To say “hay Liga” would be a great understatement. This has been a season for the record books, with Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid, battling it out week by week, jockeying for first place in the table.
As it currently stands, Barcelona is tied with Real Madrid with 60 points, having played one less game. That game will be made up next Thursday against Osasuna, with very little rest coming out of the international break, and several players unlikely to make it back on time from their corner of the world. It wouldn’t be La Liga without controversy and scandal.
That means 11 games to go for the Blaugrana, and ten for Real Madrid and Atleti.
Barcelona will come out of the break on the heels of a monumental come-from-behind victory at the Metropolitano, that put distance between the league leaders and the Colchoneros.
Atletico de Madrid v FC Barcelona - La Liga EA Sports Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
Now, Barca and their eternal enemy are the two favorites with the finish line in sight. In order to get there, the rivals will first have to face each other on May 11th, in what could be a title deciding affair.
So who has the advantage?
Coming into the season, Real Madrid were by far and away the betting favorites. They had a big summer, having brought in Kylian Mbappé, while Barcelona were quiet, after a noisy sacking of Xavi as manager. Hansi Flick arrived in Barcelona with a massive challenge in front of him.
Atletico de Madrid v FC Barcelona - La Liga EA Sports Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
Most pundits will admit that Barcelona has been the better team throughout the season, even if the table has the two teams tied.
Aside from a significant downturn to close out 2024, Barcelona has been remarkably consistent, winning games in a way that is true to the identity and philosophy that Flick has cultivated.
In short, this is an attacking team, and they score a lot of goals. In the moments when they’ve struggled, it’s been largely because the risks that they’ve taken in service of the attack have backfired. Instead of panicking and reversing course, however, Flick has demanded that his team carry on while trusting the process.
Atletico de Madrid v FC Barcelona - La Liga EA Sports Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images
The question will be whether, in the end, the relentless attacking approach wins them or loses them the title.
Just a few years ago, you’ll recall that Xavi’s title winning campaign was full of 1-0 victories. In that season, defense definitely won the championship. Seventy goals were scored, while only 20 were conceded, across the 38 matches.
This season, 27 games in, Flick’s team has already scored 75 goals, but they’ve also conceded 27.
To be clear, this Barcelona squad is not a bad defensive team. What Xavi achieved was truly historic. Atletico Madrid is the best defensive team in the league, and even they’ve surrendered 22.
Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - LaLiga EA Sports Photo by Maria Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images
But if there’s one thing we know about Real Madrid, it’s that when trophies are on the line, they get pragmatic. They don’t care about playing pretty football, and they never have. Barcelona, on the other hand, have a vulnerability in that they can be football purists.
Football really has changed over the past decade. Defensive tactics in particular have really improved, in ways that make even bottom of the table teams dangerous on any given day.
For as many goals that Barcelona has scored this year, it’s helpful to keep perspective, and remember how many goals used to be scored in La Liga back in the pre-pandemic days of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
La Liga 2020/2021, FC Barcelona - Celta de Vigo Photo by Siu Wu/picture alliance via Getty Images
Barcelona scored 99 goals in 2018, 116 in 2017, 112 in 2016, and 110 in 2015. During that timespan, Real Madrid were putting up the same numbers. Since then, teams aren’t even breaking the 90 goal threshold.
In part, that’s what makes Hansi Flick’s renaissance so exciting. But the question, once again, will be whether the approach leads to silverware.
To be fair, Real Madrid has also conceded 27 goals this season. So defensively, they are no better than Barcelona.
Barcelona has one game in hand, and the head-to-head between the two teams will be played at Montjuïc.
Both clubs are alive in the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.
There is little daylight between them.
Real Madrid v FC Barcelona: Spanish Super Cup Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The football gods are certainly smiling down on Barcelona, but we know this game doesn’t promise justice. And Real Madrid, the Machiavellians that they are, understand that reality all too well.
One thing seems certain, if Barcelona win, they’re going to win their way. They aren’t changing. Being themselves has gotten them this far, when no one expected it.
The outcome is anyone’s guess, but the journey will continue to be unforgettable.