Why La Liga title race is back on

Last weekend marked a significant shift in La Liga, reopening a title race that Barcelona appeared to be comfortably leading.

 

Here’s a recap of how things unfolded.

 

When La Liga resumed in January, Barcelona topped the standings with 46 points, sitting four points ahead of Real Madrid. Their revival was remarkable, with two wins—including a convincing league victory over Espanyol and a spot in the Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.

 

Real Madrid also commenced the second half of the season strongly, beginning with a decisive 5-1 victory over Real Betis and securing their place in the Super Cup final against Barcelona.

 

That final marked a pivotal moment, as Los Blancos lost 3-2 to their fierce rivals, leading to Xabi Alonso’s resignation as manager the following day.

 

Real Madrid appointed Alvaro Arbeloa, their reserve-team coach and a former standout player, to restore order and confidence after the Super Cup loss. Unfortunately for Arbeloa, his debut was disastrous; his team was unexpectedly defeated 3-2 by Albacete, a team in the lower division, with captain Dani Carvajal acknowledging the squad had hit “rock bottom.” This loss raised doubts about Arbeloa’s leadership, while Barcelona fans celebrated their rivals’ turmoil.

 

Meanwhile, Barcelona successfully navigated a challenging match against Racing Santander, reaching the Copa del Rey quarter-finals and maintaining their perfect record since the season resumed, boasting four consecutive victories and 12 goals scored.

 

Yet, another surprise awaited Barcelona in their next league matchup against Real Sociedad. Before the game, manager Hansi Flick expressed his desire to sustain their momentum and show the same spirit as the previous season. However, Barcelona’s impressive 11-match winning streak came to a halt with a 2-1 loss for the second year in a row. Flick expressed disappointment despite the team’s strong performance, stating they deserved to win.

 

On the previous day, Real Madrid secured a 2-0 victory over last-place Levante, though the reception at the Bernabeu was marred by fans vocalizing their frustration over recent performances, reducing Barcelona’s lead to just one point.

 

What’s the atmosphere like in both camps?

 

Real Madrid’s Arbeloa hailed Tuesday’s 6-1 Champions League triumph over Monaco as a “turning point,” praising the support from fans at the Bernabeu and the desire exhibited by his players. This victory boosted morale among the manager, players, and supporters as they prepared for a crucial match against third-placed Villarreal, with Arbeloa underscoring the importance of the upcoming game.

 

Barcelona also approached the weekend following a Champions League win, besting Slavia Prague 4-2, and they were set to play bottom-ranked Oviedo.

 

The next meeting between Real Madrid and Barcelona isn’t scheduled until May, but it could have significant implications for the title race, especially since Real secured the first Clasico of the season with a 2-1 victory in October.

 

Just as last season proved unpredictable, so too does this year’s title race remain wide open. At this point last year, Real Madrid had a six-point advantage over Barcelona, only for the Catalans to come back and claim the title. Once again, everything is still up for grabs.