La Liga Title Race Preview and Betting Tip

With just two weeks to go in the La Liga season, all three of the main competitors could still come out on top. But who will ultimately be crowned La Liga Champions from the three leaders – Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid or Barcelona? Certainly, one couldn’t ask for three clubs at the top of the table who are bigger rivals!

Barcelona should really be kicking themselves because they`ve absolutely thrown away the title this year, and for that matter the Champions League. There are no outstanding teams in Europe this season – I would still say Bayern are the best, but have been hindered by being so far ahead in the Bundesliga – including Barcelona themselves to be fair, and they`ve thrown stupid points away in La Liga.

In particular, the Granada game was unforgivable. Even one point in that game and their destiny would still be in their own hands. It still might be if Real drop more points, but they certainly don`t deserve to win it.

Barcelona haven`t played as well as in previous seasons, but they`ve still scored 99 goals in La Liga. Their real weakness was exposed yet again in yesterday`s game they cannot defend. They`ve lost all confidence at the back, and rightly so because they give away basic goals all the time. They desperately need at least one dominant central defender, and they need to get back to pressing the ball like they used to.

Real Madrid are currently the bookmakers favourites to pull off a La Liga and Champions League double, something they are obviously well capable of doing. But they are a flawed side, and I don’t actually consider them to be the best in Europe, although it does seem odd to say that a team which lost 5-0 on aggregate to Real Madrid is better than them, I will agree!

But bear in mind that Bayern have been unbelievable in the Bundesliga, absolutely ruthlessly brilliant. Real can look fantastic on a good day, but on a bad day they are wide open in midfield and defensively vulnerable. We’ve seen that time and time again this season, not least when they played a great attacking game against Barca, but conceded four at home.

Another weakness of Real is that they are so reliant on Ronaldo, everything in their game is set up to make chances for him, and indeed he tends to have about 25 shots in every game as well as the majority of crosses being aimed at him. While he is a brilliant player and this generally pays off, if he has a bad day then it invariably costs them. Bayern are for me the best all-round team, but the fact that the wrapped the league up in March has caused them real problems because they`ve been on cruise control ever since.

Atletico look by far the most solid side of the three, but they don’t have the goals in them that Barca and Real take for granted, have a smaller squad, and are unaccustomed to the position of challenging for the game’s biggest honours. They had coped with this pretty well, winning a string of games comfortably, but their 2-0 loss to Levante has really put the cat among the pigeons.

Atleti are still well placed to come out on top, but the fact that they play Barca away on the last day and the Catalans can still finish ahead of them could cost them. The point that Real sneaked at home to Valencia could be vital, and I just fancy them to sneak the title on the final day.

Tip: Real Madrid (23/10 with paddy Power)

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05/05/2014     © Frixo 2026