SOCCER SPANISH LEAGUE ARTICLES

You might be surprised to find out that the team with the least losses in La Liga this year is not Barcelona or Real Madrid, but Atletico Madrid. Atletico Madrid has lost just one match this season, yet their style of play has them third in the La Liga standings and three points behind Barcelona. Atletico have finished with a draw in seven of their 15 matches this season, and while that’s enough to put a team in contention for the Champions League, it’s not enough to win La Liga. They will look ... 

The Barcelona Derby will have a little extra meaning than it usually does when Barcelona takes on Espanyol this Saturday. That’s because Espanyol are performing much better than they typically do in La Liga. Espanyol are currently in seventh place in the table, and they have one of the top defenses in Spain through the early part of the year. That back line will be put to the test when they face a Barcelona club that has historically dominated this tie.... 

We are entering uncharted territory in La Liga. We’re now more than a third of the way through the season, and neither one of the three big clubs are at the front of the pack. Instead, Sevilla are leading the way. Sevilla are up a point on defending champions Barcelona and two points up on Atletico Madrid, and they are looking to win their first La Liga title since the 1945-46 season. They will be travelling to take on another surprising team on Sunday, Deportivo Alaves. Alaves currently sits in... 

La Liga looks far more competitive than it has in some time through the first third of the season. There are just four points separating the top six teams, and no team has won 60 percent of more of its domestic matches to this point. That will make Barcelona’s clash with Atletico Madrid even more meaningful. Barcelona is currently atop the table with a 7-3-2 record through 12 games, but Atletico are just a point behind with a 6-5-1 mark.... 

For the last two decades, Barcelona and Real Madrid have dominated La Liga with occasional patches of great form from Atletico Madrid. Those three teams have been expected to finish 1-2-3 for sometime now, and that was certainly the case once again this year. However, in a surprising twist, Espanyol and Sevilla are sitting in second and third in the standings through 11 games. This isn’t a huge surprise for Sevilla, as they have occasionally challenged the top teams, but Espanyol is a team no one saw here at the start of the season. ... 

It took just 14 games for Real Madrid to sack Julen Lopetegui after a dreadful start to the season for the proud club in the heart of Spain. Lopetegui knew it was going to be tough to follow in the footsteps of Zinedine Zidane, who had won three consecutive Champions League titles, but the team wasn’t left with much of an option after he steered the team to a ninth place start in La Liga and a 4-2-4 record in league play to this point. Caretaker manager Santi Solari will lead the team into this match with Real Valladolid. ... 

The first El Clasico of the year should be the most watched domestic match in Europe by a mile this weekend. Everyone knows how deep the rivalry runs between Barcelona and Real Madrid. The two clubs have been bitter rivals for over 80 years, and their battles are incredibly intense. However, both teams have had far more domestic struggles than usual this campaign. Barcelona just recently broke a four match winless streak, and Real Madrid are currently seventh in the table. That puts increased pressure on both clubs to get a result. ... 

The two top teams in La Liga will meet in Camp Nou this Saturday with first place on the line. For the first time in quite a while though, it won’t be in a Madrid Derby or an El Clasico. Sevilla have been the biggest surprise in Spain through the first two months of the season. They are all alone in first place with a 5-1-2 record at this point, and they are one point ahead of both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Sevilla is a pretty sizable underdog against Barcelona in this game, but if they can secure a result you have to start believing in the Rojiblancos. ... 

It’s been a strange year so far in La Liga action. The league that has been dominated by Barcelona and Real Madrid for almost two decades shows neither team at the top of the table headed into the second international break. Instead, Sevilla are currently atop La Liga. Sevilla haven’t won a league title since just after World War II, and their fans are euphoric to see their club at the top of La Liga. Oddsmakers are betting on that not to last though, as the current leaders are 35-1 to win the title per the La Liga Futures Odds. ... 

Last week, La Liga received a jolt when both Barcelona and Real Madrid lost in midweek action. The two juggernauts of the league had been undefeated until that point, and both teams looked set to quickly distance themselves from the rest of the pack. Those losses set them back though, and now other teams are within striking distance through the first month of the season. ... 

The second Madrid Derby of the season might not be for a championship, but it’s been one of the most important matches each campaign for the last decade or so. Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have been two of the top clubs in both Spain and the world during this decade, with Real Madrid claiming four Champions League titles and Atletico Madrid winning three Europa League crowns. Neither club has had the domestic success you might think though, with Atletico winning one La Liga title and Real Madrid winning just two over the last decade. Both clubs are frontrunners for this year’s title, along with Barcelona, and they are both looking to bring a La Liga title to the capital. ... 

Real Madrid fans are feeling great after Wednesday’s Champions League win over AS Roma. The club is looking to win an unprecedented fourth straight title, and they are off to a great start after beating Roma 3-0. Now, Real Madrid is turning its attention back to La Liga, and they are looking to secure a big win this weekend. They are heavy favorites over Espanyol, despite the visitors getting off to a very strong start this year. ... 

It’s no surprise which two teams are tied at the top of the table through the first three weeks of La Liga action. Barcelona and Real Madrid are once again proving they are cut above the rest of the competition, but this week Real Madrid will get a real test. They will travel north to Basque Country to take on an Athletic Bilbao team that is always difficult to play on the road. Both matches between these two sides ended in draws last season, so Real Madrid fans must be wary coming into this match. ... 

SD Huesca could not have asked for a better start during their first ever season in La Liga. The tiny Aragonese club is making its La Liga debut, and they have been able to pick up results in both of their matches. They will face a tall task when they take on giants Barcelona this weekend though. Barca dwarf Huesca in terms of well…everything. The Blaugrana have more titles, more history, more support, and more money. That will be a lot for Huesca to try and overcome. ... 

Villarreal are looking to erase a disappointing start to the season. The Yellow Submarine were beaten in their home opener last week in what was the biggest upset in the first week of La Liga play. They had expected to get a win, or at the very least a draw, when they took on Real Sociedad, but instead they were defeated 2-1 in front of their home fans. Now, they must go on the road to face a Sevilla team that is currently tied for first place after a comfortable win in their opener. ... 

The best professional soccer league in the world is back in action this week when La Liga kicks off its 2018-19 campaign. While Barcelona and Real Madrid are the two favorites to win the league, two other teams are looking to upset the applecart and bring more parity to Spanish soccer. Atletico Madrid and Valencia finished second and fourth in the La Liga standings last year, and both teams made significant improvements to their roster this offseason with the influx of Champions League money. They will square off in the La Liga Game of the Week on Monday night. ... 

Sevilla will be looking to claim their first Spanish Supercup since 2007 when they take on Barcelona this Sunday. Sevilla will also be out for a spot of revenge. Barcelona hammered the club 5-0 in the Copa del Rey Final in April, claiming their fourth straight cup in the process. It will be a tall task for Sevilla though. The club is a heavy underdog to the Blaugrana, who have won more Spanish Supercups than any other team. ... 

Over the past decade, La Liga has proven to be the strongest domestic league in the world. The rise of Spain’s national team has coincided with a rise in the play of the league’s two top teams, who most fans will say are the two best club teams in the world. The rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid is known around the globe, and one of these two sides has won 13 of the last 14 La Liga titles. It’s no surprise that the El Clasico clubs are the overwhelming favorites to win the league again this season. ... 

The goal for Real Madrid in their La Liga finale against Villarreal is simple, avoid injuries at all costs. There is literally nothing to play for in the final week of La Liga other than final placement in the table. All four Champions League spots both Europa League slots, and the three teams being relegated have already been decided. Only Real Madrid has something meaningful left this season with their pivotal Champions League Final against Liverpool taking place a week from Saturday. ... 

The second Sevilla Derby of the season means more than usual to both of these teams. Sevilla and Real Betis are both looking for a spot in the Europa League.

Real Betis nearly has entrance into the Europa League secured. They are sitting two points ahead of Villarreal and five points ahead of Sevilla with two matches left to play, but they need a result here in order to lock up a spot. It would be just their second time qualifying for a European competition this decade. ... 

Barcelona have already claimed a double this year. In the past two weeks, the club has been able to both lock up La Liga and win the Copa del Rey for the fourth straight year. Even with the Champions League disappointment, that makes for a pretty successful season. ... 

Real Madrid has already conceded the La Liga title, but Los Blancos are still in the hunt to finish in second place. They are currently sitting four points behind city rivals Atletico Madrid for the runners-up spot in Spain and would love to catch Atletico. ... 

Both Barcelona and Sevilla exited the Champions League earlier than they would have liked, but each team still has a chance to win a trophy this season. ... 

Barcelona is looking to distance itself from its disappointing exit from the Champions League. The Catalan club seemed set to book another appearance in the Champions League Semifinals after defeating AS Roma 4-1 in Camp Nou, but Barcelona fell apart at the back in the return leg. Barcelona allowed Roma to net three without an answer, sending them to a stunning exit from the Champions League. ... 

The Madrid Derby always delivers. Although neither Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid are in contention for La Liga this season, both sides will be looking to pick up a big victory over an arch rival on Sunday....