Barcelona-based Espanyol have become the first team in Spain to return to pre-season training, with Wu Lei's side getting back to work on Wednesday.
Although the first games in the new La Liga season are not until mid-August, Espanyol will be the first side to play competitive football after their seventh place finish last season saw them qualify for the Europa League.
However, if Espanyol are to make it to the group stage of the tournament, they will have to battle their way through three qualifying rounds, with the first of those games against the winner of the tie between Icelandic side Stjarnan or Estonian team Levadia Tallin on July 25.
Espanyol have a new coach in former B-team boss David Gallego, replacing Joan Francesc 'Rubi', who joined Real Betis at the end of the campaign, while the club are in danger of losing key players Mario Hermoso and last season's top scorer Borja Iglesias, who are the subject of interest from Atletico Madrid and Betis.
Espanyol's Chinese striker Wu Lei will not play in the first Europa League qualifying round as he recovers from a shoulder injury, but should be fit for the second round if Espanyol qualify.
Other teams to start pre-season training in the coming days are Athletic Bilbao, who go back to work on Thursday, as do Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, while Betis report for training on July 5.
Real Madrid's players will begin pre-season training on July 8, while reigning champions FC Barcelona are not back in action until July 14, although Lionel Messi and other players who have participated in the ongoing Copa America will be given an extended break.
