Over the next few weeks I will be introducing some of the new soccer shirts that European clubs will be donning this upcoming season. It has become almost a ritual for club teams to get a new jersey every year, making it harder on fans to keep up with the new styles. Last week, I featured the new English Premiership jerseys that will be on display all over England. This week, our focus will be on the new Spanish La Liga shirts, from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Atletico Madrid.

La Liga champions Real Madrid will be taking the field this season with some new threads for both home and away matches. The new home shirt (right) is a bit similar to that of last year’s. However, this year’s shirt will have the Adidas trefoil in blue rather than black and the design on the sides is very subtle compared to the crazy waves of 2006/2007. Real Madrid will also have a new away jersey. Last year’s version was also black, but new for this year, the jersey will feature the Adidas trefoil in peach.

Barcelona will seek revenge on Real Madrid with a couple of new jerseys in their closet this year. The most recognizable change will be the away jersey. It takes a dramatic color change from orange to an aqua blue. May I suggest buying one a new Henry one in this color. If you don’t like the new away, you can always pick up a new home jersey. The new home is very similar to last year’s but the blue is much lighter this year. Plus, the red and blue stripes are a little thinner this year, lining up perfectly to fit in the Nike swoosh and Barcelona logo.

Along with Real Madrid and Barcelona, Valencia will also don new jerseys. Valencia will be sporting a new terrific home kit that has had people talking. The jersey features orange rings right where the sleeves meet the shoulders. Also, the orange trim will appear on the collar. The orange around the sleeves is what makes this jersey. Valencia also will have a new away jersey that is in the familiar orange.

Atletico Madrid will take the field without striker Fernando Torres, but the club will have new jerseys for the 2007/2008 campaign. The new home thread will go back to the famous stripes that Atletico Madrid have always worn. Last year, the club did not have stripe, but rather two solids colors that took up one side of the jersey. Along with the new home kit, Atletico will also have a new away jersey.

Tune in next week as I will make my way over to Italy and look at some of the new jerseys that the Serie A clubs will be wearing next season.