The Spanish first division has been known for its flair, freedom and excitement. Despite this, since the departures of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo from the league, that spark has never lived up to its full potential since.
This season has been no different to its previous, a fading away title race, league form dropping due to European commitments and an intense race for European places.
With five games remaining, each place is yet to be determined. Will everything fall into place or will some big shocks come into the limelight.
Title Race
1st – Barcelona, 85 points
Barcelona sit top of the pile, another successful season domestically for Hansi Flick’s men as they are 11 points clear with only five games to go, the La Liga title is sure to remain in the city of Barcelona.
The side has won their last nine league games, steering them clear of the chasing pack, on track to win back-to-back Spanish titles.
Despite this, their European journey finished in disappointment for yet another season. After finishing fifth in the Champions League league phase, Barca looked to be one of the favourites of the tournament yet again, but after being down to 10 men in both ties against Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals, they were knocked out 3-2 on aggregate and have to add another year to the 11 year wait to bring European glory back to the city of Barcelona.
Led by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, Barca won the Supercopa de España, beating rivals Real Madrid 3-2 in the final. Yamal has been incredible in the league with 16 goals and 11 assists in the league, he is proving to the world he is arguably the most special player on the planet and is leading Barcelona to their second piece of silverware for the season.
2nd – Real Madrid, 74 points
Real sit in the second spot with a mountain to climb if they want to snatch the title from Barcelona, sitting 11 points behind their league form has dipped significantly in recent times, resulting in what may look like another trophyless season for the Spanish giants.
Another disappointing season for Real, with new manager Xabi Alonso being sacked halfway through the season and new manager Alvaro Arbeloa not bringing Real back to their best. Serious questions are being asked of the Madrid side as it is shocking for a club of their stature to go two seasons with no silverware.
Along with Barcelona, they were also knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, losing to Bayern Munich 5-3 on aggregate after an enthralling second leg tie with six goals in the first half.
Kylian Mbappe sits on 24 goals in the league, being the league’s top scorer and has become the main man under this new Real side, but since the signing of the French star, Real have gone trophyless, questioning whether their style of football worked better without an out-and-out star striker in the squad.
Champions League spots
3rd – Villareal, 65 points
Villareal sits in third place, 15 points ahead in the Champions League place. A brilliant season for the men in yellow, who are mathematically one point away from securing another season among Europe’s elites.
They will be looking to do better in the Champions League compared to their performance this season in the competition, they finished second bottom of the league phase in 35th after failing to win a single game and only gaining one point in a 2-2 draw against Juventus.
Signings of Nicolas Pepe and Georges Mikautadze have proven brilliantly for the side and are breaking the mold of the traditional top three in La Liga.
Mikautadze, Alberto Moleiro and Gerard Moreno all lead the way with nine goals each in the league, with Pepe coming close behind with seven. Manager Marcelino García has given the side their best win percentage for the past 13 years, with 61% and averaging two points per game.
4th – Atletico Madrid, 60 points
Atletico sit in the remaining confirmed Champions League spot, 10 points away from the chasing pack. Atletico’s league form has not been up to their high standards at all this season. Losing four out of their last five has dropped them to fourth but a place in the Champions League next season still looking likely.
After beating Spanish rivals Barcelona in this season’s Champions League quarter-final, they are just three games away from European glory for the first time in their history. A semi-final tie against Arsenal stands in their way of their first Champions League final in 10 years.
Full focus has clearly been put into the competition as Diego Simeone is choosing to rest near his entire first team selection in league games in preparation for the European tie.
The side failed to win domestic silverware this season after losing on penalties in the Copa Del Ray final against Real Sociedad and with Simeone’s contract coming to an end, this could be the last chance they have to finally win the Champions League.
European fight
5th – Real Betis, 50 points
Betis sit in fifth, in what could potentially be another Champions League place for La Liga next season. With the battle between Germany and Spain for the extra spot in the competition next season, Betis look most likely to snatch it being six points away from the chasing pack.
They competed in the Europa League this season, reaching the quarter-finals. Despite being one of the favourites to reach the final, they were knocked out by Braga 5-3 on aggregate.
Their league form has dipped, only winning one out of their last five, with big games vs Barcelona and Real Sociedad coming up, they must be on top of their game to not throw away a potential place in Europe’s elites next season.
The chasing pack
Five teams between sixth and tenth are all chasing the potential hint of European football next season. With only three points separating them, and the chance of an extra Champions League spot going to a team in Spain for next season. It becomes all to play for with each team battling it out for a space in any of the three European competitions.
Getafe sit in sixth, on 44 points, sitting six away from Betis and with a somewhat easy run-in, only playing one team in the top half in Osasuna.
Celta Vigo are in seventh, on 44 points and six points away from Betis also. They competed in the Europa League this season, knocking out one of the tournament favourites in Lyon in the round of 16, but were knocked out by Freiburg in the next stage to dispel any silverware glory thoughts. They have to face Atletico and Bilbao in their remaining fixtures.
Sociedad sit in eighth, on 43 points, but since their Copa Del Rey win over Atletico recently, they have already secured a spot in the Europa League this season and sitting seven points away from only a potential Champions League spot, they are the team who have the least to prove.
Osasuna sit in ninth, on 42 points, eight points away from a potential Champions League spot. They have to play Barcelona, Atletico, and Getafe in their remaining five games, meaning they have a mountain to climb if they want to secure European football for the first time in 20 years.
Athletic Bilbao sit in tenth on 41 points, nine points behind Betis. A rough season for the side after finishing 29th in this season’s Champions League league phase, and with star player Nico Williams not playing to the best of his ability, Bilbao have not lived up to their expectations and will have to be perfect to even have a chance of European football next season.
All to play for
With five games remaining, each team in the top half of the table has a battle on their hands to secure either the title, and Champions League or European football for next season.
With the potential of an extra Champions League spot for a Spanish side next season on the horizon, this will give teams that extra push to boost their chances in the run-in.
Barcelona looks set to secure the title, but all other positions are up for grabs in what looks to be an exciting remaining five games.
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