Real Madrid made waves again in the transfer market this season, bringing in a couple of marquee players for big bucks to show they mean business. And now, Real Madrid will hope those signings will help them towards clinching the La Liga title, which fell out of their grasp in the final few weeks of last season.
Where to Watch Live
Real Madrid vs Cordoba is set for a 8 pm local time (11.30 pm IST) start with live coverage on Star Sports 2 AND Star Sports HD2 in India. The match can also be watched via live streaming online in India HERE. Catch the action in the UK on Sky Sports 5, with the option to live stream the match online HERE or HERE. Viewers in the US and Canada can watch Real's first La Liga game on Bein Sports USA and Bein Sports Canada respectively, while the Bernabeu encounter can also be live streamed HERE. Audience in the Middle East and North Africa can catch the action via live streaming HERE, while South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa viewers can do the same HERE.
Carlo Ancelotti might have led his Real side to the Champions League title – the one they coveted the most as they finally realised the dream of the "La Decima" – but the Spanish giants will want to wrest back the La Liga title from the hands of their crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid this time around.
Having achieved mixed results in the two Cup matches prior to the start of the new La Liga season, Real will be keen to begin their campaign on a winning note with newly-promoted side Cordoba standing in their way first up at the Bernabeu.
"We want to play good football and build confidence for the championship," said Ancelotti. "We're keen to start the season and determined to do it well and fight for this Liga.
"We'll try to improve this year. Last season we came very close to winning the Liga and we ran out of steam at the end. It's a very difficult championship and with great teams that will fight to win it, but we're determined to do well."
The inclusion of James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos not only adds a bit more glamour to the side, but serious quality and strength to the midfield as well, even if Ancelotti is set to miss out on the services of Angel Di Maria, who is closing in on a move to Manchester United.
While new faces have arrived, Real's fortunes will rest on their two superstars up front – Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. If the duo hit the ground running from day one, then no defence will be able to cope with their pace, power and finishing ability.
Ronaldo, though, has suffered a few niggling injuries during preseason, and therefore has not been able to get back to peak condition for the new season. "He trained well and he's available," added Ancelotti. "He has no problems.
"His preseason was not very regular because he needed individual work to resolve his niggles. Next week he'll have the whole week to train and it will be good for him."
While Real eased to victory over fellow La Liga side Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup, they did come undone against title rivals Atletico Madrid over two legs of the Spanish Super Cup, and Ancelotti will be well aware of the high levels of competition that his side will face over the season, particularly from Diego Simeone's men and arch-rivals Barcelona.
For Cordoba, this match will be about coming away from the Bernabeu with as little damage as possible. If they can frustrate the Real forwardline for a sustained period of time, then, who knows, they might be even able to nick a goal and pick up a famous win, even if they have never been able to come away with a single point from the Bernabeu in their history.
"We will have to try and defend well, and when we have the ball we will try and keep it for as long as possible," Cordoba coach Albert Ferrer said. "That is something we want to try and do throughout the year, not only in this game.
"We will have to be very patient, especially if we cannot get a goal."
