Summer is over as Spanish Liga prepares for kick off

It may be 35 degrees in the shade but summer is officially over in Spain as the 2016-17 season of La Liga kicks off this weekend.

A Malaga side with returning coach Juande Ramos in the dugout has the honor of kicking off the new campaign on Friday night when they welcome newly promoted Osasuna to their La Rosaleda Stadium.

It is just over a season since Gaizka Garitano left his position as coach of Eibar after lifting them to the Spanish top flight and overseeing their first season in the elite. It is fitting therefore that he makes his return to top-flight management at the helm of Deportivo la Coruna, who have Eibar as their first visitors of the campaign on Friday night.

Barca coach Luis Enrique was delighted to see his side lift the Spanish Supercup in the early hours of Thursday morning, but he will be less happy to see his side open Saturday's matches just 68 hours after their last game finished.

Barca will be without Andres Iniesta, Javier Mascherano, Jeremy Mathieu and possibly Ter Stegen to receive Betis, who are one of eight sides with a new coach in their dugout for the start of the campaign.

Sevilla are also quickly back in action after their Supercup defeat and new coach Jorge Sampaoli is looking for his first victory at home to an Espanyol side which has strengthened well over the summer.

Villarreal have to overcome an early season injury crisis and the disappointment of Wednesday's Champions League defeat at home to Monaco as they face a tricky visit to Granada who are now coached by feisty former Rayo Vallecano boss, Paco Jemez.

The summer heat means there are no early kick offs on Sunday with Real Madrid beginning their season away to Real Sociedad in the evening.

Zinedine Zidane's side are likely to be without Cristiano Ronaldo, but will have Alvaro Morata and Marcos Asensio available for a trip to the Basque Region and a ground where they have only lost three times in their last 20 visits.

Sunday also sees Athletic Club Bilbao travel to face Sporting Gijon, who they defeated twice last season. Athletic are the only club in Spain yet to make a signing this summer.

Newly promoted Alaves have a tough return to La Liga when they travel to the Vicente Calderon where Atletico Madrid will be looking to hit the ground running after some unconvincing results in pre-season.

New signing Kevin Gameiro is a doubt for Atletico, but Antoine Griezmann will provide a potent threat to the Alaves defense.

The round of matches finish with two games on Monday with Leganes making their top flight debut away to Celta Vigo, who last season finished sixth in the league.

Finally Valencia entertain Las Palmas in a game the home side will want to win after losing several important players over the summer. Enditem