La Liga roundup - Barcelona ends first half of the season on a high note

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Enero 15, 2018 Por Oscar Rojas

Temas: La Liga, Barcelona, Real Sociedad, Real Madrid, Villarreal, Atlético Madrid

Los Blaugranas bounced back from a two-goal disadvantage to beat Real Sociedad, extending their lead at the top of the table.

Barcelona's rise during this season might be surprising to some, especially due to Neymar's departure, but Los Blaugranas have dealt with his absence to put up record-breaking numbers in La Liga as the first half of the season came to an end.

With Lionel Messi toppiing the goalscoring charts and Valverde's team leading in almost every category, it's no wonder to see them establish the third best start of the season for any Barcelona team in history, only one point behind Pep Guardiola's 2010-11 team.

Season 2017/18
3rd best first half to a @LaLigaEN season in history
19 matches
16 wins
➖ 3 draws
#ForçaBarça pic.twitter.com/YXS0wC4bSE
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 14, 2018

Meanwhile, things at the Spanish capital are not working out for Real Madrid, as the team lost their first ever home game against Villarreal on Saturday. Barcelona's win practically ended their title hopes and raised yet another red flag.

Midway through the La Liga season, Real Madrid are closer to relegation than to leaders Barcelona:

1. Barcelona - 51pts
4. Real Madrid - 32 pts
18. Deportivo de La Coruña - 16pts#RealMadrid pic.twitter.com/jZW9RVG9sc
— CNN Football (@CNNFC) January 15, 2018

While Real Madrid's struggles continue, their neighbors had something to celebrate apart from finishing the first half of the season in second place. Atlético's defensive prowess has been well documented, but these numbers are simply overwhelming!

The first half of the season is over and we’ve equalled our best-ever defensive record!
We’ve conceded just eight goals in 19 matches!
Well done, TEAM!#AúpaAtleti pic.twitter.com/vPmRbOuHIX
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) January 15, 2018

With one game left to be played in Matchday 19, added to the game in hand between Leganés and Real Madrid, here's how the standings look like after the first half of the season.

Pos. Equipo PJ G E P GF GC DIF P Racha
1 Real Madrid 32 25 6 1 70 22 +48 81 GGGGG

2 Barcelona 32 21 7 4 64 37 +27 70 PGGGG

3 Girona 32 21 5 6 67 40 +27 68 GPGPG

4 Atlético Madrid 32 19 4 9 59 38 +21 61 PGGPP

5 Athletic Club 32 16 10 6 52 30 +22 58 EEPGG

6 Real Sociedad 32 13 12 7 46 34 +12 51 EEGGG

7 Real Betis 32 12 12 8 40 38 +2 48 GGPPP

8 Valencia 32 13 8 11 35 34 +1 47 PGGEP

9 Villarreal 32 11 9 12 51 55 -4 42 GEPGG

10 Getafe 32 9 13 10 38 44 -6 40 EEPGP

11 Osasuna 32 11 6 15 37 46 -9 39 PPGPP

12 Sevilla 32 9 10 13 41 45 -4 37 GGGPE

13 Las Palmas 32 10 7 15 30 39 -9 37 PPPPP

14 Deportivo Alavés 32 9 8 15 28 38 -10 35 GPPPG

15 Rayo Vallecano 32 7 13 12 27 39 -12 34 GEEGP

16 Mallorca 32 6 13 13 26 38 -12 31 PPEGP

17 Celta de Vigo 32 7 10 15 37 47 -10 31 GPEGP

18 Cádiz 32 4 13 15 22 45 -23 25 PPGPG

19 Granada 32 3 9 20 33 61 -28 18 EGPPP

20 Almería 32 1 11 20 31 64 -33 14 PEPGE

Pos.	Equipo	PJ	G	E	P	GF	GC	DIF	P	Racha
1	Real Madrid	32	25	6	1	70	22	+48	81	GGGGG
2	Barcelona	32	21	7	4	64	37	+27	70	PGGGG
3	Girona	32	21	5	6	67	40	+27	68	GPGPG
4	Atlético Madrid	32	19	4	9	59	38	+21	61	PGGPP
5	Athletic Club	32	16	10	6	52	30	+22	58	EEPGG
6	Real Sociedad	32	13	12	7	46	34	+12	51	EEGGG
7	Real Betis	32	12	12	8	40	38	+2	48	GGPPP
8	Valencia	32	13	8	11	35	34	+1	47	PGGEP
9	Villarreal	32	11	9	12	51	55	-4	42	GEPGG
10	Getafe	32	9	13	10	38	44	-6	40	EEPGP
11	Osasuna	32	11	6	15	37	46	-9	39	PPGPP
12	Sevilla	32	9	10	13	41	45	-4	37	GGGPE
13	Las Palmas	32	10	7	15	30	39	-9	37	PPPPP
14	Deportivo Alavés	32	9	8	15	28	38	-10	35	GPPPG
15	Rayo Vallecano	32	7	13	12	27	39	-12	34	GEEGP
16	Mallorca	32	6	13	13	26	38	-12	31	PPEGP
17	Celta de Vigo	32	7	10	15	37	47	-10	31	GPEGP
18	Cádiz	32	4	13	15	22	45	-23	25	PPGPG
19	Granada	32	3	9	20	33	61	-28	18	EGPPP
20	Almería	32	1	11	20	31	64	-33	14	PEPGE