Real Madrid, Atletico and Barcelona locked in rare exhilarating race for La Liga title

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid during the prematch warm up ahead the LaLiga match between RCD Espanyol de Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at RCDE Stadium on February 01, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)

By Yanga Sibembe

6 Feb 2025

At just over the halfway mark of the 2024/25 Spanish La Liga season, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are part of a three-way tussle for the Spanish soccer league title.

One of the traits that make sports such a riveting drawcard is the fact that they can be a representation of life in general. The need to wake up every morning and fight stubbornly in order to achieve one’s goals is a feature that has shaped sports’ reputations.

Of course, sports are also entertainment, with this aspect being the main reason people have been drawn to them for centuries. When the competition is too lopsided, this entertainment aspect of sports takes a knock and people lose interest. Especially people who are sporadic followers of a certain sport.

For example, in tennis, during the era of Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer, each of these heavyweights took turns succeeding. Yes, Nadal was almost unplayable on clay courts, but he showed that he was human after all on other surfaces — with his two rivals also displaying their quality.

La Liga race

The Spanish soccer top flight is certainly carrying this spirit of competition this season, and as a result all observers are on the edge of their seats. As things stand, just four points separate Real Madrid in first place and Barcelona, in third. Second-placed Atletico Madrid trail their city rivals by a single point.

It’s still early in season though, and only 22 of the 38 matches in the league have been played. Nevertheless, this campaign is promising to be the most tightly contested race since 2021, when Atletico were crowned champions after finishing just two points ahead of runners-up Real. That season, Barcelona were third. It was just Atletico’s 11th league crown (compared to Real’s 36 and Barca’s 27).

Since then, Real have cruised to two league titles, comfortably beating off competition from Barcelona and their Madrid neighbours. Barca did win in 2022/23, and their victory was also at a canter. By 10 points, to be exact.

This season, it appears the gap between the eventual winners and the chasing pack won’t be as vast, as Real coach Carlo Ancelotti has stated — to the joy of external observers.

“The level of competitiveness in La Liga lowers a bit the points you need to win the title (this season),” said Ancelotti on the competition his team is facing in its title defence.

“The fact that Atletico are there also generates uncertainty, and I think it will take less than 90 points to be champions,” Ancelotti added.

Los Blancos collected 95 points on the way to the championship after suffering just one league defeat last season. They ended their campaign 10 points ahead of Barcelona. Ancelotti said all three sides’ form would be up and down this season.

“You have a slump and then you get competitive like before. Barcelona and Atletico have the same chances of competing with us,” the veteran Italian coach said.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick. (Photo: Image Photo Agency / Getty Images)

Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid. (Photo: Image Photo Agency / Getty Images)

Diego Pablo Simeone, the head coach of Atletico Madrid. (Photo: Flor Tan Jun / Getty Images)

As if to prove him right, Real recently fell to a surprise 1-0 defeat by Espanyol. By contrast, both Atletico and Barcelona collected maximum points, thus closing the gap on the log leaders. But Barca boss Hansi Flick said he did care what the other league contenders were doing, his team’s focus was just on itself.

“I don’t care about Madrid’s situation. We have to focus on ourselves,” said Flick. “Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid are fantastic teams, but we have to do our job. We are still a few points behind and need to keep winning to put pressure on them.”

Meanwhile, Ancelotti and Flick’s counterpart, Diego Simeone, said his team were the underdogs in the tight contest. Usually, Atletico’s target for the season is just qualifying for the European Champions League. Anything else is a bonus, although Simeone has led them to two league titles since he took over in 2011.

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid. (Photo: Pedro Salado / Getty Images)

“More than anyone else, we live match by match. We have to enjoy this situation, knowing our victories and based on what happens, work in accordance with what is needed,” Simeone said.

“We play in a league with possibly the two best teams in Europe... Of course, the target of winning the title is difficult. But that doesn’t mean that with a great season, with that dose of luck that you need and with a drop-off from one of them, or both, there won’t be some kind of chance,” the Argentinian tactician said.

Whoever ends up clinching the La Liga title this season, the real winner will be sport. After all, no one likes a predictable contest, where the winner is decided even before a ball is kicked. DM

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La Liga race