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 33 26 6 1 71 22 +49 84 GGGGG

2 Girona 33 22 5 6 69 40 +29 71 GGPGP

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

4 Atlético Madrid 33 20 4 9 62 39 +23 64 GPGGP

5 Athletic Club 33 16 10 7 53 33 +20 58 PEEPG

6 Real Sociedad 33 13 12 8 46 35 +11 51 PEEGG

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

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

9 Getafe 33 10 13 10 41 45 -4 43 GEEPG

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

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

12 Deportivo Alavés 33 10 8 15 31 38 -7 38 GGPPP

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

14 Las Palmas 33 10 7 16 30 41 -11 37 PPPPP

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

16 Mallorca 33 6 14 13 27 39 -12 32 EPPEG

17 Celta de Vigo 33 7 10 16 37 50 -13 31 PGPEG

18 Cádiz 33 4 14 15 23 46 -23 26 EPPGP

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

20 Almería 33 1 11 21 32 67 -35 14 PPEPG

Pos.	Equipo	PJ	G	E	P	GF	GC	DIF	P	Racha
1	Real Madrid	33	26	6	1	71	22	+49	84	GGGGG
2	Girona	33	22	5	6	69	40	+29	71	GGPGP
3	Barcelona	32	21	7	4	64	37	+27	70	PGGGG
4	Atlético Madrid	33	20	4	9	62	39	+23	64	GPGGP
5	Athletic Club	33	16	10	7	53	33	+20	58	PEEPG
6	Real Sociedad	33	13	12	8	46	35	+11	51	PEEGG
7	Real Betis	32	12	12	8	40	38	+2	48	GGPPP
8	Valencia	32	13	8	11	35	34	+1	47	PGGEP
9	Getafe	33	10	13	10	41	45	-4	43	GEEPG
10	Villarreal	32	11	9	12	51	55	-4	42	GEPGG
11	Osasuna	32	11	6	15	37	46	-9	39	PPGPP
12	Deportivo Alavés	33	10	8	15	31	38	-7	38	GGPPP
13	Sevilla	32	9	10	13	41	45	-4	37	GGGPE
14	Las Palmas	33	10	7	16	30	41	-11	37	PPPPP
15	Rayo Vallecano	32	7	13	12	27	39	-12	34	GEEGP
16	Mallorca	33	6	14	13	27	39	-12	32	EPPEG
17	Celta de Vigo	33	7	10	16	37	50	-13	31	PGPEG
18	Cádiz	33	4	14	15	23	46	-23	26	EPPGP
19	Granada	32	3	9	20	33	61	-28	18	EGPPP
20	Almería	33	1	11	21	32	67	-35	14	PPEPG