New seasons ready for kick-off

Seasons in Denmark, Switzerland, Slovakia and Slovenia begin this weekend while the top sides in Ukraine are back in action too. FC Basel 1893 are tipped to retain their Swiss crown but the Superligaen title race is wide open.

Denmark
After nearly a decade of domination by Brøndby IF and FC København, this promises to be the most open Superligaen for years with Odense BK and FC Midtjylland favourites to capture the crown won so sensationally by Aalborg BK in May. AaB's triumph was likened to a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, and it would be even more surprising should they reclaim the title after a number of high-profile departures, in particular coach Erik Hamrén who has been replaced by Bruce Rioch on a temporary basis after joining Rosenborg BK. Both Midtjylland, runners-up last season, and OB have strengthened well with the latter impressing in particular with the capture of former Manchester United FC midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba and the highly rated attacking midfielder Henrik Hansen from AC Horsens. FCK look weaker than last term following the departures of Michael Gravgaard, Michael Silberbauer and Marcus Allbäck, but while the transfer window is still open it would be unwise to rule them out.

Switzerland
Christian Gross begins his tenth year in charge of Swiss champions Basel aiming for a repeat of last seasons's double success. With a budget of some €25m Basel are favourites to retain the title, and though the departure of defensive lynchpin Daniel Majstorovic will be felt, the champions have recruited well and the squad appears stronger than last season. BSC Young Boys pushed Basel to the final day in May, but have been less active than their rivals in the transfer market and may struggle to mount such a determined challenge this time round. The two sides meet on Wednesday in a match that should give a good indication of their potential. Grasshopper-Club and FC Sion should also be in the mix, particularly if the latter can find consistency under new coach Uli Stielike. They showed their intentions by pulling of a major coup in signing Olivier Monterrubio from RC Lens. 

Slovenia
Only four sides have won the Slovenian title in the 18 years since indepedence from Yugoslavia, but the time may have come for a new name at the top. Champions NK Domžale are aiming to claim their third straight title but newcomers NK IB Ljubljana are heavily tipped to take their crown. Dragan Skočić's side won the Slovenian Cup last season and are well placed to build on their fifth-place finish after a successful summer in the transfer market, notably signing last season's 1. Liga top scorer Dario Zahora from title rivals Domžale. Domžale have made significant changes with coach Slaviša Stojanović leaving for NK Celje after six years at the helm to be replaced by Robert Pevnik. Seven-time champions NK Maribor look better placed to challenge having retained the core of their squad from last season as well as making some astute signings, including David Bunderla from NK Primorje, and Ales Mejac and Vito Plut from FC Koper.

Slovakia
The race for the Slovakian title is expected to be more open than usual with four sides confident of success. FC Artmedia Petržalka ran away with the crown last year, but are not likely to have it so easy this time round. Coach Vladimír Weiss remains in charge during their UEFA Champions League qualifying campaign before taking up his appointment with the Slovakia national side on 1 August and no announcement has yet been made about his successor. There have been significant changes off the pitch as well, with owner Ivan Kmotrík departing after 15 years with the club to take charge of city rivals ŠK Slovan Bratislava. With their finances now much improved, Slovan are talking of winning the title again for the first time in a decade. MŠK Žilina, champions four times in the last seven years, will also challenge and there are also high hopes at former powerhouse FC Spartak Trnava under the guidance of former Yugoslav international Vladimir Vermezović.

Ukraine
FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Shakhtar Donetsk have won the last 16 Ukrainian titles between them and this season will again see the country's top two slog it out for supremacy. Double-winners Shakhtar drew first blood by defeating Dynamo on penalties in the Super Cup on Tuesday and that could be a portent of things to come as Mircea Lucescu's side aim to win their fourth title in five seasons. Shakhtar will start as favourites, largely because Lucescu has instilled such a winning mentality in a squad he has hardly altered since clinching the title. Dynamo coach Yuri Semin, in contrast, has made wholesale changes as he begins his first full campaign in charge, clearing out some of his more experienced faces to make way for the next generation which includes academy stars Mykola Morozyuk, Roman Zozulya and Andri Yarmolenko. Time will tells how quickly Semin can get his new recruits to gel.

Reporting by Peter Bruun, Daniel Schaub, Martin Pavčnik, Rastislav Hribik and Denis Novitsky.