Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla are the teams featuring in this brutally tight race to the league title. Nonetheless, not one of these sides are fighting for a Champions League place as Real Sociedad in 5th are adrift 20 points.
Barcelona could win the title just by winning all remaining games which they can take advantage of especially when they have lost only once in La Liga in 2021 (twice thanks to Granada on Thursday)!
Spanish Football has been dominated by two teams, and we know who they are so the range of actual competitors is exciting for La Liga fans. Dark horses Sevilla could even snatch the trophy off the top 3 especially when Barcelona and Atlético Madrid are yet to play each other and could easily drop significant points.
But Sevilla still have the daunting prospect of facing reigning champions Real Madrid again, who they picked up a 1-0 defeat against at home last year. The capabilities, however, are very much present for the Europa League extraordinaries as their prolific Moroccan attacker Youssef En-Nesyri has the same 0.77 goals per 90 minute ratio as the respected Galáctico Karim Benzema. They also defeated Real on consecutive meetings in the year 2018.
Sevilla lifting their first Europa League trophy in 2006. Christophe Karaba, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
As well as the top, we look down to the relegation battle in La Liga where simultaneously a set of sides are duelling for survival. Real Valladolid and Valencia are among the teams that have the potential to be relegated to the secondary tier of Spanish football.
The relegation fight could go down to the wire, with even 8th place Granada able to be relegated, only in extreme circumstances. But, Valencia would be the shock of them all as their emergence to European success would be depleted. Their recent stagnation could mean that their status could be diminished as a result, with Sevilla (the side who they've scored none against over the last three outings) and Barcelona awaiting them.
It will be an excruciating run in for an abundance of La Liga supporters as we see captivating challenges and shocks on the horizon.
"People ask me what the most important factor will be and it's obvious to me that it will be the mental factor," Simeone told reporters after a second defeat in five league games. The team that manages that emotional balance the best will have the best chance of winning the title."
Atlético raced 10 points clear at the top in January but an unexpected disappointing run of form has seen their lead cut to two points.
"Real and Barça are used to winning the title. We had a big lead this year but we knew Real and Barça were not going to surrender. Now Sevilla are playing very well and we have a very exciting situation," said Simeone.
"We still depend on ourselves and with five games to go that's crucial. It will all come down to how mentally strong we are and how determined we are in those five games."
The Catalans faced Granada in their previous game in hand at Camp Nou on Thursday where they had the exceptional opportunity to stride to pole position and emphatically assert their authority in this league sprint to the finish line. However, the inaugural victory of Granada at Barça's famous home ground and the capitulation of Barcelona leaves the giants in trophy jeopardy but also leaves this title race still very much all to play for.
It is ultimately anyone's game in the most intriguing league on the continent as we dive into the breathtaking final stage where miracles may or may not come true.
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