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5 things we learned from the 2016-17 LaLiga season




Real Madrid secured their first LaLiga title since 2012 after winning 2-0 at Malaga.
Barcelona, meanwhile, must now focus on the Copa del Rey final against Alaves as Luis Enrique looks to end his three-season tenure on a high note.
Here, Press Association Sport takes a look at five things we learned from the LaLiga campaign.

ZZ’s boys proved the real deal

It has been a long wait since Jose Mourinho guided Los Blancos to the 2011-12 title – since when not only have Barcelona picked up the crown, but also city rivals Atletico were Spain’s best in 2013-14. This season, though, Zinedine Zidane has delivered what neither experienced coaches Carlo Ancelotti nor Rafael Benitez could. It has also not just been about the 40 goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, all though of course the Portugal forward proved to be the team’s talisman yet again. There have been inspirational performances throughout the backline, midfield and attack – which now must go again as Zidane aims to bring the Champions League home once more.

Barcelona may need a change of direction

As Enrique prepares for his Copa del Rey swansong, there must be a sense of regret over what might have been this season, both in LaLiga and the Champions League, where they failed to turn up against Juventus. In the end, the difference between the two title contenders was little more than a single defeat. Barca will look back at avoidable losses against Alaves, at home in September, at Celta Vigo and perhaps crucially at Malaga in April when Real had dropped points at home to Atletico. Athletic Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde is reportedly set for the top job. While Valverde will bring with him some goodwill following his spell at the club as a player, if he fails to get a headstart in next season’s domestic battles the natives could become restless.

Atletico have to start all over again at new home

While it looks like Diego Simeone is likely to stay on as Atletico Madrid coach, there is plenty of hard work ahead as the club prepare for life away from Vicente Calderon and embracing the new, state-of-the-art Wanda Metropolitano stadium. Key to much of Atletico’s challenge, both in LaLiga and Europe, has been the intimidating atmosphere of their tightly-packed old ground. However, as many other sides in many different leagues have discovered, starting over at a new place to call home is not always easy. Whether or not star striker Antoine Griezmann will be there to lead the Atletico attack remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain, it will not be for the want of trying from Simeone and his well-drilled squad, who will have learned harsh lessons from their shortcomings this season, which included a Champions League lesson from Los Blancos not to mention costly away draws as they failed to keep up with the top two.

Sevilla must face up to life after Sampaoli

At one stage it looked as if Sevilla could gatecrash the top three, only to hit an inconsistent run of form as the pace started to heat up. It looks likely Jorge Sampaoli will be lured to take over as national coach of his native Argentina following the sacking of Edgardo Bauza. Los Rojiblancos, though, should now have the foundations of continued progress, ones which were already in place by Unai Emery and his Europa League conquerors before he moved to Paris St Germain. Everything would appear well set at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan to carry on moving forwards, so long as they can again find the right man.

The hard work at Granada starts now

Former Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams was always on a hiding to nothing when being parachuted into the managerial hotseat by the owners at Granada in mid-April, when the club were already staring relegation in the face. Never one to shirk away from a challenge, despite his best efforts on the training pitch and with the tactics board, Granada failed to pick up a point under Adams’ tenure. However, the one-time Wycombe, Portsmouth and Gabala boss is confident things will improve from a position where they could not really be much worse. He said after defeat to Espanyol on Friday night: “The owner is aware that he has made many mistakes, but this is a long project.” Patience, though, is not a virtue often held by football club owners – in Spain or anywhere else.

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