on to Robert Lewandowski despite a move south looking inevitable.

Strong addition: Bayern have strengthened with the purchase of Thiago Alcantara from Barcelona this summer.

 

There are also great hopes surrounding young Spaniard Thiago Alcantara, with the appeal of playing once again under Guardiola persuading him to join Bayern over Manchester United.

What's more, the average age of the Bayern squad is just 25, suggesting Guardiola will seek to build the kind of all-conquering dynasty he crafted at Barcelona.

Should Bayern falter, then Dortmund are best placed to capitalise. Klopp's team produced some beguiling football at home and abroad last season, yet ended potless.

So near but so far: Jurgen Klopp's Borussia Dortmund side were runners-up in both the Champions League and Bundesliga last season

First blow: Dortmund beat Bayern Munich 4-2 to win the Super Cup last month, suggesting the Treble winners won't have it all their own way.

The additions of Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Shakhtar Donetsk and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Saint-Etienne have added a bit more depth but Klopp has already admitted ruefully that Bayern have 'the most exceptional squad in the world.'

Still, as Dortmund showed in the recent Super Cup, Bayern can be beaten through sheer hard graft and iron clad team spirit - precisely Klopp's forte.

The usual suspects will push for the Champions League - Bayer Leverkusen will need Stefan Kiessling to replicate his 25 goals of last season, particularly since Andre Schurrle has gone to Chelsea.

Prolific: Bayer Leverkusen will want star striker Stefan Kiessling (centre) to replicate his 25 goals of last season.

Schalke look good up top with winger Christian Clemens coming in from Cologne to augment the attacking threat of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Julian Draxler.

Clubs that were once perennial European qualifiers like Hamburg, Werder Bremen and Stuttgart may again find themselves usurped by more ambitious rivals like Wolfsburg, Eintracht Frankfurt and Hannover.

Another big name from the past, Hertha Berlin, are back from the second tier and will be hoping to re-establish themselves, while Eintracht Braunschweig, back after 30 years away, will just want to stay in what has become Europe's pre-eminent league.

Danger man: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar leads a strong Schalke attack as they try to qualify for the Champions League again.

Top three buys: Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich, £32.5m); Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Shakhtar Donetsk to Borussia Dortmund, £24.2m); Thiago Alcantara (Barcelona to Bayern Munich, £22m)

Young talent: Leonardo Bittencourt (Hannover) - 19-year-old midfielder who will be given a chance to spread his wings and show his potential at Hannover after moving from Borussia Dortmund, where first-team opportunities had been limited by a surfeit of world class midfielders.

Prediction: Champions Bayern Munich 2nd Borussia Dortmund 3rd Schalke

OPENING WEEKEND FIXTURES

Friday August 9
Bayern Munich v Borussia Moenchengladbach (7.30pm) ESPN

Saturday August 10 (2.30pm unless stated)

Bayer Leverkusen v Freiburg
Hannover v Wolfsburg
Hoffenheim v Nuremburg

Augsburg v Borussia Dortmund
Hertha Berlin v Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Braunschweig v Werder Bremen (5.30pm) ESPN

Sunday August 11

Mainz v Stuttgart (2.30pm) BT Sport 1
Schalke v Hamburg (4.30pm) BT Sport 1

Television coverage in the UK

Up to four matches from each Bundesliga weekend will be screened live on BT Sport and ESPN. ITV4 will have a hour-length highlights programme every Monday night at 10pm.

ITALY

Last Season’s champions: Juventus
Champions League qualifiers: Napoli, AC Milan
Europa League qualifiers: Fiorentina, Udinese, Lazio
Newly-promoted: Sassulolo, Hellas Verona, Livorno

Italian football has been on the down-turn for the last few years, embroiled in a misery of match-fixing controversy and poor European displays while watching the German Bundesliga become the toast of the continent.

That could all change this season, as Italy’s top teams have strengthened and the optimism for the season ahead looks to have breathed life into poor old Serie A.

New arrival: Carlos Tevez has joined Juventus from Manchester City.

Napoli have been at the forefront of the change. Last season’s runners-up, despite losing star man Edinson Cavani, have secured the services of Rafa Benitez as manager, beat Arsenal to the signing of Gonzalo Higuain and snapped up Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina in a surprise loan deal.

Away from moves involving English teams, with the additions of Belgian winger Dries Mertens from PSV and two Real Madrid players following Higuain in Jose Callejon and Raul Albiol, Benitez has considerable talent at his disposal, with the nest chance to return the Scudetto to Naples since 1990 and the halcyon days of Diego Maradona.

Title chance: Napoli are one of the favourites for the Serie A title this season and bolstered their attack by signing Gonzalo Higuain from Real Madrid.

Such bolstering will worry last year’s runaway winners Juventus, but they’ve made improvements of their own. A new-look attack comprising of a cut-price Carlos Tevez from Manchester City and the free transfer of Athletic Bilbao hitman Fernando Llorente will have even the sternest Serie A defence quaking.

Add to that the £11million capture of highly-rated Torino defender Angelo Ogbonna, and Antonio Conte’s men - along with Napoli - could at last return Italy to the business end of the Champions League.

It’s not just the top two who have strengthened up front. Pep Guardiola’s arrival at Bayern Munich has seen the prolific Mario Gomez arrive at Fiorentina for £13million. Never the most technically gifted striker, but he’s a real handful upfront with an almost unrivalled eye for goal.

Handful: Fiorentina's new signing Mario Gomez in action against Villarreal during a pre-season friendly.

If he starts in good form, it could see La Viola as dark horses for the title and Gomez as one of the relative bargains of the season.

Watch out for Roma, too. With the purchase of PSV’s midfielder Kevin Strootman and defender Medhi Benatia from league rivals Udinese - and the hope for continued good from from Erik Lamela and the evergreen Francesco Totti - they’re on a determined drive for the Champions League places.

Stopping them will be AC Milan. If the partnership between the always-controversial Mario Balotelli and hotly-tipped Stephan El Shaarawy blossoms, they won’t be left out of any discussion for the title.

Right at home: Mario Balotelli will be hoping to continue the good form at AC Milan he showed in the second half of last season after moving from Manchester City.

Expect some tasty match-ups too. For the first time in Serie A history, there will be five derbies among teams of the same city: Milan (Internazionale and Milan), Turin (Juventus and Torino), Rome (Lazio and Roma), Genoa (Genoa and Sampdoria) and Verona (Chievo and Hellas Verona).

Top three buys: Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid to Napoli, £32million), Kevin Strootman (PSV to Roma, £14.5million), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich, £13million)

Young talent: Paul Pogba (Juventus) - As Manchester United gear up for a first season in a brave new era under David Moyes, they must be kicking themselves over letting Pogba go. The 20-year-old French international’s demands for first-team football were obviously justified, as the midfielder has become a key man for champions Juve.

Prediction: Champions Napoli 2nd Juventus 3rd Fiorentina

OPENING WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday August 24

Verona v AC Milan
Sampdoria v Juventus
Sunday August 25
Inter Milan v Genoa
Livorno v Roma

Torino v Sassuolo
Lazio v Udinese
Fiorentina v Catania
Parma v Chievo
Cagliari v Atalanta
Napoli v Bologna

Television coverage in the UK

BT Sport will show regular matches from Serie A and the Coppa Italia.

FRANCE

Last season's champions: Paris Saint-Germain
Champions League qualifiers: Marseille, Lyon
Europa League qualifiers: Nice, Saint-Etienne, Bordeaux
Newly promoted: Monaco, Guingamp, Nantes

You have to feel a little sorry for the other 18 teams that will line up alongside Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco in Ligue 1 this coming season.

These two cash-soaked clubs threaten to turn the French league into a duopoly for years to come and have entered into an arms race that the impending Financial Fair Play regulations are far more likely to halt than any of their competitors.

Arms race: Monaco and PSG have both spent big in their pursuit of the title, with Monaco buying Radamel Falcao for £53m and PSG getting Edinson Cavani (below) for £55m

Monaco, newly promoted from the second division and bankrolled by Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev, spent £53million on Radamel Falcao as a mammoth statement of intent.

So PSG, the reigning champions bankrolled by the Qatari Nasser Al-Khelaifi, went out the next week and spent £55million on Napoli's Edinson Cavani.

It's tit-for-tat warfare and the rest, especially the once-dominant Lyon, must look on is despair.

Claudio Ranieri at Monaco has also raided Porto for Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez, allowing him to put together a team that is certainly capable of sustaining a title challenge.

Talent: Monaco have also signed midfielder James Rodriguez from Porto.

 

But man for man, PSG just look the stronger. While Monaco will rely greatly on Falcao, the Parisians have not only Cavani, but the irrepressible Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

The rest of the side isn't bad either, with Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Jeremy Menez, Thiago Motta, Javier Pastore and Lucas Moura offering star quality.

The one thing that might work against them is the lukewarm reception that greeted new coach Laurent Blanc following Carlo Ancelotti's departure to real Madrid.

Managerial merry-go-round: The arrival of Laurent Blanc at PSG is one of a number of Ligue 1 dug-out changes.

Below this expensive title dogfight, Lyon, Marseille and Nice will be going for the third and final Champions League spot but it's doubtful they possess the capability to keep up.

It's been underlined by a quiet transfer market in which Marseille's buy of Lille winger Dimitri Payet for £8.8million was about as exciting as it got.

By contrast, there has been something of a managerial merry-go-round and not only at PSG.

Lille drafted in Rene Girard to replace Roma-bound Rudi Garcia, journeyman Jean Fernandez comes in at Montpellier, Philippe Montanier joins Rennes from Real Sociedad and former Middlesbrough favourite Fabrizio Ravanelli has taken the reins at Ajaccio.

Remember me? Former Middlesbrough player Fabrizio Ravanelli is now in charge of Ajaccio.

Top three buys: Edinson Cavani (Napoli to Paris Saint-Germain, £55m); Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid to Monaco, £53m); James Rodriguez (Porto to Monaco, £39.6m)

Young talent: Gilbert 'Gianelli' Imbula (Marseille) - Young Belgian-born defensive midfielder who has just joined Marseille from Guingamp for £6.6million. Chelsea were reportedly interested in signing him but he opted for Elie Baup's side.

Prediction: Champions Paris Saint-Germain 2nd Monaco 3rd Marseille

OPENING WEEKEND FIXTURES

Friday August 9

Montpellier v Paris Saint-Germain (7.30pm)

Saturday August 10 ( All 8pm)

Bordeaux v Monaco BT Sport 2
Evian v Sochaux
Lille v Lorient

Lyon v Nice
Nantes v Bastia
Rennes v Reims
Valenciennes v Toulouse

Sunday August 11

Ajaccio v St Etienne (4pm) BT Sport 1
Guingamp v Marseille (8pm) BT Sport 1

Television coverage in the UK

Matches will be shown live each weekend on BT Sport this season.