Barcelona hold a seven-point advantage over Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga, with defending champions Real Madrid some 14 points adrift.
Is the race to win Spain’s league title already over? Alex Rea, Brendon Netto and Stuart Appleby discuss that, whether Los Blancos can be completely ruled out and which star will lay claim to winning the top goalscorer Pichichi Trophy award come May.
Agree or disagree with our writers? Let us know as they go head-to-head in our new-look three question debate.
Get in touch via Twitter and Facebook.
IS THE TITLE RACE OVER?
AR: Were it not for the all-conquering Barcelona – they are 32 games unbeaten – Atletico Madrid would command far more attention. Diego Simeone’s side have won all seven games since their Copa del Rey exit and this week offers an opportunity to cut a sizable slice out of Barca’s seven-point lead. Los Rojiblancos host Leganes before the top-two meet at Camp Nou on Sunday. With their chaos-calm strike partnership of Diego Costa and Antoine Griezmann firing, they have a chance.
BN: Barcelona are firm favourites and it’s hard to imagine anyone else lifting the trophy at the end of the campaign. The Catalans did have a couple of blips against Getafe and Espanyol in the league this month but with Ousmane Dembele regaining match fitness and Philippe Coutinho looking more like he belongs with every passing game, they’re set for a strong end to the season. Atletico Madrid are on a good run of form and boosted by Diego Costa’s introduction and Antoine Griezmann’s resurgence but will struggle to catch Barcelona. Expect Barca to beat them this week and end their hopes of catching up as well. The Catalans will have one eye on the Champions League but Diego Simeone’s side will be equally preoccupied with the Europa League.
SA: No, Atletico Madrid are right in it. A Diego Simeone-managed side should never be written off and you can be rest assured his players will continue to give it everything. Antoine Griezmann’s return to form, the Frenchman has scored six goals in eight league matches this year after managing just five in the first-half of the season, is massive. More goals for him increase his chances of a big summer move.
Barcelona are the runaway leaders under Ernesto Valverde.
ARE REAL MADRID COMPLETELY OUT OF THE RUNNING?
AR: Los Blancos have rediscovered their swagger but it’s come too late to join the title party. After an atrocious first six months to their Liga defence, Zinedine Zidane has recharged Real and they have been electric in recent weeks. Granted, there is a long way to go but they are 14 points adrift and the more achievable target is to try and catch their city rivals in second.
BN: Off the record, Zinedine Zidane has surely conceded the La Liga title race and rightly so. The reality is that it’s not worth pursuing, especially when Real Madrid already have one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals and could set one of club football’s more unattainable records if they were to win Europe’s elite competition for a third consecutive year. It’s a bold strategy no doubt, but the only one Zidane has to save Madrid’s season and his job.
SA: There’s no way back for Los Blancos but given the way Zinedine Zidane’s men have found form, it might be a blessing in disguise that they can just tick over in La Liga and fully focus on the Champions League. Adding an historic hat-trick of European crowns to their already unprecedented back-to-back triumphs would be remarkable. Stopping Barcelona from winning in Europe would mean more than preventing them domestically this year.
Real Madrid have picked up form of late.
WHO WILL WILL WIN THE PICHICHI?
AR: Predictably Lionel Messi tops the goalscoring charts with 22 and Luis Suarez sits behind him on 20. Celta Vigo’s Iago Aspas (16) has plundered five in his last six league outings so can’t be discounted but his former Liverpool teammate Suarez will claim the Pichichi. Injuries tore Suarez apart in the early part of the season but he’s not just Spain’s most outstanding centre-forward, but Europe’s, too. With Messi the premier playmaker in behind, there will be plenty more goals from the lethal Uruguayan.
BN: It has to be between Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to goal-scoring ways in the league but is well behind the Barca duo and is likely to be rested on occasion as well with focus shifting to the Champions League. Suarez is the one getting into the box more than Messi who has doubled as a playmaker as well. However, the Argentine is pure magic and is scary consistent while his team-mate can go off the boil. Messi for the win.
SA: You just have to back Messi. The little maestro will want to retain his title and is actually well set to surpass his 37-goal haul from last season. His form and fitness is at its peak level right now and he’ll be doing everything to keep it that way with La Liga honours to play for and a World Cup on the horizon. His nearest rival will be team-mate Luis Suarez and it’s going to be intriguing watching the duo battle it out, but expect the Argentine to claim his fifth Pichichi that puts him one behind all-time leader Telmo Zarra.
Lionel Messi leads the charts currently with 22 goals.
