Upsetting the balance in La Liga
It has been ten years since Valencia won La Liga, under the stewardship of Rafael Benitez no less, and for the past decade it has been strictly the Real Madrid/Barcelona show. La Liga hosts plenty of exciting talent but the stark truth of the matter is that it is a two team league.
At the beginning of every season in Spain fans wonder who, if anybody, will be able to upset the order in La Liga. It is very difficult to bet against Barcelona and Real Madrid, though. Both clubs have excellent squads boasting world class players and, of course, the two very best Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Last season, Levante put up a valiant effort for a quarter of the season but soon got gobbled up by the Barca/Real juggernaut.
Atletico Madrid are the ones laying down a challenge to the Barca/Real dominance this season and are sitting second in the La Liga table on 25 points, same as leaders Barca but Atletico are trumped by the Catalan’s superior goal difference. Some may say that it is too early to tell whether or not Atletico can maintain the challenge for the whole season. I suggest, however, that this season will be Atletico’s best chance to upset the decade long monopoly atop La Liga.
Why this season I hear you ask. It appears that it is all set up for Diego Simeone’s team this year. Having won two of the past three Europa League finals Atletico are hitting their stride. They have a fine squad, too, with striker Adrian Lopez continuing his form from last season where he scored 20 goals. Their dynamic midfield is made up of talents such as Arda Turan, Raul Garcia, Cristian Rodriguez and their experienced captain Gabi. I’m missing something, no? One more big reason why Atletico can be the team to take La Liga this season? Ah yes, a chap named Radamel Falcao.
The much sought after Colombian has scored 10 times already this season in La Liga and, at 26, is approaching is prime and playing with incredible confidence. Chelsea experienced first hand how dangerous Falcao is and it looks as though he will improve on the 30+ he scored for Atletico last season. He is key to his team’s success this season. They will have a hard time trying to hang on to him, though, as flush clubs such as Man City, Chelsea and PSG will inevitably come with their bags of money and offer him many of them until he says yes. If they manage to keep him for the season, however, then Atletico I believe Atletico will be in contention for the title come the end of the season.
Barca and Real haven’t hit full speed yet this season but when they do that’s when the real test for Atletico will be. If they can maintain their form and Falcao can keep scoring goals then it may well turn out to be the most exciting La Liga season in a decade.
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