14 games left to play. Way too early to say anything.
La Liga 2025-26
- Thread starter SilentWitness
- Start date
If Pedri returns soon and Raphina stays fit, I'd maybe back Barca even with their ridiculously poor defense but if their injuries problems persist, I don't see them winning Liga and also see them exiting the CL in the next round. Your gameplan cannot be to hope Joan Garcia pulls off miracles every game and the attack keeps scoring 2-3 goals.
They won it last year? In not saying they're not defensively vulnerable, but they were last year, too, and still won La Liga. Unless you're saying losing Martinez to Saudi makes title winners into an absolutely useless team. They're not in good form, but that can change quickly.
Atletico should be watching these two and thinking, surely we should be doing better.
I think they were poor defensively last year and you could see that especially against Inter. But I think they're a level or two worse now. You can feel the players turn on him a bit. Even in games they've won recently, they've given up a host of chances.
Inigo actually did play a very crucial role in holding that, quite frankly ridiculous, high line. Now you've got all the pressure of an extremely demanding defensive system on the shoulders of Cubarsi who is, understandably, struggling. It also doesn't help that Flick has demanded a CB but was not given one in January either. All of that being said, they had Pedri and Raphinha available for most of last season, which has not been the case this year. The lack of Pedri especially really makes that midfield very easy to bypass.
I wouldn't say they've turned on him but I agree that the defense is even more shambolic than last year. They've had Eric and Martin playing CB half the season. Christensen is actually probably their best CB, when fit, and he's out for the long term. If they hadn't signed Joan this season, they'd easily be even worse off.
Apparantely Real Marid was in "crisis". Still think Barcelona will bounce back and eventually win La Liga. 11th May is going to be a hell of a title decider.
As much as Cholo has done well for Atletico, I think he's under-delivered when it comes to trophies. He should have delivered at least 2-3 more La Liga titles and at least 2 more Copas. Honestly, they should have won the 2nd UCL final against Madrid.
No Rashy, no party...
They "bottled" it last season, I remember at one point, Real and Barca were dropping points and they could have capitalized and get first but they completely dropped off like flies. But I'd still be careful of Atletico getting another manager, Cholo is the reason why top 4 is always a guarantee for them and they will always be one of the top 3-4 teams in Spain.
Atleti have the squad to be top 4 without him though, surely? The rest of the league isn't great.
Atletico is a very strange team, they can spank RM and even beat Barca now and then, so you would think they had quality to challenge for the league, but they end up distant third or fourth place in recent seasons, and the same trajectory now.
They have half the budget of the two others.
Fixed that for you a bit.
Usually they struggle more against Barca though.
I’d put my mortgage on a red card or three, at the very least.
Yeah I agree, it was only a bit of banter.
They do but they're not that far ahead. Barcelona and Madrid could hire an Amorim and still finish top 3, but for Atleti, an Amorim would see them in the conference
Last season was the season for them to push in the league, Copa and UCL. They had the squad depth to do so.
Their season crashed within the span of 4-5 weeks if I remember correctly. Got dumped from UCL on PKs, lost narrowly to Barca in the Copa 2nd leg, then lost to Barca in the league after being up 2-0. Went on to draw a few crucial matches and surrendered the La Liga lead...
Oh dear, Madrid. 
Munoz cooked Carvajal all game.
Asencio is certainly one of the worst defenders I’ve seen play for Madrid
Real Madrid chose the worst time to slip up. Barca has a lifeline. Still long way to go.
Garcia is amazing, prime De Gea level of point saving saves he makes.
2-0 Barca Cancelo with a lovely cross and De Jong with a neat finish.
Cancelo is back at Barcelona?
Yeah from Saudi. Loan i think
Beautiful strike by Fermin. 3-0. Game over time to watch boring Arsenal.
Heh. I didn't think Real's stay on top of the league would be only a week.
Still, i suspect the fight for the title will be a proper clown race from here on out, given how averse both teams are to consistency.
Still, i suspect the fight for the title will be a proper clown race from here on out, given how averse both teams are to consistency.
Barcelona's inconsistency is mostly down to injuries and the occasional bad match...
They're not really that inconsistent. Madrid on the other hand can't defend at all, been very consistent about that all season long
Anyone have insight into how best to buy a ticket to see Osasuna at home in mid May? I have a US credit card and phone number so will that be too difficult to buy a ticket with?
And how far in advance do general sales begin?
I tried the official website but no luck with that and I didn't really want to use a 3rd party ticket re-seller.
https://entradas.osasuna.es/
And how far in advance do general sales begin?
I tried the official website but no luck with that and I didn't really want to use a 3rd party ticket re-seller.
https://entradas.osasuna.es/
Isn't that a pretty good definition of inconsistency?
It's not that they're ever really playing badly (with the exception of the Arletico match in the cdr), but their chance conversion has had a few too many off days to make up for the defensive vulnerabilities that come with Flickball. They often barely outperform their xG, or straight underperform like vs San Sebastian and Girona.
One bad match in 2 months is hardly inconsistentIsn't that a pretty good definition of inconsistency?
On the main, they rely massively on Pedri, so any injury can have deep reoercussions
Barca 1-0 through a nice finish from Yamal. Still giving up a lot chances on the counter but they've looked alright so far.
Jesus make that 2 for Yamal, what a finish.
Purest Messi stuff
He's on one today, looks different class from the rest of them. Would have been another class goal but could have had his hat trick there.
Incredible goal.
2-1 with another shaky defensive display from Barca.
Should have been 2-2 there Garcia making a massive error there.