Our brainy chums at chickendinner are backing Los Blancos

Once the sangria induced hangovers have cleared and the memory of Luis Aragones’ bumps torment is hazy, Spain’s footballing fraternity will have to stop basking in their Euro 2008 glory and look forward to kicking lumps out of each other in the new La Liga season. Because they care so much, here’s chickendinner’s guide to just about everything that’s going to happen in the sun-drenched nation…

» Real Madrid have secured successive La Liga titles but not since 1990-1994 (Barcelona) have any Primera Liga side managed to retain the championship three years in a row. However, the last time Real Madrid won consecutive league titles, they went on to win five in succession - 1985-1990.

» Celta Vigo finished sixth in 2005/06 and were relegated the very next season. Real Zaragoza ended the 2006/07 season in sixth position and also found themselves relegated a year later. That spells bad news for Racing Santander who were this year’s sixth placed side.

» In four of the past five seasons, the side that finished fourth in La Liga went on to struggle in the next campaign, finishing tenth or lower and on one occasion being relegated. Atletico Madrid may be in for a long season.

» Only two of the last ten runners up in La Liga have gone on to secure the title the following season - Villarreal were last year’s unlucky losers.

» In the last ten seasons, only one side has ever finished third and secured the league title in their next campaign. On six occasions the third placed team have finished outside the top four the following season - another disappointing season in store for Barcelona then.

» In the last five seasons, at least one of the three promoted teams have been relegated. In 2004/05 and 2005/06 two of the three La Liga newcomers finished in the bottom three.

» It’s not all bad news for the promoted trio. In each of the last three seasons, one of the three have finished in the top eight, on one occasion as high as sixth. So there will be something to cheer for either Numancia, Málaga CF or Sporting de Gijón.

» In both of the last two seasons, one of the promoted sides has finished eighth, another fifteenth and the third in the bottom three.

» Who do you think is going to win the Premier League? Since 2000-01, whenever Manchester United have won the Premier League, Real Madrid have won La Liga, whenever Chelsea have won the Premier League, Barcelona have won La Liga and whenever Arsenal have won the Premier League, Valencia have won La Liga.

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