The League stops with a Barca leader and problems in 'big' teams

MADRID, 16 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The victory of Real Madrid last Thursday 2-1 against Cádiz, not without suffering at the end, closed this first third of LaLiga Santander before the World Cup in Qatar, a period after which FC Barcelona finished as leader after a downturn of a white team that dominated at the beginning, in addition to also serving to complicate the options of Atlético de Madrid and aggravating the crisis of Sevilla, both with a disappointing start.

With many of the players already preparing their participation in the World Cup in Qatar with their teams, the domestic championship will enjoy a month and a half break. The first conclusion that this forced break leaves is that FC Barcelona is momentarily the sole leader with 37 points, two above Real Madrid.

Xavi Hernández's men have been that reliable team that has not been seen in Europe, with determination at the necessary moments and defensive strength that have made the difference against their rivals. Since their first setback against Rayo Vallecano at the Camp Nou, in the form of a draw (0-0), the Catalans only had to regret the defeat (3-1) in El Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu.

With a more pragmatic and effective style than combinative and Robert Lewandowski's 13 goals, Barça has managed to recover from its bad moments during this start -the elimination from the Champions League and defensive injuries- to rise to the top. And the main reason is the bolt in the defensive phase, since they have only conceded five goals so far this year, keeping a clean sheet eleven times in 14 games.

Some numbers that contrast with those of the other top contender, Real Madrid, who have conceded 14 goals against and with Thibaut Courtois collecting the ball from his goal in 12 of the 14 games played so far in the competition. Despite convincing more than FC Barcelona in a brilliant start -12 games without losing in the League-, the positive streak ended in Vallecas with the first domestic defeat (3-2), with one of the weakest games of the course.

Unlike Barça, the first white bump did affect their performance in LaLiga Santander, motivated, perhaps, by the high match load in October, with nine games in one month or the loss of Karim Benzema, well supplied for the moment due to the goals of an irregular Vinicius in the last month and of a Fede Valverde in hatching.

The Meringue players, with the World Cup on the horizon, slowed down and at the beginning of November they lost to Leipzig in the Champions League, drew at home against Girona and confirmed their bad end against Rayo, all consecutively. Now, they are forced to row after the tournament in Qatar.

This first third of the competition has confirmed Barça and Real Madrid as the only theoretical serious candidates for the title, after the unexpected disappointments of Atlético and Sevilla. Diego Pablo Simeone's men go into the break fifth, 13 points behind the leader, in what has been the worst league start for the Argentine since he took charge of the rojiblancos in December 2011.

In fact, they have added the same wins that they stumbled in these first 14 rounds, with 7 wins, three draws and four losses to enjoy a meager 24 points. The mattress set has shown an unknown irregularity in the groups led by 'Cholo', in addition to a lethal defensive fragility, in a team unable to link two victories in the League this season. Their crisis increased at the end of October, with three consecutive games without winning (two losses and one draw).

Worse is the case of Sevilla, which goes into a break without knowing the victory at Sánchez-Pizjuán in the League. Still with Julen Lopetegui on the bench, they could only celebrate one victory in the first eight league games, becoming a team without identity or soul, always trailing behind in matches.

The injury problem was primed with a squad with some lack of planning, and the results condemned the Basque. The charismatic Jorge Sampaoli returned to take the reins at the beginning of October, but he has not been able to find the key either, showing that the problem goes much deeper.

With only two wins, five draws and seven losses in 14 games, Sevilla went to a break in relegation places, after adding just two points out of the last fifteen in play. A resounding start from which they hope to recover after the World Cup, already with the goal of the Champions League bordering on impossible, with the current fourth-placed team, Athletic, at 13 points.

Sevilla is accompanied in the danger positions by a Cádiz that has improved in recent weeks, with only two defeats in the last five games. However, their short squad and their status as the second team with the most goals (26), along with Celta, make it difficult for them to remain in the team, now penultimate with 11 points.

Nor does an Elche in free fall have anything to celebrate, unable to beat anyone so far this year. Four draws and ten losses is the balance of a team from Elche that has already changed coaches twice and is unable to get up from a situation that is already urgent. With four points and bottom team, he will have to do a 180º turn to his performance after the World Cup to squeeze his options of continuing in First Division.

Finally, it is worth noting the performance of Osasuna in these first 14 days. Its positive balance of seven wins, two draws and five losses, with 23 points out of 42 possible, give it the status of revelation team. Relegation already seems far away, and they are only one point away from Europe, after enjoying a Champions League spot at some point.

Nor should we forget the performance of Real Sociedad and Athletic, third and fourth, respectively, initially to remember Basque football. And it is that the fight for Europe becomes craving hot. Real's competitiveness has led the 'txuri-urdin' to a privileged position thanks to the hand of Imanol Alguacil who, despite significant casualties, is getting the most out of an improved squad. Also benefited by a Betis that started very firmly, but that fell off the hook in the last stretch before the World Cup break -a victory in the last five days-.

For its part, Ernesto Valverde's Athletic, making little noise but with an enviable commitment and work, is also going to a break in the Champions League. His level dropped in November, but his great months of September and October keep him up. Who has gotten out of the fight, for the moment, is Quique Setién's Villarreal, very touched after the departure of Unai Emery. The Spaniard has not finished hitting the key and has only won one win in three league games on the bench.