La Liga Title Race the Most Open for Years
Real Betis may be revelling in their own glory right now after inflicting Barcelona’s first home league defeat for just over two years, but they may have just saved La Liga from the traditional two-horse race we have become so accustomed too.
Real Madrid’s plight reached critical point against Barce in that sumptuous 5-1 El Clasico hammering of Los Blancos and Julen Lopetgui paid the price with his job which enabled punters looking for a great betting offer at the bet9ja sportsbook to get superb value on who may become the next Real Madrid manager.
As it has turned out, interim manager Santiago Solari has been given the Real gig until the end of the season after four wins from four which has helped Real close the gap at the top following Barcelona’s loss to Real Betis.
As it stands, the top six are separated by just four points in La Liga.
In comparison, the English Premier League’s top six are separated by twelve-points, the Bundesliga top six by eight points and Italy’s Serie A top six separated by fifteen-points.
The contrast is remarkable and is setting this seasons title fight up to be the closest we have seen for years.
Only Atletico Madrid has bucked the Real Madrid/Barcelona title trend in the last fourteen seasons (and that was only once) since Valencia claimed the title in 03/04 but could we be about to see yet another intruder into the big boys club?
Sevilla are one such candidate after head coach Pablo Machín has guided his charges to seven wins from their opening twelve games and sit just one point behind Barcelona.
The pair have already met this season with Barce winning 4-2 at the Nou Camp but Sevilla have not allowed that set back to derail them as they chase a first title since 1946.
Naturally Atletico Madrid will have something to say about that as once again Diego Simeone’s men find themselves as the third musketeer.
The success the club has had under Simone has been remarkable and since his tenure began in 2011, Atletico has claimed one La Liga title, one Copa Del Rey and two Europa League’s.
Runners-up last season, there are few better clubs poised than Atletico to pounce on the slip-ups of Barcelona and Real Madrid and pounce they will.
Realistically the other two clubs in the top six Alaves and Espanyol are unlikely to last the distance, but they make a great side story for the short-term anyway.
However, for the first time in a long time, it looks like we can say there is a four way title fight in La Liga and the season is all the better for it.