Spain's World Cup confetti has barely been swept away, but the spotlight is already shifting back to La Liga, where Barcelona begin their title defense and Real Madrid enter the new season with a sense of urgency after two trophyless campaigns.
Less than a month after Spain defeated Argentina in New Jersey to win their second World Cup, adding global supremacy to their European Championship crown, attention has quickly turned from national celebrations to the familiar drama of club football.
At the center of it all are the usual heavyweights. Back-to-back champions Barcelona are looking to extend their domestic dominance, while Real Madrid have spent the summer making it clear they are determined to close the gap.
Newly re-elected president Florentino Perez has overseen one of Madrid's most aggressive transfer windows in years, including the stunning return of Jose Mourinho to the Santiago Bernabeu from Benfica. The move is bold, nostalgic and carries considerable risk.
Mourinho, once famously dubbed "The Special One," returns to familiar territory with plenty to prove. He has gone 11 years without winning a league title and four years without lifting a trophy, moving between clubs while controversy has often followed more closely than silverware.
