Football in Spain is huge. So a non-favorite winning La Liga brings some form of joy for the neutrals. Athletico Madrid were the champion of Spain's most widely watched football league La Liga Santander last season. On the penultimate day of the season, they left nothing to chance as they came back from behind to beat Real Valladolid. With Suarez scoring the decisive goal in an amazing comeback. It was a season to forget as the top sides in the league were all not at their best. They won the league with 86 points. This season Athletico Madrid's form in the league has dipped. The likes of Correa, Suarez, and Joao Felix have failed to hit that gear that saw them win the title.They currently sit in 4th position in La Liga this season with 61points. This season has seen them score 40 times from open play. They have managed to score 8 goals from set-pieces. From the penalty spot they have managed to convert 3 spot-kicks into goals. In terms of counter-attacking play, they have scored 6 times. In their recent game played, they lost to Athletico Bilbao highlighting a somewhat below-par season. TOP SCORER SO FAR (LUIS SUAREZ 11GOALS 2 ASSISTS) (ANGEL CORREA 11GOALS 5 ASSISTS)
Roll on this season Real Madrid sits comfortably top of the league with a couple of games to end the season. Real Madrid have 78 points and also with a superior goal difference than their other rivals. Carlo Ancelotti Real Madrid team have been in impeccable form in La Liga this season. It's been a season to remember for Karim Benzema. Scoring goals for fun, as well as decisive goals, especially the goal against Sevilla, was just a justification of the season he is having. Clinching the title with just a few games to go has been an icing on the cake for Carlo Ancelotti's side. Ancelotti now has managed to win a title in each of Europe's top five leagues.From open play this season they scored 47 times. From set-pieces this season so far they have 10 goals. From the penalty spot this season they have managed to score 8 goals. Remember that their penalty stat could have been just higher than 8 but for one or two penalty misses. In terms of counterattack, that is turning over teams they have scored 8 goals in that regard. TOP SCORER: BENZEMA ( 3OAPP, 26 GOALS, 11 ASSISTS)
Barcelona has had a pretty strange season. With Koeman in charge at the helm at the start of the season. They were not performing. But the turn of the year saw a new coach come in. Xavi Hernandez a legend, a former player at Barcelona, and now a coach. After a stint in Qatar was appointed to take charge of the team. He has really changed fortunes at the club. But he was not able to keep Barcelona in Europe as they were beaten by Eintracht Frankfurt. Barcelona were 10th in La Liga when Xavi took over. But they currently sit in third spot. With 63 points,17 points behind Real Madrid. This season the arrival of Ferran Torres, Adama Traore has seen some improvement. But the expectations are not what they are now. With Real Madrid securing the title and Barcelona eliminated in the two European competitions they found themselves in, it appears all they hoping for is a place in next season Champions League. Barcelona has scored 40 times from open play. With set-piece goals not coming at a premium, they have scored 7 times from set plays. (TOP GOAL SCORER MEMPHIS DEPAY 10GOALS 2 ASSISTS).
Sevilla, on the other hand, are in third spot. Level on points with Barcelona. But played a game more than Barcelona. Sevilla season has been topsy-turvy. They find themselves in second spot. Their late resurgence has seen them climb up. They have scored 29 times from open play. With 14 goals from set-piece play. In terms of penalty conversions awarded during the season, they have converted 2. With Rafa Mir their top goalscorer with 9 goals. Sevilla's only high-profile transfer was that of Anthony Martial who arrived from Premier League club Manchester United. Sevilla were booted out of both European competitions they found themselves. What has been impressive is their goal-scoring form, spread between players. They played 34 games in La Liga this season scoring 50 goals. Very Impressive.
Real Betis congratulations for a sterling season. Yes they find themselves in 5th spot, but they have improved tremendously. Winning this season's Copa Del Rey they have exceeded all expectations. With Juanmi their top goalscorer this season with 14 goals. They were helped with the arrival of Hector Bellerin from Arsenal, although he has provided 2 assists. He has been immense. A place in a European competition won't be bad at all. No matter the European competition they find themselves in, they should be happy with their progress. With last season's total point of 61 , this season it is likely they will surpass it by a few points. They currently sit on 57points. With 5 games to end the season.
Real Sociedad this season have been ok, but not too great. With Alexander Isak not having a prolific season. Things have not been too great, going out of Europe in the knockout stages. Their highest goal scorer this season is Mikel Oyarzabal with 9 goals and 3 assists. Alguacil's men have scored 32 goals in La Liga Santander this season. VERDICT: They could do with a couple of signings in the goal-scoring department. The question is will they attract the best. They could go for an up-and-coming player like Feyenoord's Cyril Dessers.
Villareal sits in seventh spot. The same spot they sat at the end of the 2020/2021 season. This season their form in Europe has got people talking. Especially when they beat Bayern Munich in the knockout round of the Champions League. They have Danjuma a player whose remarkable talent is there for all to see. He has 10 goals this season. If they should win all their matches from now to the end of the season, they can surpass last season's total points. With 54 goals scored in La Liga Santander, they are definitely a team that knows how to find the back of the net with ease. Unai Emery's charges have definitely played their best football this season, especially in Europe. With their form in the last five matches in La Liga Santander been LDWWL. Form definitely doesn't always count in football. With Unai resting almost his entire team against Alaves, just so the first team can give their all in the 2nd leg tie against Liverpool. Unai Emery men are a very well-drilled team. One can tell from the way they set offside traps for their opponents.
Athletic Bilbao sit in 8th place. Two places further up than they finished in the 2020/2021 season. This season their talisman upfront for several years Inaki Williams has shone. There was even a debate about how he manages to stay injury-free for an entire season. This season he is the club's top scorer with 8 goals and 4 assists. This season his brother Nico Williams has joined, and he is definitely a talent. Their output this season has been just okay With last season's total point been 46. This season they have 51. They sit comfortably 6 points above Osasuna. Their form in the last five matches is WDLWW. With 41 goals this season, they are definitely in contention to finish in a European spot.
Osasuna has been in the top 11 in La Liga Santander for the past three seasons. They have surpassed expectations with their limited squad. With Ante Budimir their highest goal scorer with 8 goals and 1 assist. With just 37 goals scored in La Liga Santander. They need to improve on the quality of players brought into the side. This is needed if they want to qualify to Europe in the coming years. They have 45 points, their chances of ending up in an European competition next season look bleak. Jagoba Arrasate needs to look at the squad and let the board know who needs to come in during the summer.
Valencia has been a selling club over the year. The likes of David Silva, and David Villa leaving the club down the years. They have kind of lost that edge which made them once a great side. They sit currently in 10th place. Carlos Soler, Goncalves Guedes have been their main top scorers. With each of them scoring 11 goals. They have some talented group of players, but they are underachievers. They brought in some talents the likes of Bryan Gil and Ilaix Moriba. But these two have not really exceeded expectations. Too many draws and losses have made their season a nightmare. Improvement is needed, and a new reshaping of the team is also needed. Some players are out of form, and it no surprise their recent match results show DDLLD.
Celta Vigo this season have not reached the heights of last season. Last season they finished 8th with 53 points. This season they are 12th with 40points. For the past six season their leading goalscorer has been their enigmatic talisman Iago Aspas. Chipping in 14 goals last season. This season in La Liga he has 15 goals. Just a goal above his personal achievements of the previous year. But Celta Vigo have not shone. They sit miles away from the European places and they look really out of form. Yes, there have been victories but their form this season is nothing to write home about. Celta have scored 37 goals in La Liga Santander and an overall total of 40 goals the entire campaign. They have won 10 and drawn 10 matches. What has kept them in the top 11 is their ever-present goal scorer Aspas. Their next highest goal scorer Santi Mina has 7 goals to his name this season. To be honest Celta can do better. Their highest place finished in the league is 6th spot. This occurred in the 2015-2016 season. Eduardo Coudet the Celta Vigo coach has to prepare the team mentally and psychologically for the next season ahead.
Rayo Vallecano this season have done the double over Barcelona. Beating them home and away. This season they have 40points. Their form at home has what has propelled them into 11th spot. Alvaro Garcia and Sergio Guardiola both have 6 goals in La Liga Santander. Andoni Iraola has to be interviewed as to how he managed to beat the Blaugrana on home soil and on away soil. An excellent achievement, they are a team going places. They were in the Segunda Division the previous season. So obviously they have put in their best this season back with the big boys. They are not only miles away from relegation, but they are also playing good soccer.
Elche has improved this campaign. Last season they finished in the position above the relegation zone. Elche's top goalscorer this season is Lucas Boye. He has 7 goals this season. With 39 points in the bag this season, they have improved from their 36 points last season. Maybe they need to keep their spirits high for the rest of the season. In football, things change nothing stays the same.
Espanyol this season sits in 14th spot. With their top goal scorer Raul De Tomas scoring 15 goals this season in La Liga Santander. The previous season they were playing in the Segunda Division. They finished on top of the pile and got promoted. Now they have had a somewhat great campaign judging by their standards. With Raul being the main man up front, he has propelled them into a great spot in the league. Vicente Moreno's men's last five matches have seen only one win. Some of the teams to have beaten them during this period are Real Madrid and Athletico Madrid. It is no shame as these are two of La Liga's powerful teams.
Getafe's Enes Unal has the highest amount of goals for the club this season with 15 goals. Getafe sits in 15 spots with 35 points. They have scored 31 goals this season and conceded 37. A leaky defense you might say, but there are teams down below who have conceded more than them. Coincidentally last season they finished 15 with 38 points. So have they made progress? Well, they have managed to stay in the league and look likely to remain in La Liga for the 2022/2023 season.
Cadiz sits in 16th spot with 32 points. This season Alvaro Negredo has 6 goals and is their top goal scorer. Cadiz poached Lucas Perez from Elche and he has managed 3 goals. The season has been pretty rough for them. But pundits say they would survive and stay in La Liga for another season. Last season they finished in 12th spot. So why the sudden decline in form this season? Their away form was pretty ok. Picking up 24 points on their travels. This season they have picked up 18 points away and 14 points at home some points short of their previous mark. Teams have strengthened in the upper half. Therefore with Cadiz cash strapped they were not able to attract some top players to their side.
Mallorca after promotion last season was expected to perform wonders this season. But that has not happened. With their record in La Liga Santander been PLAYED 33, DRAWN 8 WON 8 LOST 17. They sit in 17th spot just a point above the relegation zone. They have 32 points from 33 games played. Their top goal scorers this season are Salva Sevilla and Vedat Muriqi each scoring 4 goals. They face Barcelona on the 1st of May 2022. Failure to win this might see them having to look to the fixture against Granada to determine who gains more ground. That might not decide their fate. But it might give whoever wins the edge over the other.
RELEGATION TEAMS
Granada has been the most surprising team this season. They sit in the relegation zone and look likely or unlikely to go down. It all depends on what happens onwards till the end of the season. They have not won a game in their last five matches. With European football last season, behind their belt. It was expected they were going to have another tremendous season. But that has not been the case. They have 31 points from 34 games. Conceded 57 goals and they look down and out. Their top goalscorer this season is Jorge Molina with 8 goals and 4 assists.
Alaves have 28 points from 34 games. They sit in 19th spot. They have not impressed, either they go back to the Segunda Division to rebuild. Or they get some momentum going to stay up. But that looks unlikely. One would think Joselu scoring 13 goals this season, would definitely pull them up. But that has not been the case.
VERDICT: They would be relegated.
Levante is in 20th spot. Jose Luis Morales is their top goal scorer. He has 12 goals and 5 assists this season. How some of these La Liga clubs find themselves down the table, after a pretty good couple of seasons is mindblowing. Considering how the league is very competitive. It's no surprise. With 66 goals conceded that is really awful and just not acceptable.
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