La Liga 2015 - Post Christmas Review

As always, La Liga’s season has treated viewers to plenty of great goals, superb saves and close contests and we are only approaching the halfway point. Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid are contesting at the top of the table while Levante, Las Palmas and Rayo Vallecano are battling it out to avoid the drop from Spain’s premier division.

Barcelona

Barcelona have been the standout side once again and Luis Enrique's men will be incredibly difficult to beat throughout the remainder of the campaign. Barca aren't invincible, but they are performing at the top of their game and could go on to secure a La Liga, Copa Del Rey and Champions League treble for the second year in a row. Barca have been without Lionel Messi in parts of the campaign but that hasn't hurt them too much as both Luis Suarez and Neymar have really stepped up to the plate. Barcelona's trio have scored a staggering amount of goals in 2015 to make them a force to be feared. Many people will be desperate to get their hands on La Liga tickets in order to see Barcelona in full flight during the second half of the campaign.

Real Madrid

Meanwhile, Real Madrid have slipped up at times. Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or for the past year but he has struggled for consistency this season, particularly in the domestic game. The Portugal captain's tricky run may explain why Real aren't quite at their best and head coach Rafael Benitez found himself under pressure in the build-up to Christmas. Real have been unlucky with injuries at times this season but that's no excuse. Real should be doing better and will have to avoid defeat in the second El Clasico of the season at Camp Nou in order to fully resurrect their season. Los Blancos will need everything to go their way in the second half of the season to win the title.

Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid have been simply sublime and Diego Simeone's men have been joint top of the table. Despite losing key personalities in the summer, Atletico have bounced back and their immense work ethic is getting them through matches. For years, Atletico have sat under Real Madrid's dominant shadow but Simeone has tried to put an end to that. Atletico Madrid won La Liga’s title in 2014 and could well go on to secure their second success in three years. Real haven't won the Spanish title since 2012 and their city rivals will do their utmost to ensure that the Galacticos do not get their hands back on the crown. For neutrals, Atletico Madrid are the team to beat and their immense home form will be crucial. If they maintain their phenomenal record at the Vicente Calderon, Atletico will stand a great chance. While Barca have the best attacking record, Atletico's defensive displays also deserve plenty of plaudits. Atletico aren't the most attacking side in the division but it would be unfair to suggest they play defensive football, they are just well organised, well disciplined and stick to their structure. A key member of their squad is youngster Antoine Griezmann, who has scored 12 goals in 21 matches this season. Without the France international, Simeone's men would potentially struggle as Griezmann is the epicentre of Atletico's play. Without a doubt, he has been one of the standout players across La Liga so far this campaign. There are plenty of talented young stars across Spain's top flight and it would be unfair to overlook their efforts so far this season. Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte has continued where he left off last season and has been superb at the heart of their defence in 2015. He hasn't quite had the same level of press coverage this campaign but that has allowed him to focus primarily on his own performances rather than transfer rumours away from the club. Meanwhile, Alphonse Areola has been formidable for Villarreal. The French goalkeeper is just 22 years old but has made numerous vital saves for his side this season and is a key reason for their sudden resurgence up the table. If he continues to improve, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see one of Spain's elite clubs snap him up in the near future. So, who will win La Liga this season? It's hard to imagine Barcelona throwing the title away and Real Madrid will fancy their chances of improving. However, Atletico Madrid may pip them both to the crown once again. Simeone is a truly outstanding manager and is one of the best in the world at assessing situations and setting his team up for the big games. If they can defeat Barcelona, it will give them a huge boost in the title race.

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