Points haul to win La Liga will be lowest for years – Rafa Benitez

Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez has said the La Liga title will be won by the lowest points haul for years this season due to increasing competitiveness of sides outside the traditional top two.

Los Blancos and Barcelona have been battling out for the title for years now, with the interruption sometimes of Atletico de Madrid. But the new boss believes the likes of Valenica, Sevilla and Villarreal have all got stronger over the summer meaning the race for the title will be tougher.

Real begin their campaign with a trip to Sporting Gijon today and Benitez said he wants his players to be focused on the job at hand – taking three points.

“Now it takes many points to win La Liga. It isn’t like it was before. Atleti, Sevilla, Valencia and Villarreal are now stronger. It can be expected that Real Madrid and Barca will drop points. Real Madrid faces every game and every competition with the idea of winning it,” he told a press conference.

Speaking about the game and his overall aims for the next 10 months, Benitez added: “I’d like to see Real Madrid winning, playing well & entertaining. And also to have balance. Tomorrow, against Sporting, we have to try to win, to secure the three points and we have to do it playing well. Real Madrid wants to win every game. We want to win the league, Champions League and Copa del Rey.”