La Liga: Half-term report - Real Madrid set standard

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  • Cristiano Ronaldo got an early Christmas present as he won his second Club World Cup trophy, Real Madrid beating San Lorenzo.

    The game before the Christmas break in Spain is one of the most important of the season, and although it is not officially the halfway mark (it’s the 16th week of 38) that’s how it tends to feel. Teams don’t like to lose and then have to brood on it until January 4, and it can certainly spoil the festive season, particularly if a team is on a bad run. But breaking a bad run this weekend means that you can enjoy your Christmas and look forward to the New Year with optimism. It’s what every player needs and wants, and although the general lack of severe weather in Spain makes the break a questionable one, nobody has ever voted for its abolition.

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    It also gives teams time to recover physically (something the English Premier League would love), as well as emotionally, and if you’re on a good run, as in the case of Real Madrid, things just seem to get rosier. The period also coincides with the winter transfer window, and often the weekend’s result can influence whether a manager dips into the market or not.

    Real Madrid, of course, took their holidays early, flying to Morocco to play in the relatively undemanding FIFA Club World Cup, where apart from winning the trophy with relative ease, they have managed to fly away from the more stressful atmosphere of La Liga in the comforting knowledge that even if Barcelona were to beat Cordoba at home – which they did, 5-0 – they would remain at the top of the table, with a game in hand. Nothing is decided yet, of course, and football is a funny old game, but as Madrid continue to swell their undefeated run to 22 matches, beating the Pope’s favourite team San Lorenzo into the bargain, the feeling at Christmas is that they may go on to win the league title this season with rather more margin than their neighbours Atlético managed last campaign.

    Atlético remain a threat, and had a tough game at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, but they will hope for fewer off-field distractions in the New Year, if they are to retain their title. There is little wrong with the squad they have assembled, particularly in light of the departures of Diego Costa, Thibault Courtois and Felipe Luis in the summer. A lesser side would have suffered far more, but the basic steel has remained. Koke is a wonderful player, made in Madrid from a perfect Atlético mould. Hard, skilful and visionary, it’s not difficult to see him becoming Spain’s top player and leader when the present generation fades away. Mario Mandzukic was a great buy, as was Antoine Griezmann, while Turkey international Arda Turan is a sensational player – one of the most subtle and wily in La Liga. It would be unwise to count them out just yet.

    And what of Barcelona? For all the noise being made about Madrid, particularly with regard to their turn-around this season after a poor start, and for all the suggestions in the Madrid-run press that manager Luis Enrique is a de-stabilising influence with whom Leo Messi does not see eye-to-eye, Barcelona remain very much in the hunt. Going into Christmas on the back of a 5-0 win, albeit against struggling Cordoba, cannot have done their morale any harm, and the potential potency of the Suarez-Neymar-Messi trinity could still win them a shelf-full of trophies.

    Barca’s defence is constantly criticised, particularly Dani Alves and Gerard Pique, but at the break they boast the best goals conceded figures (only seven), and new signing Claudio Bravo, Real Sociedad’s ex-keeper, has slotted into the club with the minimum of fuss. It’s true that their performances have not been up to the usual scratch, with Andres Iniesta injured, Messi sometimes strangely subdued and Xavi’s metronomic presence sorely missed, but Ivan Rakitic has looked solid, Neymar is more consistent, and it may simply be a matter of time before Luis Suarez begins to terrorise defences in the manner to which he became accustomed in England. There is also a new generation of players coming through the ranks at La Masia who look interesting indeed, and you can’t see too many obstacles to stop the club staying head-to-head with Madrid, as long as their institutional issues can be solved.

    Valencia seem to have turned a page – or several – and under new stewardship are looking to leave the unstable days behind. There are still some question marks about the new owner, Peter Lim, but the team’s win at Eibar on Saturday night put them into a Champions League place for Christmas, with Sevilla not playing due to Real Madrid’s absence. Villarreal look the team to watch for the after-break period, with Luciano Vietto a rising star. Celta have had a better opening than many expected, and are winning plaudits for their football – manager Eduardo Berizzo being a pupil of Marcelo Bielsa and a militant for the possession game. They lost surprisingly at home to Almería in Friday night’s opener, but 8th position at the Christmas break is cause for satisfaction.

    Eibar themselves, the fairy-story not just of the season but of the history of La Liga, have not had an easy calendar but on Saturday night, despite the home defeat to Valencia, were looking as if they would go into the break in the top half of the table – a remarkable achievement. They have no stars, but a collective spirit that is hard to break down. Several of their squad, playing in Segunda B only two seasons ago, have so far made the necessary adjustments. Raul Navas, their excellent centre-back, loaned out from Real Sociedad, may be the only one to move in January – David Moyes was at a recent home game obviously having a look at him. But although Navas would easily get himself a first-team spot at Sociedad, the good relationship between the two clubs may see Navas stay until summer. It will certainly help Eibar’s cause if he does.

    Raul Navas has been a rock at the heart of Eibar's defence, but can they prevent him returning to Real Sociedad?

    Eibar have survived and prospered so far largely because they have a clear philosophy, uncluttered by such fantasies as trying to play football like the teams above them. They are not unattractive to watch at home, but away they play a type of catenaccio, smothering the opposition, parking the bus and relying on the occasional break. They can hardly be blamed, with a budget half the size of Cristiano Ronaldo’s wallet. Amongst the other paupers of La Liga, things are rather less clear. As coach Miroslav Djukic said of his Cordoba side, after their defeat in the Camp Nou on Saturday night, “It seems as if my players just came here to ask for the Barcelona ‘players’ shirts”. Eibar would never do that, and they may just survive. It would be wonderful if they could spend at least another season in the top flight. It humanises La Liga, and helps those in authority to keep things in perspective.

    I’ll be in England for Christmas, and may try to take in a game or two, but will be back here in Spain after the break for the Real Sociedad v Barcelona game, on January 4. Until then…

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