Atletico Madrid begin their bid for a second La Liga title in three years when they host newly-promoted Las Palmas on Saturday evening.

Las Palmas head into the game as huge underdogs to claim victory over an Atletico side looking to close the gap on Barcelona and Real Madrid this season.

Atletico Madrid

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After a stunning 2013-14 campaign saw Atletico clinch the title and reach the final of the Champions League, it would be too easy to be critical of the side's third-place finish last season, but the future still looks bright for the club.

Diego Simeone answered questions about his future by committing to the club late in the previous campaign, and despite finishing 16 points behind champions Barcelona, there is certainly plenty of evidence to suggest that Atletico can produce a stronger title challenge.

Barcelona and Real will, of course, start the campaign as firm favourites to finish in the top two, but Atletico have recruited impressively in the summer and they have avoided losing too many key players.

Despite bidding farewell to Arda Turan and Miranda, the return of Filipe Luis and the signings of attacking duo Luciano Vietto and Jackson Martinez adds quality to a frontline which missed the influential Diego Costa last season.

Stefan Savic and Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco have added depth to a squad which will also be hopeful of success in the Champions League once again, but much of the attention will be on Antoine Griezmann, whose performances last season suggested that he could be the man to lead Atletico to another title.

Building a squad capable of challenging for the title has been the test for Simeone and club officials this summer, and consistency will be the key for Atletico, who will be fully expected to start the campaign with a comfortable win in the capital.

Pre-season form: WDWWWW

Las Palmas

All eyes will be on Paco Herrera as he leads Las Palmas in their La Liga return after spending the last 14 years away from the top tier of Spanish football, and the former Liverpool assistant will be aware that his side are huge underdogs to avoid relegation.

Playoff victories over Valladolid and Real Zaragoza on away goals secured promotion for the Gran Canaria club, and the need to improve over the summer was clear to Herrera, who has added five new faces to the first-team squad with two weeks still remaining in the transfer window.

New recruits Antolin Alcaraz and Javier Garrido add experience to a squad which also includes Juan Carlos Valeron. The former Atletico midfielder built his reputation in a 13-year spell with the Deportivo La Coruna, and the 40-year-old will attract most of the attention on returning to La Liga with his boyhood club.

However, the hopes of the club at the weekend and for the season could rest on the shoulders of Sergio Araujo, who scored 25 goals last season and was linked with a move away from Las Palmas earlier in the summer.

Las Palmas are unlikely to be judged on their performance at the Vincente Calderon, but a promising display or a shock result could hand them crucial momentum in the battle to prove that they can stay in La Liga.

Pre-season form: LWWLLW

Team News

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Simeone looks set to unleash his new-look attack on La Liga at the weekend, and Martinez should make his competitive debut from the start in the season opener.

Antoine Griezmann is likely to play close to the Colombian, which means both Fernando Torres and Vietto are likely to start the match on the bench, but Luis is in line for his second debut for the club at left-back.

Araujo will be they key man for the visiting attack should Herrera decide to play with just one striker, while Alcaraz and Garrido are both set to make their debuts in defence.

Atletico possible starting lineup:
Oblak, Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Luis, Saul, Tiago, Koke, Carrasco, Martinez, Griezmann

Las Palmas possible starting lineup:
Espinosa, Lopes, Artiles, Alcaraz, Garrido, Culio, Castellano, Valeron, Mesa, Viera, Araujo

Head To Head

It has been almost 10 years since these two sides met in a competitive fixture. In October 2005, a late Mateja Kezman strike was enough to earn Atletico a 1-0 victory in the Copa del Rey.

We say: Atletico 3-0 Las Palmas

Las Palmas certainly have the attacking talent to cause a few shocks on their return to La Liga, but it would take a special performance for them to record victory on the opening day. Atletico have been boosted by an impressive summer in the transfer market and the hosts should have too much for the newly-promoted side.

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