Athletic Bilbao
Final Position 10th
LLL Rating B+
Spain may be suffering from a fairly substantial economic crisis, but thatâÂÂs certainly not an issue in the Basque Country, where a centre specialising in bottling of gargantuan proportions has been established, bigger than anything Coca Cola could dream up. Two finals, two stone-cold freezes from Athletic Bilbao is the story if LLL was wanting to be hard-headed and harsh about the clubâÂÂs season. Two finals (two more than Real Madrid), two memorable events for their fans and fantastic promise for the future, is an alternative view, with a squad that can only improve and mature under Marcelo Bielsa should the teamâÂÂs big names and barking mad coach stay together for the new campaign.
Atlético Madrid
Final Position 5th
LLL Rating B-
AtléticoâÂÂs domestic campaign was like a drunk HR manager running for the last train to Haywards Heath, getting stuck in the doors but managing to squeeze through before spilling onto the floor and landing face first into his kebab. Despite a change of manager at Christmas, Diego GodÃÂn losing his marbles in the last minute of every game to throw away countless points and Atlético being Atlético, the side managed to sneak into fifth. But thatâÂÂs far from the Champions League place that was targeted to help improve the clubâÂÂs awful finances.
In Europe, it was Diego Simeone's imperious version of Atlético who trounced pretty much every side that stood in its path, with Falcao particularly fantastic. Although the side won the Europa League for the second time in three years, the title wonâÂÂt help pay the (enormous) bills and attract the big hitters. Unless the club are intending to melt down the trophy, that is. LLL suspects the owning Gil family have already considered it, though.
Barcelona
Final Position 2nd
LLL Rating C+
Losing the league to Real Madrid by nine points due to some flimsy performances away from home - Getafe being the particular highlight - and failing to beat a Chelsea side that gave Barça pretty much every single opportunity available to win their Champions League semi-final sees a distinctly ordinary season for PepâÂÂs Dream Boys. The injury to David Villa, illness of Eric Abidal and occasional defensive idiocy of Gerard Piqué certainly didnâÂÂt help the side through the season, but over all there were too many players underperforming and failing to give the support necessary to the truly mesmeric Leo Messi, who was Gwen Stefani to BarçaâÂÂs No Doubt. Although the Copa del Rey was won, as Barcelona fans were keen to remind Real Madrid last season, who cares about that when the league was lost?
Betis
Final Position 13th
LLL Rating B+
An end of season that avoided any last minute need nappy-wearing panic for Betis saw the side snuggly in mid-table, but it wasnâÂÂt plain sailing for a ridiculously inconsistent side that both lead the table and were fourth from bottom in the same season, after a run in late 2011 of nine defeats from ten games. Fortunately, the Betis president, Miguel Guillén, is the most sensible señor to be running the club - well, heâÂÂs the only sensible señor to have ever run the club considering most predecessors kept receipts in shoeboxes and bought nonsense players for billions - and stuck by poor Pepe Mel, a chirpy fella who seemed under constant pressure despite the fact nobody ever really thought the newly promoted Betis would return to la Segunda after just one season.
Espanyol
Final Position 14th
LLL Rating C+
The Pericos may, just may have been contenders for a European spot after a fairly uneventful but comfortable campaign on the whole. With 11 games to go, Espanyol were in fifth before the Europa League alarm clock went off - and like a lazy layabout giving up on the idea of an early morning run - the Perico players hurled it into the corner before going back to bed for four hours and then slumming about on the sofa. This campaign might seem like a classic in comparison to next yearâÂÂs though, with Espanyol in all sorts of financial trouble and having to sell, refinance and give Mauricio Pochettino a second job to pay the bills. A weight-loss expert might be an idea considering the Espanyol boss lost about ten kilos over the final part of the season.
Part Two: Getafe, Granada, Levante, Malaga, Mallorca
Part Three: Osasuna, Racing Santander, Rayo Vallecano, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad
