After a compelling summer of transfer business by the 'Big Two', the 2014/15 Spanish La Liga season is one of the most highly-anticipated in recent years.

Real Madrid have strengthened a Champions League-winning squad with high-profile and costly arrivals while Barcelona – looking to improve on last season's trophyless campaign – have outlaid over a €160m on new talent.

But let's not forget the current title holders Atletico Madrid, who have been required to replace key men Diego Costa, Felipe Luis, on-loan goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and David Villa.

Here, Sport360 provides a team-by-team guide to all 20 clubs in La Liga this season, complete with transfer activity and our how we feel each side will fare this year. 

ALMERIA

Manager: Francisco Rodriguez
Star man: Verza
Last season: 17th
Key ins: Tomer Hemed (Mallorca, free); Ruben Martinez (Rayo Vallecano, free); Wellington Silva (Arsenal, loan); Thievy (Espanyol, loan)
Key outs: Suso (Liverpool, loan return); Rodri (Barcelona, loan return); Aleix Vidal (Sevilla, €3m)
Strengths: In their second top-flight season, Almeria approach the new campaign with greater experience and knowledge they can survive at this level.
Weaknesses: Goalscoring is a concern following the departure of last season’s three most important attacking players: Suso, Rodri and Aleix Vidal.
Verdict: Survived the drop by just one point last season and look set for another struggle, especially considering the players they have lost.

ATHLETIC BILBAO

Manager: Ernesto Valverde
Star man: Iker Muniain
Last season: 4th
Key ins: Borja Viguera (Alavas, €1m)
Key outs: Ander Herrera (Manchester United, €36m)
Strengths: A talented and settled squad with solidity in defence, balance in midfield and creativity in attack – simply a good all-round team.
Weaknesses: A little over-reliant on ageing striker Aritz Aduriz for goals, and need Benat to step up and show he can replace Ander Herrera.
Verdict: Finished fourth comfortably last season and can be confident of a similar performance again, as long as the Champions League doesn’t distract.

ATLETICO MADRID

Manager: Diego Simeone
Star man: Koke
Last season: Champions
Key ins: Antoine Griezmann, (Real Sociedad, €30m); Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich, €22m); Jan Oblak (Benfica; €16m), Guilherme Siquiera (Granada, €10m)
Key outs: Diego Costa (Chelsea, €36m); Filipe Luis (Chelsea, €18m); Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea, loan return); Adrian (Porto, €11m); David Villa (New York City, free)
Strengths: Diego Simeone will ensure his team remains disciplined and utterly committed, and the new strike force of Griezmann and Mandzukic is extremely exciting.
Weaknesses: Last season’s success was inspired by Diego Costa up front and Thibaut Courtois in goal. With both gone, the new boys must settle quickly.
Verdict: Surely they can’t win the title again, can they?

BARCELONA

Manager: Luis Enrique
Star man: Lionel Messi
Last season: 2nd
Key ins: Luis Suarez (Liverpool, €94m); Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla, €20m); Jeremy Mathieu (Valencia, €20m); Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal, €19m); Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Borussia Monchengladbach, €12m)
Key outs: Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea, €36m), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal, €35m); Victor Valdes (released); Carles Puyol (retired)
Strengths: Potentially world-beating strike force of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, along with additional creativity from Rakitic.
Weaknesses: Enrique has to mould his dazzling array of talent into an effective team structure – something sorely lacking last season.
Verdict: A strong challenge for all trophies is the minimum requirement. Much depends on how the front three gel.

CELTA VIGO

Manager: Eduardo Berizzo
Star man: Nolito 
Last season: 9th
Key ins: Pablo Hernandez (O’Higgins, €1.6m); Joaquin Larrivey (Rayo Vallecano, free); Sergi Gomez (Barcelona, free)
Key outs: Rafinha (Barcelona, loan return); Yoel (Valencia, loan); Mario Bermejo (retired)
Strengths: Previous manager Luis Enrique instigated a smooth passing style, and Berizzo knows the club well after a previous playing stint.
Weaknesses: Enrique was clearly a major figure in masterminding last season’s top-half finish, and key creator Rafinha will also be greatly missed.
Verdict: Should be able to enjoy another campaign of mid-table comfort, but realistically that is the extent of their ambitions.

CORDOBA

Manager: Albert Ferrer
Star man: Fede Cartabia
Last season: Promoted (Play-offs)
Key ins: Fede Cartabia (Valencia, loan); Fausto Rossi (Real Valladolid, loan); Deivid (Las Palmas, free); Fidel (Elche, loan); Borja Garcia (Real Madrid, loan)
Key outs: Ulises Davila (Chelsea, loan return); Pedro Sanchez (Elche, loan return); Fran Cruz (Alcorcon, loan)
Strengths: Former Barca and Chelsea defender Ferrer is regarded as one of the rising stars of the managerial world and has made some intriguing loan signings.
Weaknesses: The squad contains a lot of promise but very little established talent, requiring significant and prompt improvement in all areas.
Verdict: The Andalusian club’s first top-flight campaign for more than four decades won’t be easy, but Ferrer should ensure it is also entertaining.

DEPORTIVO LA CARUNA

Manager: Victor Fernandez
Star man: Alex Bergantinos
Last season: Promoted (2nd)
Key ins: Isaac Cuenca (Barcelona, free); Roberto Canella (Sporting Gijon, loan); Jose Rodriguez (Real Madrid, loan)
Key outs: Carlos Marchena (retired); Luis Fernandez (Lugo, loan); Antonio Nunez (Recreativo, free); Bryan Rabello (Sevilla, loan return)
Strengths: Earned promotion on the back of an excellent defensive record and have added great attacking potential with Cuenca – if he stays fit.
Weaknesses: Endured a controversial summer after sacking promotion- winning manager Fernando Vazquez and look very light on goalscoring options.
Verdict: Keeping clean sheets is much easier in the Segunda than in the top flight, and unless Depor unearth a prolific scorer they’ll struggle.

EIBAR

Manager: Gaizka Garitano
Star man: Raul Navas
Last season: Promoted (Champions)
Key ins: Angel (Levante, free); Dani Nieto (Barcelona, free); Manu Del Moral (Sevilla, loan)
Key outs: Jota (Celta Vigo, loan return); Jose Luis Morales (Levante, loan return); Yuri (Real Sociedad, loan return)
Strengths: The tiny-town club were awesome in defence last season, with manager Garitano achieving successive promotions through great teamwork and togetherness.
Weaknesses: To be blunt, top flight talent. Eibar’s promotion in May was miraculous. Primera Division survival would be even more so.
Verdict: Eibar’s romantic story will win over a lot of neutrals, but they’re unlikely to win many football matches and will struggle.

ELCHE

Manager: Fran Escriba
Star man: Pedro Mosquera
Last season: 16th
Key ins: Faycal Fayr (Caen, free); Pedro Mosquera (Getafe, free); Victor Rodriguez (Real Zaragoza, free); Przemyslaw Tyton (PSV, loan)
Key outs: Carles Gil (Valencia, loan return); Richmond Boakye (Juventus, loan return); Alberto Botia and Manu del Moral (both Sevilla, loan returns); Javi Marquez (Mallorca, loan return)
Strengths: Tough team to beat, compiling easily the best defensive record in the bottom half of last season’s competition.
Weaknesses: Goalscoring is a major concern, with last year’s top scorer Boakye only netting on six occasions. Desperate need for improvement.
Verdict: Among the relegation candidates due to their struggles in attack, and a summer of significant departees has certainly not helped.

ESPANYOL

Manager: Sergio Gonzalez
Star man: Sergio Garcia
Last season: 14th
Key ins: Anaitz Arbilla (Rayo Vallecano, free); Salva Sevilla (Real Betis, free); Felipe Caicedo (Al Jazira, free)
Key outs: Joan Capdevila (North East United, free); Simao (unattached); Pizzi (Benfica, loan return)
Strengths: An energetic and hardworking team boasting genuine quality at both ends of the pitch with goalkeeper Kiko Casilla and emblematic striker Garcia.
Weaknesses: Charismatic Mexican coach Javier Aguirre was key to his team’s whirlwind style, and his departure poses a big challenge to former assistant Sergio.
Verdict: New boss Sergio should keep his team away from a relegation struggle, but pushing for a top six spot will be beyond them.

GETAFE

Manager: Cosmin Contra
Star man: Pedro Leon
Last season: 13th
Key ins: Vicente Guiata (Valencia, free); Michel (Valencia, loan)
Key outs: Miguel Angel Moya (Atletico, €3m); Pedro Mosquera (Elche, free); Jaime Gavilan (Levante, free)
Strengths: Possess some technically adept players who can string together nice passing moves when the mood takes them, which is worryingly rare.
Weaknesses: An inconsistent team who are capable of being very poor indeed when they don’t click.
Verdict: A good start and finish last season allowed them to avoid relegation despite all their flaws. Might not be so lucky this time.

GRANADA 

Manager: Joaquin Caparros
Star man: Youssef El-Arabi
Last season: 15th
Key ins: Oier Olazabal (Barcelona, free); Jhon Cordoba (Queretaro, unknown); Daniel Larsson (Real Valladolid, free); Javi Marquez (Mallorca, free)
Key outs: Guilherme Siquiera (Atletico, €10m), Yacine Brahimi (Porto, €6.5m)
Strengths: A talented squad boasting exciting players all over the pitch and an experienced manager with a knack for getting the most out of his teams.
Weaknesses: Have displayed a worrying knack for underperforming in the past couple of seasons, and new manager Caparros must shake things up quickly.
Verdict: Lucky to survive the drop last season but the quality of the squad suggests a far more comfortable ride. Mid-table comfort beckons.

LEVANTE

Manager: Jose Luis Mendilibar
Star man: Nabil El Zhar
Last season: 10th
Key ins: Diego Marino (Real Valladolid, loan); Jaime Gavilan (Getafe, free); Jose Luis Morales (Eibar, loan return)
Key outs: Keylor Navas (Real Madrid, €10m)
Strengths: The Valencia-based club boasted the fourth-best defensive record in La Liga last season, conceding only five more goals than Real Madrid.
Weaknesses: Defensive excellence will have to be repeated again – minus Navas – because Levante’s goalscoring options are thin on the ground.
Verdict: Have overachieved in recent years with three consecutive strong placements, and there’s no reason they can’t do it again.

MALAGA

Manager: Javi Gracia
Star man: Guillermo Ochoa  
Last season: 11th
Key ins: Guillermo Ochoa (Ajaccio, free); Arthur Boka (Stuttgart, free); Roberto Rosales (FC Twente, free transfer)
Key outs: Willy Caballero (Manchester City, €5.5m); Eliseu (Benfica €1.5m); Jesus Gamez (Atletico, €2.5m)
Strengths: Mexican goalkeeper Ochoa will become an instant fans favourite in a team with a nice blend of youth and experience.
Weaknesses: An over-reliance on Roque Santa Cruz in attack – the Paraguayan is slowing down almost by the day and is well past his best.
Verdict: A semblance of stability is returning to Malaga after a crazy few years, and new boss Gracia should achieve a mid-table finish.

RAYO VALLECANO

Manager: Paco Jemez
Star man: Roberto Trashorras
Last season: 12th
Key ins: Derek Boateng (Fulham, free); Gael Kakuta (Chelsea, loan); Javier Aquino and Jonathan Pereira (both Villarreal, loan); Alejandro Pozuelo (Swansea, undisclosed)
Key outs: Joaquin Larrivey (Celta Vigo, free); Ruben Rochina (Blackburn, loan return)
Strengths: Jemez will continue to insist upon the fast-paced, attackminded and attractive style of play which has made Rayo everyone’s favourite underdogs.
Weaknesses: Jemez’s all-out attack leaves his team highly vulnerable at the back and they’ll probably ‘boast’ the league’s worst defensive record, again.
Verdict: Goals galore, melodramatic outbursts, tears, loyal support and a dramatic escape from relegation: just an ordinary season for Rayo.

REAL MADRID

Manager: Carlo Ancelotti
Star man: Cristano Ronaldo
Last season: 3rd
Key ins: James Rodriguez (Monaco, €80m); Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich, €30m); Keylor Navas (both Levante, €10m)
Key outs: Alvaro Morata (Juventus, €20m); Diego Lopez (AC Milan, unknown); Casemiro (Porto, loan)
Strengths: The most expensive squad in the history of football boasts world class players in every position and an explosive forward line.
Weaknesses: James Rodriguez needs to show he can fit into the team and the back four must cut out its weakness from set-pieces.
Verdict: Confidence is extremely high after May’s Champions League triumph and it would be a shock if no major honours are claimed.

REAL SOCIEDAD

Manager: Jagoba Arrasate
Star man: Carlos Vela
Last season: 7th
Key ins: Yuri (Eibar, loan return); Alfred Finnbogason (Heerenveen, €8m) Key outs: Antoine Griezmann, (Atletico Madrid, €30m); Claudio Bravo (Barcelona; €12m); Haris Seferovic (Eintracht Frankfurt, €3m)
Strengths: Will continue to play attacking, attractive football while Vela’s pace and instinct for goal always make them dangerous going forward.
Weaknesses: Departees Bravo and Griezmann played a key role in the success of the last two years, and their absence will be keenly felt.
Verdict: If Finnbogason can justify his transfer fee and fill the hole left by Griezmann, another top-four challenge is a realistic aim.

SEVILLA

Manager: Unai Emery
Star man: Carlos Bacca 
Last season: 5th
Key ins: Grzegorz Krychowiak (Reims, €4.5m); Denis Suarez and Gerard Deulofeu (both Barcelona, loan); Iago Aspas (Liverpool, loan); Aleix Vidal (Almeria, €3m); Ever Banega (Valencia, €3m)
Key outs: Ivan Rakitic, (Barcelona, €20m); Alberto Moreno (Liverpool; €14m)
Strengths: Emery has built a great deal of momentum and his energetic team will score plenty of goals if Bacca stays fit.
Weaknesses: Rakitic sale creates a huge hole in midfield and Denis Suarez will need to adapt to first team football immediately.
Verdict: If Suarez fulfils his potential and helps compensate for the loss of Rakitic, Sevilla should maintain a tophalf position.

VALENCIA

Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo
Star man: Sofiane Feghouli
Last season: 8th
Key ins: Shkodran Mustafi (Sampdoria, €8m); Lucas Orban (Bordeaux, €4m); Rodrigo and Andre Gomes (both Benfica, loan); Yoel (Celta Vigo, loan)
Key outs: Jeremy Mathieu, (Barcelona, €20m); Juan Bernat (Bayern Munich; €10m); Vicente Guiata (Getafe, free)
Strengths: The basis of a good squad, and if the ownership issue is finally resolved more funds will be available for further strengthening.
Weaknesses: Nuno is Valencia’s fifth manager in the space of two years, which shows how chaotic life at the Mestalla has become.
Verdict: Fans of Los Che can only hope Peter Lim’s long-promised takeover is finally successful, but it’ll probably be too late for this season.

VILLARREAL

Manager: Marcelino Garcia Toral
Star man: Gio Dos Santos
Last season: 6th
Key ins: Denis Cheryshev (Real Madrid, loan); Jonathon Dos Santos (Barcelona, €2m); Antonio Rukavina (Real Valladolid, free)
Key outs: Jeremy Perbet, (İstanbul Basaksehir, €1m); Javier Aquino and Jonathan Pereira (both Rayo Vallecano, loan)
Strengths: Villarreal have stability after keeping their squad together and the addition of the second Dos Santos brother will add dynamism in midfield.
Weaknesses: The Yellow Submarine can sometimes look lightweight at the back and are prone to entering into unexplained dips in form.
Verdict: If they can find consistency, and the Dos Santos brothers hit top form, a topfour challenge is a real possibility.