La Liga: Four things we learned in Spain’s matchday 24
The Spanish La Liga has experienced quite a few changes every weekend as the race for the title hots up after Real Madrid were held to a draw.
The Spanish La Liga has experienced quite a few changes every weekend as the race for the title hots up after Real Madrid were held to a draw.
Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona are both looking to capitalise on Real Madrid's jam-packed fixture schedule to maintain pressure in the La Liga title race this weekend.
La Liga leaders Real Madrid will be hosting their neighbours Atletico Madrid for the second Madrid Derby this season.
Valencia and Real Madrid get the La Liga underway in 2025 on Friday in a match that could see Real go top, ahead of cross-town rivals Atletico and five points clear of archrivals FC Barcelona.
Diego Simeone has been named the Best La Liga Coach in December, an award for Atletico de Madrid’s sensational month of December which has seen the club rise to the top of the standings in the league.
The result means Levante become the first side of the season to be relegated to the second division, given they have an inferior head-to-head goal average with fourth from bottom Cadiz.
Sevilla dropped to fourth after a 0-0 draw at home to Mallorca, leaving Sevilla (who visit Atletico on Sunday) with work to do to ensure a top-four finish, while Mallorca remains in the bottom three and in deep relegation trouble.
Real Madrid made seven changes to the team that defeated Manchester City on Wednesday night, and it showed, particularly in a disjointed first-half performance.
Last Saturday saw Carlo Ancelotti's men crowned La Liga champions with four games left to play, while Wednesday saw them produce yet another miracle comeback in the Champions League with two goals in the last two minutes to book their place in the tournament final.
The result on Saturday night strengthens Barca's second place in La Liga, while doing Atletico Madrid a favour in their efforts to qualify for next season's Champions League, as it leaves them three points clear of Betis ahead of Sunday's Madrid derby.
