CORNERFLICK
La Liga’s new season has opened with Opta’s supercomputer putting Barcelona top of the title race after 10,000 simulations.
Barcelona lead the projections
The reigning champions are given a 45.6% chance of retaining the title, making them the clear front-runner in Opta’s model. Barcelona kept most of last season’s squad intact, with Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres among the main departures.
Real Madrid sit second in the forecast with a 31% chance of winning the league again, 14.6 percentage points behind Barcelona. The source notes that Madrid finished eight points behind their rivals last season and have moved into a new era under José Mourinho, with six new arrivals including Diomande, described as the club’s record signing.
Atlético remain in the chase for Europe
Atlético Madrid are rated well behind the top two, with an 8.6% chance of taking the title and a stronger chance of finishing in the Champions League places. Opta expects them to settle again in third.
Villarreal are next at 3.3%, while Betis are on 2.1%. Those two are the only sides outside the top three given more than a 2% chance of lifting the trophy, even as both juggle Champions League and league commitments.