Andy Brassell's guide to the major European football leagues

La Liga

Barcelona are odds-on favourites with bookmakers but I am not sure some people understand how close they are to being in a state of transition.

Frenkie de Jong is a huge signing but the way they have gone all-in for Antoine Griezmann and maybe Neymar leaves them a little old in a few places. The problem is who beats them?

I don't fancy Real Madrid. There are so many question marks and they lack cast-iron guaranteed goalscorer - Eden Hazard isn't going to suddenly get 30 and there are already whispers of Luka Jovic being loaned out.

Zinedine Zidane has not got the power he thought he would be allowed on his Bernabeu return and the squad just looks unfinished.

Atletico Madrid's overhaul of their squad is unprecedented in recent years for a top-level team and there are so many unknowns.

They have had a really good pre-season, Joao Felix has started well, but I wonder if Diego Simeone will retreat back into what he knows best if results go against them early.

For a better bet, try Sevilla to finish in the top four, particularly in light of rumours of unrest at Valencia.

Julen Lopetegui gets an opportunity to salvage his coaching career, sporting director Monchi returns and they have signed some interesting players.

Serie A

It's been a weird transfer window for Juventus and I don't like the way they are mortgaging their future with a win now at all costs. It's like they are working to Cristiano Ronaldo's career timeline.

However, I still expect them to win Serie A so the more interesting market is who follows them home and Napoli are my tip ahead of Inter.

Napoli have the stability of maintaining their coach Carlo Ancelotti - just about all the other big sides in Italy have had a managerial change - and Inter still have the Mauro Icardi issue to sort.

Antonio Conte is an impact manager so expect Inter to improve, but not enough to jump above Napoli and Juventus.

Bundesliga

Bayern Munich are vulnerable and if they don't improve the team before the transfer window shuts now could be the time for Borussia Dortmund to land the upset.

In isolation signing Ivan Perisic is okay but they were being linked with Leroy Sane, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Timo Werner and have instead ended up with a player not wanted by Inter.

They have not built on their good early business of Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard, while coach Niko Kovac was slapped down by the CEO for his comments on Sane and this is a chance for Dortmund.

It's not as good an opportunity as when they were nine points clear last season but a chance all the same. Mats Hummels had a few hairy moments in the cup last week but his experience will be vital.

Ligue 1

Paris St-Germain are going to win the league and Lyon are a lock to be best of the rest.

Lyon expected to lose most of the players they sold and the money was just too good to turn down from Real Madrid for Ferland Mendy.

The risk is a rookie manager in former Arsenal defender Sylvinho and sporting director Juninho Pernambucano, but they had the attack in Moussa Dembele and Memphis Depay and now possess the much-needed defensive and midfield options.

Of more intrigue is the race for third. You can't judge too much on the opening weekend but Monaco were bad and Marseille even worse.

Monaco have since signed Wissam Ben Yedder, who will improve them but Andre Villas-Boas does not have that kind of money at Marseille.

Lille have lost key players, but Victor Osimhen scored twice on his debut last week and Yusuf Yazici will be brilliant for them. St-Etienne have a pretty strong team and should also compete for the final Champions League spot.

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