Pressure is already on at Barcelona and Real Madrid

La Liga is returning, a little later than first expected, with plenty of new and old questions to be resolved.

Barcelona went on holiday last May in buoyant mood after their superstar strike trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez had fired the team to the treble of Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey titles.

But three months later Barca begin the defence of their Spanish title in less fine fettle. First they almost blew a 4-1 lead in the European Supercup against Sevilla in early August, although Pedro Rodriguez’s extra-winner spared their blushes that time.