« The League has no emotion . The Premier is much better, the big ones can lose against anyone because the average level of the teams is much higher. And there is not one or two teams far above the rest, everything is much more at odds. Let's see if we learn in Spain ». Since there is still a family date this Christmas, the food of today's Kings, it is possible that some of his brothers-in-law will pull this manly soccer argument while sighing for being graceful with the bean or roscón figurine. Well, tell him without fear of being wrong that he has no idea what he is talking about. Or, at least, that perhaps that was true in the past, but that it is no longer.
The data is eloquent. Finished the first round of the League, Barcelona is the worst winter champion of the last 13 seasons. The 40 points of the Catalans - the same as Real Madrid - represent the third worst mark of this century for a winter champion. Only the Barcelona of the 2006/07 season (39 points) and the Madrid of the 2001/02 (35) led the League at the end of the first round with worse numbers than the Valverde team. Meanwhile, Liverpool have added 55 points -15 more than Barça and Madrid- in their first 19 games, far from the 39 of Leicester and 38 of the City.
«Well, but it is something circumstantial. Just this season has passed, but it is not normal, ”could be the reply, with his mouth full and his eyes fixed on the frosty fruit. But no, what happens in this League is not coincidence, but the confirmation of a trend. The historical top was set by Barça in the 2012/13 season with 55 points (18 wins and one draw). From then on, the downward trend only finds the exception of Barça of 2017/18 (51 points). The series of winter champion scores of the last eight seasons, from the oldest to the current one, is as follows: 55, 50, 48, 45, 43, 51, 43 and 40.
"But that happens because Atlético and Sevilla [35 points both] are better than ever and many points have been taken from them," could be heard later, with the first of several glasses of champagne in hand. It is also false, of course. Because this Atlético is the worst since Simeone has directed it , while Sevilla surpassed its current record twice in the last six years, no matter how much it is having a great season. And because the two greats have only given a draw - that of Madrid in the Wanda - before the two rivals that chase them.
Several of the loudest skates in Barcelona and Madrid , in fact, have come before rivals in the lower-middle area of the table. Apart from the draw in the classic, Valverde have lost to Granada, Levante and Athletic and tied against Osasuna, Real Sociedad and Espanyol ; while those of Zidane have fallen against Mallorca and added a single point against Valladolid, Villarreal, Atlético, Betis, Valencia and Athletic. The Gaizka Garitano, by the way, is so far the only team that has scored points against both.
«Well, what I was saying, let the weakest league we have. I wish we had a team like Liverpool! ”Could be the last attempt, and on the way to the nap sofa, to try to be right in the conversation. And here, of course, you are already entering the field of opinion. Surely the fans of Barcelona regret the lack of continuity and fluidity in their team's game and those of Madrid long for the huge punch of yesteryear. But the result of this and other factors is that of a League open to surprises and exciting as few.
There is the mentioned Seville, with its safety behind and its bouquet of tactical alternatives; or the revitalized and chameleonic Valencia of Celades ; or the attractive although somewhat tender Real Sociedad de Odegaard and Oyarzabal ; or the desperate solidity with which Getafe and Athletic continue to manipulate their rivals. And, below, with less virtues but identical interest, the anguish of Celta and Espanyol to extract juice to two projects that aimed much higher at the beginning of the season.
Yes, this League does have emotion , more than the Premier at least, whatever your brother-in-law says.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
Know more- Real Madrid
- football
- FC Barcelona
- Atlético de Madrid
- Valencia CF
- Sevilla FC
LaLigaOnly Atlético de Madrid is called the urgencies in the winter market
Champions League 2019 - 2020 Champions League draw: Real Madrid - City, Barça - Naples and Atletico - Liverpool
David Villa Interview: "Everything that involves the return of Luis Enrique is positive"