The International break couldn't have arrived at a worst time for all Spanish teams, but it seems like Real Madrid will resent it the most.
Los Blancos had finally picked up some form under Santiago Solari, who managed to overcome a number of adversities during his first four games as Los Merengues' first-team manager. Having said that, the Argentine seems to be in line to be appointed as the permanent coach for the Spanish giants, and he's accomplished that after putting up some record-breaking numbers for the 13-time UEFA Champions League winners.
WWWW
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 12, 2018
Scored: 15
Conceded: 2
Santiago Solari makes the best start of any manager in Real Madrid history pic.twitter.com/LNeSVGtSap
Hours earlier, Barcelona saw their unbeaten streak at home coming to an end due to a scintillating performance by Real Betis. Their 4-3 loss against the Andalucian side also ended an ongoing streak for Lionel Messi.
1 - Barcelona have lost a game in which Lionel Messi has scored two or more goals for the first time ever in all competitions. Kryptonite. pic.twitter.com/bgjC1NtDMD
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 11, 2018
Pichichi race
We called it for the last couple of weeks. If fit strikers did not take advantage of Messi's absence, he would catch up to them in the top scorers' list. Now, after missing two games through injury in La Liga, Messi is right where he belongs: right next to Luis Suárez as the tournament's best strikers.
"Messi is back"
Messi está de vuelta. pic.twitter.com/lOfTQlsRX1
— LaLiga (@LaLiga) November 12, 2018
La Liga standings after Matchday 12
As we told you earlier, only four points separate the top team in La Liga (Barcelona) from the sixth-placed team (Real Madrid). In-between the two Spanish giants, Sevilla, Atlético and Alavés are just trailing by one point. Will this be the most exciting La Liga season in history? We think it has a good chance!
| Pos. | Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid | 34 | 27 | 6 | 1 | 74 | 22 | +52 | 87 | WWWWW | |
| 2 | Girona | 34 | 23 | 5 | 6 | 73 | 42 | +31 | 74 | WWWLW | |
| 3 | Barcelona | 34 | 22 | 7 | 5 | 70 | 43 | +27 | 73 | LWLWW | |
| 4 | Atlético Madrid | 34 | 21 | 4 | 9 | 63 | 39 | +24 | 67 | WWLWW | |
| 5 | Athletic Club | 34 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 55 | 33 | +22 | 61 | WLDDL | |
| 6 | Real Sociedad | 34 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 48 | 35 | +13 | 54 | WLDDW | |
| 7 | Real Betis | 33 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 41 | 39 | +2 | 49 | DWWLL | |
| 8 | Valencia | 33 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 37 | 38 | -1 | 47 | LLWWD | |
| 9 | Villarreal | 33 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 54 | 55 | -1 | 45 | WWDLW | |
| 10 | Getafe | 34 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 41 | 47 | -6 | 43 | LWDDL | |
| 11 | Osasuna | 33 | 11 | 6 | 16 | 37 | 49 | -12 | 39 | LLLWL | |
| 12 | Deportivo Alavés | 33 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 31 | 38 | -7 | 38 | WWLLL | |
| 13 | Sevilla | 33 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 42 | 46 | -4 | 38 | DWWWL | |
| 14 | Las Palmas | 34 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 30 | 43 | -13 | 37 | LLLLL | |
| 15 | Rayo Vallecano | 33 | 7 | 13 | 13 | 27 | 42 | -15 | 34 | LWDDW | |
| 16 | Mallorca | 34 | 6 | 14 | 14 | 27 | 40 | -13 | 32 | LDLLD | |
| 17 | Celta de Vigo | 33 | 7 | 10 | 16 | 37 | 50 | -13 | 31 | LWLDW | |
| 18 | Cádiz | 34 | 4 | 14 | 16 | 23 | 49 | -26 | 26 | LDLLW | |
| 19 | Granada | 33 | 4 | 9 | 20 | 36 | 61 | -25 | 21 | WDWLL | |
| 20 | Almería | 33 | 1 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 67 | -35 | 14 | LLDLW |
