However much one might try to set it aside, the return "to the office" carries a different flavor this time, colored by Spain's status as reigning world football champion, even as LaLiga has its own internal matters to sort out.

For now, the main focus centers on summer transfer activity, which will run until September 1, and on the tributes still being paid to members of La Roja across the country.

Even so, attention will soon have to shift to each season's usual business: qualifying rounds for the Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and Conference League; the Spanish Super Cup, the Copa del Rey, and the LaLiga title race.

Alavés and Getafe will kick things off this Saturday, while Atlético de Madrid will not debut until Wednesday, August 19, against newly promoted Málaga.

The two great powerhouses, Real Madrid and defending champion Barcelona, will begin their campaigns on Saturday, August 22, against Espanyol, and Sunday, August 23, against Elche, respectively.

As is often the case, a soap-opera-style storyline has already emerged involving Spaniard Rodri Hernández and Argentine Julián Álvarez. Rodri, a serious contender for France Football's Ballon d'Or, was previously pursued by Real Madrid and is now being courted by Barcelona.

Hansi Flick's Barcelona side has already secured strong reinforcements for its attacking line, including Englishman Anthony Gordon and German Karim Adeyemi, and still hopes to land Julián Álvarez.

Atlético de Madrid, however, is unwilling to let go of the Argentine striker, while Manchester City is asking 80 million euros for Rodri — a figure Barcelona cannot currently meet.

By all indications, the Catalan club will lose Ferran Torres, scorer of Spain's decisive goal against Argentina in the final, who could be headed to Paris Saint-Germain.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, has already brought in World Cup-winning Spanish full-back Marc Cucurella, veteran but still-skillful Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva, Dutch full-back Denzel Dumfries, and French center-back Ibrahima Konaté.

Real Madrid also made the most expensive signing in its history, paying 140 million euros for 19-year-old Ivorian forward Yan Diomandé, a player reportedly of interest to controversial Portuguese coach José Mourinho as he considers a return to the "White House."

Atlético de Madrid added South Korean Kang-in Lee, Dane Morten Hjulmand, and Spaniard Alejandro Grimaldo, and is hoping it can still hold on to Julián Álvarez.

One club that already showed marked improvement last season is Villarreal, now led by young, promising coach Iñigo Pérez, who guided Rayo Vallecano to a second-place finish in the Conference League.