Pundits invariably fall back on the events of the previous season when making their predictions for the new term ahead. The problem confronting La Liga watchers, however, is that 2006/07 threw up so many twists and turns that nothing should be taken for granted this time out.
League champions Real Madrid looked out for the count back in March only to produce an irresistible late title surge, while perennial top-flighters Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad set their sights on top-half finishes only to slide inexorably towards relegation.
And as the title holders and bitter city rivals Atletico Madrid limber up for Saturday's curtain-raising derby, prudence would appear to be the watchword for anyone daring to foretell what lies ahead.
Uncertainty dogs Schuster
Fabio Capello did exactly what was asked of him last year. He called time on Real Madrid's Galácticos and, against all the odds, secured the club's 30th league title into the bargain. It was a rocky path, however, with coach Capello finding his selection decisions and tactics questioned at every turn, and despite bringing the Merengue trophy drought to a long-awaited end, the Italian was told to pack his bags when the partying was over.
Promptly installed as his replacement was Bernd Schuster, and the German certainly seems to have plenty to occupy his thoughts as he settles in. Seven pre-season defeats are far too many for a team with designs on rubber stamping their domestic supremacy, with the alarm bells going up a pitch or two in recent days following two Spanish Super Cup reverses to Sevilla, the second of them a humiliating 5-3 loss in the return leg at the Bernabeu.
Although considerable sums were splashed out on Pepe, Christoph Metzelder, Javier Saviola, Wesley Sneijder and Rostjon Drenthe in the close season, the question marks hanging over the depth of the squad remain. The arrival of Argentinian defender Gabriel Heinze and flying Dutch winger Arjen Robben has gone some way to alleviating those fears, but it remains to be seen whether they are the answer to Schuster's troubles.
Barça's 'fantastic four'
Perhaps mindful of the curse that the Galáctico tag brought on Madrid, Barcelona hotshot Samuel Eto'o has expressed his disquiet at the 'fantastic four' nickname being given to the quartet formed by himself, Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and summertime signing Thierry Henry.
Whatever the Cameroonian's concerns, the fact is that coach Frank Rijkaard seems to be holding all the aces as the start of the season nears. With bright young things Giovani dos Santos, a spectacular success on Barcelona's pre-season travels, and Bojan Krkic waiting in the wings, the Dutchman has even more tricks up his sleeve and is entitled to fancy his chances of landing the title once more.
Having successfully negotiated the summer tour of Asia - a point of conflict between the players and the board - the hardest tasks facing Rijkaard are to keep his stable of thoroughbreds happy and to avoid a resurgence of the seeming over-confidence and questionable work rate that scuppered their title bid last time out.
After picking up five trophies in the last 15 months, Sevilla have high hopes of launching a serious challenge of their own. Juande Ramos's compact, well-drilled unit have gone from being surprise packages to genuine contenders thanks to tactical discipline, an ability to produce free-flowing football almost at will and a spirit of togetherness in the dressing room.
The youthful vitality of Jesus Navas and Mariano Puerta, the experience of Luis Fabiano, Kanoute and Javi Navarro, and the reflexes of Andres Palop, should make the Andalusians compulsive viewing in a season that also sees them tackle the UEFA Champions League for the very first time.
Spanish spine at Los Che
Valencia fans are still wondering what might have been had a spate of serious injuries not wrecked their chances in 2006/07. In crafting a team with a distinctly Spanish flavour, coach Quique Sanchez Flores has put the accent very much on quality and style. Remaining faithful to his recruitment policy, he has drafted in yet more rising domestic talents, most notably Alexis and Spain U-20 internationals Juan Manuel Mata and Sunny.
The new-look Atletico Madrid also deserve a mention in dispatches. Diego Forlan, Simao Sabrosa, Luis and Raul Garcia have just checked in at the Vicente Calderon to bolster a squad that manager Javier Aguirre believes can hit the heights. The departure of Rojiblanco hero Fernando Torres to Liverpool marks the beginning of a fresh chapter at a club famed for its unpredictability. With the directors having spared no expense in overhauling the squad, nothing less than a place in Europe will do.
UEFA Cup representatives Zaragoza, Villarreal and Getafe, who have appointed Michael Laudrup to fill the void left by Schuster, seem to be the teams best equipped to trade blows with the big boys. Over in Bilbao, meanwhile, newly appointed Athletic boss Joaquin Caparros has the brief of reviving a proud club that narrowly avoided the drop last term. Fellow sleeping giants Real Betis have handed Argentinian coach Hector Cuper much the same task after a similarly heart-stopping flirtation with relegation.
The new kids on the block are Murcia, Valladolid and Almeria, and like all recently promoted outfits survival will be the name of the game. A fine example for them to follow is Recreativo Huelva, and after just missing out on a UEFA Cup slot and having stayed afloat in the top tier for two consecutive seasons for the first time in their long history, Spain's oldest club side hope to keep the dream alive.
Rounding off the list of runners and riders in a race with no clear favourites are Deportivo La Coruna, who have been bolstered by the signing of Mexico's Andres Guardado, Racing Santander, now minus totemic striker Nicola Zigic, and last but certainly not least, Levante and Osasuna.
