La Liga half-time: Real lead but cracks show

In general, the top section of the table looks fairly familiar. The three usual suspects are there, but Sevilla have sprung the main surprise this season, sitting pretty in second place on 42 points, a club record for this stage of the campaign, and one that is even better than when they last won the title, way back in 1946. Last season under Unai Emery they finished 7th on 52 points, but this season – sold as a transitional one to their fans in August – is turning out to be very interesting indeed. Five big wins on the trot (including one over Real Madrid) have earned them the right to be considered title contenders, and unlike Madrid they seem to be on the up, difficult to beat and full of resolve and power-play. On Saturday they were subjected to a mini-revival of their hosts in Pamplona, and were trailing for most of the game in a hostile atmosphere until they turned the game around and nicked a 4-3 win. Osasuna may be struggling, but Sevilla’s ability to dampen their hosts’ enthusiasm and desperate resolve was highly impressive. They’re still in the Champions League too, and entertain Leicester, late February. It’s not inconceivable to see them in the quarter-finals.

As for Barcelona, who ended the first half of the season by thumping Eibar 4-0 in Ipurua, the jury is still out. So are Sergi Busquets and Andres Iniesta, two absences which may prove costly in the next few weeks, although their next real challenge of note comes in late February when they visit Atlético Madrid in the Calderon. It won’t worry them too much just to stay in contention, and wait for Real Madrid to stumble – particularly as the latter have lost a greater number of significant players. Barcelona have certainly not been themselves, in the sense that their game has undergone a slightly awkward transition from possession to pressing, with nothing much in-between. But they still have the MSN. They would benefit in the short-term if they knew for certain Luis Enrique’s intentions, as well as Leo Messi’s (yet to renew his contract), but they may suffer more from the absence of Busquets, with no natural replacement in the squad. This all sounds good for Sevilla, of course. It’s difficult to spot any storms on their particular horizon.

Atlético seem to have ridden their short storm of poor form, and although their defence has lost its non-porous invincible look they still have the second best record in the league after Villarreal and are still involved in all competitions, Champions included. It’s not so tragic, in 4th place, six points shy of Barcelona, with that home game against them to aim for in February. Never count them out. If it’s grit you’re looking for, then they have it in bucketloads, as evidenced by their hard-fought 2-2 draw in San Mames on Sunday night. Unlike their Madrid neighbours, you feel that they might have a better second half to the season, although the injury to goalkeeper Jan Oblak is a potential blow.

The challenge immediately behind them is from Real Sociedad, also with 35 points and the other revelation of the season. Their dedicated but rather pessimistic supporters had not seen this coming, and not only has their football at times been splendid but they have unearthed two new stars from their ever-productive youth set-up, the tireless full-back Yuri Berchiche and the wonder-kid Mikel Oyarzabal, a 19 year-old who plays with the maturity of a 30 year-old. He won’t stay long in San Sebastián, unfortunately – another player destined to add to the club’s coffers as opposed to their trophy collection. Asier Illaramendi, misunderstood and under-used at Madrid, is also playing out of his skin and is currently the best holding midfielder in La Liga. Can they grab a Champions League spot? It probably depends on how well Atlético fare, since Villarreal appear to be on the crest of a slump, losing 2-0 at home to Valencia on Saturday night.

Of the three sides who came up last season, Alavés have certainly made the better fist of things, accumulating a respectable 23 points and looking on the point of qualifying for the King’s Cup semi-finals. They’ve only managed that once before, in 2004 when they were in the Second Division, oddly enough. Osasuna, raced by financial problems, are rock-bottom and look destined to return to Division 2, but Leganés, in their virgin season in the top flight, have shown some spirit and have a 5-point cushion above Sporting, in the third relegation spot. Their spirit has compensated for their lack of quality, and they have managed to build a solid team ethic despite being propped up by eleven loan players – 45% of their entire squad. They should survive, as long as they can improve their home form (only one win so far).

Any predictions as to future tendencies? Valencia, Sporting and Celta look as though they might improve, in their respective situations, whereas Betis, Malaga and Deportivo seem to be heading for the darker depths of La Liga’s ocean – to add to the more illustrious Real Madrid, bobbling up there on the surface, but with an increasingly leaky boat.