The many sides competing in La Liga have been making improvements over the January transfer window, but the stories surrounding the clubs don’t just close themselves off to the current window. Depending on the side you want to check out, you either get encouraging news or very depressing outlooks.
This piece will attempt to cover the two extremes as we cover three top-flight sides and their current situation in the season so far. One team has become the epitome of disappointment this season, another has met expectations like usual, while another one is wallowing in its much-deserved successes this season.
Of course, the stories surrounding the ever-popular football league will never stop coming, so make sure to always keep your eyes peeled on SBOBET for the latest and freshest La Liga 2019 news and takes.
Barcelona Continue to Dominate Despite Hurdles
Barcelona continue to be the most dominant side in La Liga, getting a five-point advantage over Atletico Madrid while being the only side in the Spanish top flight with double-digit victories. They have been performing so well in the league that the mid-season La Liga 2019 odds have been virtually locked on the league leaders winning it all at 1.10.
They continue to win games despite the team being far from perfect in the league. While their 1-2 triumph over Getafe has built a five-game winning run for the Blaugrana, the fact that the match was closely contested shows that there are problems with Barcelona’s backline.
The club also has the future of the XI’s attack to worry about. Both Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez are getting on with age, and the Catalan giants must prepare for a future without their two star forwards. Finding a replacement to an icon such as Messi is almost impossible to do, but they must prepare for the future and find their new stars moving forward.
A couple of names have been linked to the club, but nothing is set in stone. Until they find the proper heirs, expect Messi and Suarez to hold the front.
Real Madrid’s Attempt to End Trouble in Paradise
Plenty of people (this humble scribe included) cannot believe just how the departure of two individuals has completely transformed the storied club from a winning force in Spain to a struggling giant that lost to a club like Real Sociedad in their first league game of 2019.
Fifth isn’t the ideal position for a club of Real Madrid’s stature, but club president Florentino Perez cannot exactly complain about how things are going for them in the league. They lost two important personnel in Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane over the summer, and neither Julen Lopetegui nor Santiago Solari has been able to lift the gutted roster.
Los Blancos are already looking beyond this season to improve their club. Their first purchase of the winter window is former Manchester City youngster Brahim Diaz, a signing that is clearly geared towards the future. However, everyone knows that their real target is Tottenham star Christian Eriksen.
The North London side named their price for the Denmark international, and the general atmosphere around the club is that they will likely spend on Eriksen. His arrival — alongside the club’s apparent search for Solari’s replacement — may be the thing that Madrid need to bring them back to the pinnacle.
However, does that mean that they are throwing the towel for this season and let the top three sides compete for the title? I doubt that Solari will just allow this season to be a dent in his managerial CV, though.
Alaves Enjoy Life at the Top
Nothing feels better than an inspiring underdog story, and the most endearing storyline among La Liga fans is the way Deportivo Alaves have defied expectations to become the season’s biggest dark horses.
The club based in scenic Vitoria-Gasteiz has pulled off some of the most fantastic results this season, one of which being their unbelievable victory over Lopetegui’s Madrid team at the death. Their most recent result against traditional powerhouse Valencia shows just how much they have grown since their days in the third tier a decade ago.
Of course, the stars of an overachieving team will always attract the attention of the bigger clubs. Ibai Gomez is being pursued by Leicester City and Leeds United. Meanwhile, Guillermo Maripan is reportedly being courted by Barcelona to make a transfer in the summer window.
A lot of casual fans are probably thinking that Alaves’ good times won’t last for more than a year, but I think Abelardo Fernandez and his men are just happy that they are toe to toe with Spain’s best teams. The challenge for him moving forward is keeping the same level of momentum while fending off the big clubs from poaching their players.
The next twelve months will be chaotic for this group of minnows, but the neutral fan and the underdog lover thanks this scrappy group for the brilliant display of football they have showcased so far this season.
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