Spanish League 2014-15 Schedule,Scores & Table: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid in Title Hunt

By David Salazar Aug 22 2014, 13:07 PM EDT

The Spanish League gets underway this weekend.

After much waiting the world will get a chance to see what some of the best clubs in the world can do.

In years past, the race for the title has been down to Real Madrid and Barcelona. But last season, Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid disrupted the pattern and managed to pull off the win. This season looks like it could be yet another three-horse race.

Los Colchoneros, who had a solid performance in 2012-13 before losing pace, managed to stick with the big two for the duration of the year and won the title on the final day of the season.

Despite being the defending champs, few would name Atletico the outright favorites to defend the title. The team lost major pieces this summer, including top scorer Diego Costa and number one goalie Thibaut Courtois. While the addition of Mario Mandzukic and Antoine Griezmann should fill the hole left by Costa, the goaltending situation is more dubious.

Courtois is one of the best shot-stoppers in the world and was a major reason for the team's ascendancy last year. There were a plethora of games that came down to Courtois making a huge save in a big moment. Now the team can no longer rely on that. While Simeone got some solid replacements in Jan Oblak and Miguel Angel Moya, they will not replace the elite qualities of Courtois.

The team has looked good in preseason and especially in the Spanish Super Cup. Simeone clearly favors an aggressive counter supported by a strong defense. This is how the team won the trophy in 2013-14 and it seems to be the modus operandi for retaining the title. Do not count them out.

The favorites to win are Real Madrid. The defending European champions have added to their ranks this summer and look like an offensive powerhouse. The preseason has been unkind, but some teams have a tendency to do well when it does not matter and then implode when it does (see Real Madrid last season).

The problems for Madrid, however, are tenfold. Carlo Ancelotti has a surplus of offensive talent but must sort out a way to balance it out. Angel Di Maria was arguably the most consistent performer in 2013-14, but he has not been given many opportunities in the early going. That must change. Ancelotti must also account for the decline of Xabi Alonso, who despite proving a calming influence in the midfield, is no longer at the height of his powers.

Then comes the issue of the youngsters Isco and Asier Illarramendi. These players should be a part of the future, but are clearly are not part of the present. They should either be loaned out or given the time to shine.

But these issues are minimal when compared with the problems at the back. Madrid's defense remains shaky with Sergio Ramos having increasingly mental lapses in big moments. He had a horrid World Cup and seems to be retaining that form for the regular season. Dani Carvajal has been inconsistent in preseason, which is huge area of concern for Los Blancos. Alvaro Arbeloa is no longer a good enough defender to start so it is essentially Carvajal's job to lose. If Carvajal remains erratic on the right side, the team could be exploited easily on that flank.

Then comes the issue of goaltending. Iker Casillas looks like he might be the main man between the sticks in 2014-15, but he has continued to show his lack of confidence in goal. He was partially at fault for Atletico's tying goal in the first leg of the Super Cup and more accidents like that one could prove more costly for the team. Keylor Navas is the better option, but he also has a tendency to make risky plays that prove costly.

Of the three contenders, Barcelona is certainly the most altered. The team has new goalies, new defenders, a new major piece in the midfield, a new manager and a new forward. This is not the same Barcelona of Pep Guardiola despite the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique remaining in the ranks.

However, which Barcelona shows up this season is the big question on everyone's mind. What kind of style does the team play with? Is it still a possession based style that requires tremendous patience or a more direct attacking style led by new acquisition Ivan Rakitic?

It should be also be a lot of fun to see how the attack incorporates Luis Suarez with Lionel Messi and Neymar.

The defense remains a concern, especially when considering that new acquisition Thomas Vermaelen is injury prone. Jeremy Mathieu was also acquired, but at age 30, there is no telling when his decline will start and how durable he will be.

Barcelona could ultimately be the most unpredictable of the three and wind up using its new influx of players to spur it greater heights. Or the team could struggle to incorporate all of that new talent and wind up falling down the standings.

It should be an exciting ride.