We are halfway through in La Liga, and there are some talking points to be addressed just as all teams have completed 19 games.
It has turned out to be a closer affair than initially expected, but even so, Barcelona has managed to top the charts once more. Atlético seems to be their biggest threat, since Simeone's men are five points behind Los Blaugranas even with a number of injuries to deal with.
Speaking about Real Madrid, their battle to keep themselves in UEFA Champions League spots saw them claim a nerve-wrecking win on Sunday. A late goal by Dani Ceballos clinched three crucial points for Los Blancos, and their game against Sevilla next weekend could be the key to climb back into the title race.
Speaking about this weekend's games, here are a few topics that may interest you.
Suárez and Messi, better than the entire Spanish league
The goalscoring duo has officially scored more goals than the full list of La Liga teams. Only Sevilla and Celta have scored the same amount of goals as the South American aces.
After 19 games, no La Liga club has scored more goals than Lionel Messi (17) and Luis Suarez (14) combined. pic.twitter.com/Lq0wvNGGb9
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 14, 2019
Sevilla's hoodoo at San Mamés continues
Los Hispalenses seem to have lost some of their impulse in La Liga, and their most recent result is a good example of it. Pablo Machin's men dropped ten points behind Barcelona this weekend after losing against Athletic. The Andalucian team has played six games at the new San Mamés Stadium, with all six ending in losses.
Griezmann leads Atlético's title chase
The French striker seems determined to keep Los Colchoneros in the title race, and his latest performances are a good example of the relevance he's acquired during the Spanish giants' latest unbeaten streak.
Just a reminder that Griezmann is on FIRE pic.twitter.com/qu3Pj1LE5c
— Atlético MLT (@saulismo_SN8) January 14, 2019
Real Madrid, better without Isco
One of the biggest debates among Real Madrid fans has been the Isco's presence in the team's lineups since Santiago Solari's appointment as coach. The footballer has had a cameo role in eleven games, while Solari has chosen to leave him out of six games. Numbers seem to support Solari's theory about Isco: the Malaga-born player is not essential to the team's success.
100% - Real Madrid under Santiago Solari have won 100% of their games without Isco Alarcon in all competitions (6/6), compared to 63.6% with him (7/11). Debate. pic.twitter.com/SdJVtz5Ugs
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 13, 2019
Pichichi race
Messi and Suárez keep dominating the league's goalscoring chart, and there seems to be no hope for the rest of the players involved in this race if both of Barcelona's aces keep up their form.
La Liga standings after 19 games
Barcelona tops the charts, with Atlético following their footsteps closely. Sevilla and Real Madrid lock horns next weekend, and if there is a winner, one of them could be thumped out of the title race.
Pos. | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P | Form | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Real Madrid | 32 | 25 | 6 | 1 | 70 | 22 | +48 | 81 | WWWWW | |
2 | Barcelona | 32 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 64 | 37 | +27 | 70 | LWWWW | |
3 | Girona | 32 | 21 | 5 | 6 | 67 | 40 | +27 | 68 | WLWLW | |
4 | Atlético Madrid | 32 | 19 | 4 | 9 | 59 | 38 | +21 | 61 | LWWLL | |
5 | Athletic Club | 32 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 52 | 30 | +22 | 58 | DDLWW | |
6 | Real Sociedad | 32 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 46 | 34 | +12 | 51 | DDWWW | |
7 | Real Betis | 32 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 40 | 38 | +2 | 48 | WWLLL | |
8 | Valencia | 32 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 35 | 34 | +1 | 47 | LWWDL | |
9 | Villarreal | 32 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 51 | 55 | -4 | 42 | WDLWW | |
10 | Getafe | 32 | 9 | 13 | 10 | 38 | 44 | -6 | 40 | DDLWL | |
11 | Osasuna | 32 | 11 | 6 | 15 | 37 | 46 | -9 | 39 | LLWLL | |
12 | Sevilla | 32 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 41 | 45 | -4 | 37 | WWWLD | |
13 | Las Palmas | 32 | 10 | 7 | 15 | 30 | 39 | -9 | 37 | LLLLL | |
14 | Deportivo Alavés | 32 | 9 | 8 | 15 | 28 | 38 | -10 | 35 | WLLLW | |
15 | Rayo Vallecano | 32 | 7 | 13 | 12 | 27 | 39 | -12 | 34 | WDDWL | |
16 | Mallorca | 32 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 38 | -12 | 31 | LLDWL | |
17 | Celta de Vigo | 32 | 7 | 10 | 15 | 37 | 47 | -10 | 31 | WLDWL | |
18 | Cádiz | 32 | 4 | 13 | 15 | 22 | 45 | -23 | 25 | LLWLW | |
19 | Granada | 32 | 3 | 9 | 20 | 33 | 61 | -28 | 18 | DWLLL | |
20 | Almería | 32 | 1 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 64 | -33 | 14 | LDLWD |