Barcelona FC: Favorites To Win Spanish Primera Liga Championships

Oddsmakers are saying that Spanish Primera Liga giants Barcelona FC are the favorites to win the La Liga Championships this upcoming 2007-08 season. Barcelona is being given 4/5 odds as compared to 3/2 odds for current La Liga Champions Real Madrid.

There are a number of things to consider why the odds are favoring Barcelona instead or Real Madrid. One of the more noticable factors is that Real Madrid just recently gave up the services of David Beckham, who is now with US Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy. Beckham was very influential in Real Madrid’s success towards the end of the season when the race for the championship was closely contested by Barcelona. Former Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello sidelined the English superstar when news of his departure for Los Angeles were imminent. Wihtout Beckham, the Real Madrid side struggled, and the championship seemed to slip away from their grasp. However, Real Madrid’s squad protested to Capello, and Beckham was put back in the pitch, which resulted in a better performance from the team, and a record 30th Spanish La Liga Championship trophy. Now that Real Madrid is without Beckham, maybe oddsmakers see it as a weakening in the Los Galacticos side.

Favoring Barcelona’s cause for a championship is one of the biggest headlines in football, which is essentially the transfer of French superstar striker Thierry Henry from English club Arsenal FC. There is no doubt about the capabilities of Thierry Henry in producing goals, who has around 200 plus throughout his colorful career. The French international will be sharing offensive chores with some of the biggest superstars of the sport, such as Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o. Together — football fans have dubbed them as The Fantastic Four. Of course, there are other factors to be considered, but these big headlines seem to be the fuel for the oddsmakers.

In my opinion, I admire Barcelona FC. This Catalan club never ever put a sponsor’s logo on their jersey, and are probably the only club in the world that doesn’t follow that practice. In fact, the only time they ever put a logo in their uniform is this season, and they are using the logo of UNICEF. It’s not because UNICEF is sponsoring them, but it’s the other way around. UNICEF receives charity from Barcelona FC profits. In my book, that makes Barca real cool.

But of course what’s really impressive is the Barcelona FC roster. Apart from The Fantastic Four, they have other big names like Luis Deco, Gianluca Zambrotta, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Andres Iniesta, Lilian Thuram, Eric Abidal, Edmilson and new sensation Giovanni Dos Santos. With big experienced football names like these, there is no doubt that Barca coach Frank Rijkaard can look forward to a winning season. Certainly, The Fantastic Four of Henry, Ronaldinho, Eto’o and Messi can rack up some big numbers in the Goals Scored column, but then that doesn’t mean that there won’t be a huge number in the Goals Against column.

Let’s dissect Rijkaard’s migraine. Let’s say that Barcelona go up against Real Madrid in the El Classico, the biggest most-important and highly-publicized match in the Spanish La Liga, probably even in the world. Now, who does Rijkaard start? If the Dutch manager starts The Fantastic Four, will they be able to rush back to defend the Barca goal once the Los Merengues break away for a counter-attack? Now, let’s imagine that Rijkaard will balance things out and he opts to sit down someone or sometwo of The Fantastic Four — who sits out, or who starts on bench?

Leave Thierry Henry out of the starting eleven, and there will be criticism on why one of the biggest headlines transfers isn’t on the pitch in the biggest game of the Spanish league. Besides, Thierry Henry is set to make this his comeback season, and is pushing himself to be at top form after he sat in the sidelines for Arsenal throughout most of the season due to injuries. Sit out the Argentinian striker Leo Messi, and there will be criticism on why Rijkaard would leave out the most consistent goal scorer for Barca, and not to mention one of the most scorching goal-scoring streaks in the Spanish league. Sit out Brazilian sensation Ronaldinho, and pretty soon rumors will surface about secret trade talks with AC Milan, Inter Milan or even Manchester United. Sit out Cameroon international Samuel Eto’o, and we might see Eto’o lashing out again at Rijkaard like he did last season. And then, there’s the rising star of Giovanni Dos Santos, but I don’t think his contract with Barcelona gives him such a big voice on whether or not he should start. Besides, he’s still young.

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see when the Spanish Primera Liga kicks off its opening matchday next Sunday, August 26. On opening matchday, Barcelona FC will be visiting the El Sardinero Stadium to play against the home side of Racing Santander. All in all, if Barcelona FC racks up a lot wins, then I suppose football fans and critics will keep quiet. If they end up at the top of the Spanish League, then I can hear the oddsmakers say — “I told you so!”

For more odds on the Spanish Primera Liga, click here.