3 talking points as La Liga returns

La Liga resumed over the last few days after a Christmas break, and the latest round of games was not devoid of storylines.

There was drama at the top of the table, some teams vying for the top four spots picked up wins and the race for the other European spots will make for an exciting second half of the season. 

What were the standout highlights from the just-concluded gameweek in Spain?

Could there be a title race?

Real Madrid were unbeaten in 15 La Liga games coming into the game against Getafe, so it was expected to be business as usual in this one-sided derby on Sunday.

However, the hosts continued their unbeaten run from the backend of last year to claim an unforeseen 1-0 win over Carlo Ancelotti’s team—taking their run without defeats to six games.

Ancelotti was not happy with his team’s performance, suggesting his players were mentally still away on holiday, and the Italian boss may have raised an eyebrow after Sevilla’s 1-0 win at Cadiz on Monday night.

The upshot of the Andalusians’ slim victory sees the gap at the top of the table reduced to five points, a margin that seems slender when you consider the side from Seville have a game outstanding.

Julen Lopetegui will not be getting ahead of himself, though, even if he will relish his side’s underdog tag in the New Year.

Having said that, the healthy eight-point lead Real opened in 2021 means they can afford off days like Sunday but it will be imperative to get back to their pre-2022 level over the coming weeks to hold off in-form Sevilla.

Barcelona battle through adversity in Mallorca

A lot was made pre-game about the issues with coronavirus, injuries and suspension which left Xavi without about a dozen first-team players.

If Barcelona had lost at Mallorca on Sunday night, there would have been more sympathy than criticism, especially as observers believed the encounter at Estadi de Son Moix should have been postponed.

Barca nicked a 1-0 success, courtesy of the much-maligned Luuk de Jong who scored just before half-time.

Xavi’s team still sit in fifth place at the halfway point of the season, but they are only one point back of Atletico Madrid in fourth and two adrift of third-placed Real Betis.

For all the fears over the Blaugrana ending outside the Champions League spots after an indifferent start under the jettisoned Ronald Koeman, they could find themselves in the top four sooner rather than later.

Of course, they will need the requisite consistency to stay there. Still, they have put themselves in a good position to capitalize on the continued inconsistency of the sides around them.

Villarreal making things interesting in the tussle for the European spots

A glance at the table will reveal Unai Emery’s team are eighth in the standings, yet a closer look shows the Yellow Submarine are only four points behind fourth-placed Atletico.

A 5-0 thrashing of Levante on Monday was Villarreal’s fourth on the trot, with the irrepressible Gerard Moreno scoring twice in the resounding success.

Only six points separate third-placed Betis from Athletic Club in mid-table, so there are undoubtedly going to be more twists, especially if the broader unpredictability of those teams persists. 

Emery will look to leverage this to possibly compete for a CL spot that is not out of reach.