Are Barcelona Still Favourites to Win La Liga Title This Season?
With the 2024/2025 La Liga campaign in full flow, the title race is becoming fierce, and FC Barcelona's prospects of claiming the Spanish championship back are under a new level of scrutiny. Having enjoyed a fruitful 2022/2023 campaign, securing their first league title in four years, Barcelona's form this season is raising some eyebrows: are they still the favourites to win La Liga, or are there new pretenders who can now topple them?
The State of FC Barcelona
Barcelona entered the season with new confidence after their success in 2023. However, this time it has been a little bit tougher. The Catalan giants have suffered from internal problems like financial crises, losing key players, and a few significant injuries. However, Barcelona has been fighting hard under the management of Xavi Hernandez, who has been entrusted with maintaining their attacking smoothness and defending solidity.
Barcelona's squad, although talented, has had to rely on the new stars like Gavi, Pedri, and Alejandro Balde. They have played an important role in leading the squad through tough games. The squad also boasts the services of veteran players like Robert Lewandowski and Marc-André ter Stegen, who are still crucial to attacking and defending. In spite of this, team depth has been stretched by the congested fixture schedule as well as by injury, and with some of those performances being uneven.
The Rivalry: Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid
Perhaps one of the key factors that can influence Barcelona's prospects of securing the title is the performance of their bitter rivals, Real Madrid. Los Blancos have shown grit since the departure of Karim Benzema to Saudi Arabia, with the arrival of signings like Jude Bellingham being game-changers. With Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, Real Madrid has again proven its trademark resilience and ability to deliver in tight situations, turning it into a serious title contender.
Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid's Diego Simeone continues to be one of the league's biggest clubs. Although traditionally they relied on defensive solidity, Atlético has adapted to a more attack-oriented game in recent years, with the signings of Antoine Griezmann and João Félix. Their tactical flexibility and depth put them squarely in the running to defeat Barcelona to the top spot.
Barcelona's Strengths and Weaknesses
Barcelona’s main strength this season lies in their tactical discipline under Xavi, combined with their ability to control possession. However, their attacking efficiency has been inconsistent, with Lewandowski’s form fluctuating and the team struggling to break down compact defenses at times. Barcelona’s ability to dominate possession and control games is still a potent weapon, but their vulnerability on the counter-attack and occasional lapses in concentration have made them prone to dropping points.
One feature that stands out about Barcelona, however, is their record at home at Camp Nou, where they have been hard to beat. Their defense, led by experienced Gerard Piqué's replacement, Jules Koundé, and emerging talent, is very solid, but again, injuries to central defenders Andreas Christensen have caused some anxiety.
The Title Race: A Three-Horse Race?
With the season approaching its midway point, there can be little doubt that Barcelona's favourites tag for the title is being strained to the breaking point. Real Madrid's solidity and Atlético Madrid's growing supremacy assure us that La Liga will be more keenly contested than ever before.
Barcelona, for all their issues, are still very much in the mix and must not be ruled out as legitimate challengers. How they do in securing vital victories in such challenging matches will prove to be vital, as the championship of the league most often than not comes down to how successful teams are against mid-table and relegation battlers.
But the season's volatility, plus the might of their adversaries, will mean that Barcelona will have to continue to evolve under Xavi if they are to maintain their favourites status. With important games on the horizon, it is questionable if they can maintain their lead, especially since Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid both possess squads that can maintain a constant challenge for the title.
Conclusion: Still in the Hunt, but No Guarantees
Barcelona are still in the running for the La Liga title, but not as the overwhelming favorites anymore. Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid have shown the quality and consistency necessary to match them at the top, and given that the season is still in its infancy, there can be no guarantees. One thing that is certain is that the title battle will be thrilling, and Barcelona will have to work their magic to maintain their hopes of taking back La Liga title.
Time only will tell whether Barcelona's current squad and tactical set-up will be strong enough to fend off the challenge from their rivals, but they are certainly still contenders for the title.
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Are Barcelona Still Favourites to Win La Liga Title This Season?
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