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MADRID, Aug. 15-- Real Madrid and FC Barcelona will once again be the big favorites for the title when Spain's Liga Santander kicks off at the weekend with Real Madrid currently at an advantage over their historic rivals. Real Madrid go into the new season as reigning Spanish and European champions and at the moment look to have a much more competitive squad than Barcelona, who are paying the price for a lack of proper pre-season planning over a period of years. Barca have failed to replace key players (Xavi, Neymar and Dani Alves) and allowed others to grow older (Iniesta and Mascherano and even Busquets and Pique) with no substitutes, while Madrid have sought young talent such as Theo Hernandez, Dani Ceballos, Marcos Asensio to give themselves a squad that on paper looks to be talented, deep and balanced and able to withstand the rigors of a long season in Spain and in Europe. While Cristiano Ronaldo is getting older and less mobile, he is still a devastating finisher and he now appears to understand the need to rest in order to retain his peak form. Zinedine Zidane's preference for a four-man midfield with Isco Tony Kroos linking midfield and attack means it is much easier to replace Ronaldo that it was, with Asensio looking the player most likely to have a big breakthrough campaign. With players such as Luka Modric, Isco, Mateo Kovacic, Casemiro, Marcos Llorente, and Ceballos all battling for midfield positions, while Asensio, Lucas Vazquez, Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema offering variety up front, it is hard to see how a Barca, who are still hugely reliant on Leo Messi, Luis Suarez and Gerard Pique will be able to keep track over the length of a season, even if new signings do arrive before the end of August. | 
