MADRID, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The new 'Galactico' Real Madrid kicks off the new Spanish football season at home to Deportivo la Coruna on Saturday evening.
Despite having been totally overwhelmed on the pitch by rivals FC Barcelona last season, the return of Florentino Perez as club president saw Real Madrid capture the headlines over the summer.
Perez launched the club on a summer of signing star players which has seen Real spend around 250 million euros and raising the club's debts to an estimated 800 million.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema have all arrived over the summer, ensuring that the best players last season from the Premier League, Serie A and France's Ligue 1 now all play in Spain.
That attacking trio will have the midfield support of Xavi Alonso, signed from Liverpool, and Esteban Granero, who returns from Getafe.
Meanwhile Raul Albiol and Alvaro Arbeloa have also arrived over the summer in an attempt to add balance and depth to a squad that is now coached by former Villarreal boss Manuel Pellegrini.
Real Madrid got off to a slow start in pre-season, losing in the Peace Cup to Juventus, but results have improved and on Monday Real beat Rosenborg 4-0 to lift the Santiago Bernabeu trophy.
Pellegrini will line up all his star players against Deportivo on Saturday night in front of a Santiago Bernabeu stadium packed with 78,000 fans.
"The objectives for this season are very simple," said club captain Raul Gonzalez on the club' s official website.
"We want to play a style of football that will allow us to connect with the fans and get to the last months of the season with chances to win all three competitions that we are playing in."
"We have a great squad and we have to think about trying to win everything," he added.
Raul will probably be in the starting 11, while Pellegrini is certain to include Kaka, Cristiano and Benzema in his side
Lassana Diarra and Xavi Alonso will play in central midfield while the defense will be made up of Marcelo, Albiol, Metzelder and Arbeloa, who fills in for the injured Sergio Ramos. Iker Casillas plays in goal.
However, Deportivo is not traveling to Madrid merely to make up the numbers. The side coached by Miguel Angel Lotina finished last season seventh in the Primera Liga and has an experienced squad that has spent several seasons playing together.
"Mentally we are all very well prepared and we are going to Madrid with the aim of trying to win," said defender Felipe Luis on Friday.
The new look Real Madrid is favorite to start the season with three points, but the fans in the Bernabeu would do well to remember that last season their side started the season against Deportivo - and Deportivo won.
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