Qué Pasa La Liga is a quick roundup about what’s going on with La Liga.
Barça are still in the driver’s seat for success as they set the record for longest unbeaten run; 29. Barça are still in the driver’s seat for success. The quest for a consecutive treble is still possible and they just clinched a spot in the Copa del Rey Final for the third straight year. Arsenal is the first obstacle towards repeating as Champions League winners. Now if they could only stop getting threats of law suits and find a sponsor for the shirt.
Atlético Madrid are still in second place and proving to the naysayers that La Liga is not a two horse race. Everyone had to be happy and relieved that Fernando Torres finally hit the 100 goals milestone. The club must be ecstatic that their summer signing flop, Jackson Martinez, was sold to a Chinese club for €42 million. He cost them €36.75 million and they went ahead and sold the disappointing player for a profit.
Real Madrid still have to deal with the old issues even under a new manager. They still look unconvincing away from the Santiago Bernabéu. Zidane has not been tested but faces a tough test ahead with matches against Athletic and Atlético in Spanish League and Roma in the Champions League. Injuries to Marcelo and Bale do not help Zidane’s cause where their pursuit of a league title could be over in March.
Villarreal continue to be one of the best run teams in Spain and quietly cementing a place in Champions League playoff spot. Ever since gaining promotion, they have been competitive and fiscally responsible. That is a rarity nowadays.
Sevilla and Celta face for the third time in a week. Sevilla’s 4-0 first leg win means they will be Barça’s opponents in the Copa del Rey Final. Both clubs are separated by two points for one of the Europa League spot. Does Sevilla have another Europa League run in them this season?
Athletic, sandwiched between Sevilla and Celta, in 6th place, travel to Madrid in Zidane’s first toughest match at the Santiago Bernabéu. This is always a big game but also a big test for both clubs.
Eibar continue to be the surprise of the season as they currently occupy 8th place. La Liga’s version of AFC Bournemouth with their small stadium and exceeding everyone’s expectations about survival. They received a stay of execution after they were relegated then promoted when Elche got relegated instead for not being fiscally responsible. The club is making the most of a second chance with José Luis Mendilibar.
Deportivo seem safe from the drop right and things keep improving under Víctor Sánchez since rescuing them from the drop last season. They barely survived the drop last season and slowly progressing.
Malaga also continue to exceed expectations. Javi Gracia continue to do an amazing job with very little to work with. Malaga went from big spenders to penny pinchers and yet remain competitive.
Real Sociedad is another team on the up after bringing in Eusebio as David Moyes’s replacement. Only time will tell if they can continue to get the right results to avoid a relegation battle.
Getafe and Real Betis are two clubs were not much were expected of them and the final stretch of the season will be only about surviving the drop.
Valencia are the biggest disappointment of the season. The Gary Neville project has been a disaster. Juande Ramos and Rafa Benítez rumored to be next in line to replace Neville. Foreign ownership has gotten it wrong so far this season and they are only four points from the relegation zone.
Rayo Vallecano continue to be La Liga’s swashbucklers under Paco Jemez who does not settle for draws. That
attitude is commendable but will it be enough for them to survive the drop?
Sporting Gijon are struggling after gaining promotion. The rest of the season will be about survival and enjoying the young starlet, Alen Halilović, who is on loan from Barça.
attitude is commendable but will it be enough for them to survive the drop?
Sporting Gijon are struggling after gaining promotion. The rest of the season will be about survival and enjoying the young starlet, Alen Halilović, who is on loan from Barça.
Espanyol is this season’s sinking ship. New ownership came in with the aim of qualifying in the Champions League. Right now, their concern must be avoiding a bottom three finish.
Las Palmas, Granada, and Levante are fighting for survival. Valiant efforts were on display from Granada and Levante this past weekend against Real Madrid and Barça, yet many claim the big dogs of La Liga have it easy against the bottom teams.
@IBES16
