La Liga Reflections: Week 15

The Title Race

Or whatever remains of it.

It was Spain’s and arguably the world’s biggest match on Saturday and it decided the title race. Apparently.

It was El Clasico time and reigning Spanish champions Real Madrid, as expected, sank down but not without a fight. Before the start of the match Barca were nine points ahead of the then fifth placed Real Madrid and after the match went 12 points ahead of their archrivals, who actually slipped to sixth by the end of the Week 15.

There were many who anticipated Barca to pierce through Madrid like knife through butter and the record books were being frantically searched to check which the biggest win in the Clasico history was.

As if!!!!!

In the end Real Madrid exhibited some spirit and determination at Camp Nou with new coach Juande Ramos lining up nine men behind the ball and the Madrid players taking turns to boot Lionel Messi.

Barca couldn’t really display their full rhythm but goals from Samuel Eto’o and Messi in the last seven minutes of the match were enough to hand the Catalans a deserved victory. Real Madrid are now 12 points off the pace and no side in the history of La Liga has ever trimmed that kind of a margin to win the league.

Moreover, Real have a number of injury concerns and although Ramos’ appointment and winter signings would add some inspiration to a still beleaguered side, the championship is now all for Barcelona to lose.

But if you were Madrid, then you wouldn't necessarily tow the line as they have been celebrating their 2-0 Clasico defeat!

The Other Title Contenders

Well, Barcelona might be an almost unassailable 12 points ahead of Madrid but there are a few other sides that have still kept the Blaugranas in sight. Last season’s disaster Valencia have revived under president Vicente Soriano and coach Unai Emery and although they are still not playing the fantasy football for which Quique Sanchez Flores was sacked way back in late, late October 2007, they do have a sense of self-conviction and intensity about themselves this season.

Los Che won 2-1 against a crumbling Espanyol thanks to goals from Raul Albiol and fit-again (thankfully!) Vicente. This was Valencia's ninth win in the league and sustains their second spot in the table, some 8 points off the pace.

Andalucian club Sevilla too are on 30 points after defeating another title contender Villarreal 1-0 at home on Sunday. Renato, who scored the match-winner against Real Madrid a week ago thereby hammering the final nail in Bernd Schuster's coffin, was at it again, scoring in injury time of the first half. Sevilla remain third in the table while Villarreal are just one point behind them in fourth.

‘El Pupas’ Atletico Madrid kept themselves in contention of a top four finish after quite a convincing performance against Real Betis at the Vicente Calderon. The Calderon has already observed some real goal fiesta this season but on Sunday evening the 35,000 inside the stadium had to remain satisfied with a 2-0 victory over the Andalucians.

Argentine international midfielder Maxi Rodriguez scored 20 minutes into the first half while his compatriot Sergio Aguero, competing for the 'New Maradona' tag with Barca's Lionel Messi, scored nine minutes from time. Atletico now have 27 points from 15 matches, one point more than their cross-city rivals Real Madrid.

The Relegation Race

Things at the dark end of the tunnel seem to get more and more convoluted. There was a relegation six-pointer at the Nuevo Colombino on Sunday between Recreatico de Huelva and Osasuna and needless to say, it was not a very pretty affair.

Recre won it in the end, thanks to an 84th minute goal from Adrian Colunga. Osasuna remain bottom with one win and just 9 points from 15 matches while Recre stay 19th with 13 points.

But they are level on points with 18th placed Real Mallorca. Mallorca were convincingly defeated 4-1 by Getafe away from home on Sunday. Cosmin Contra scored from a penalty for Bernd Schuster's former side in the 14th minute to give them the lead, which was then doubled on the half hour mark by Uche.

Adruiz did pull one back almost immediately but goals from Manu and Gavilan in the second half were enough for Victor Munoz's side to gain a 4-1 victory at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez. Mallorca stay 18th while Getafe are ninth.

Another side locked on the 13-point mark are Espanyol, Barcelona's 'other' club. They were on a free fall in the second half of last season and have continued to move south this season. Their 2-1 defeat to Valencia on Saturday was their 8th in the league and keeps them stranded in 17th, one point and one place worse than promoted side Numancia, who lost 2-0 to Malaga away from home after conceding twice in the last five minutes of the match.

Other sides hovering dangerously just above the relegation zone are Almeria, Athletic Bilbao and Racing Santander. Both Almeria and Athletic have 16 points each and are 15th and 14th respectively.

While the former were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Racing Santander, the Basques were comfortable 3-0 winners over twelfth placed Sporting Gijon at home. Racing are 13th, one point ahead of both Almeria and Athletic.

Just like Valencia, Deportivo la Coruna have been on the upsurge this season. But they were brought back down to earth on Sunday at Nuevo Jose Zorilla, where they were beaten 3-0 by Valladolid. Depor though remain in contention of a UEFA Cup spot as they are seventh in the table, just 2 points behind Real Madrid.

Valladolid too keep their (unlikely) hopes of playing European football next season as they now sit one point and one place below Deportivo.

Subhankar Mondal