The situation
Despite an almost impeccable start to the league in which they have remained at the top of the standings for a good part of the first third of the championship, Real Madrid relinquished leadership a day before the break after their defeat in Vallecas. A situation that is not strange, nor distant, to the white team. Three seasons ago, they won the League in a similar situation, although unexpected. In the 2019-2020 season, Madrid suddenly found themselves in second place after losing against Betis on the last day before, then unscheduled, the championship stopped. The 34 League recipe is the way to go to get the 36 … They spent three months longing for a return to competition to recover that first place in a final sprint of 11 days. The break is now half as long (50 days), with a much longer calendar ahead (24 days remain, almost two thirds of the season) and this time with other competitions interspersed. But the distance is the same: two points. In 2020, Zidane’s team conspired to achieve a full victory that put pressure on Barcelona. The whites complied: They only punctured on the last day, a draw in Leganés with the 34th League mathematically decided. The azulgranas gave up the lead and distanced themselves in a passage of four days in which they gave up three draws (against Sevilla, Celta and Atlético). On the penultimate matchday the Whites lifted the title with a victory against Villarreal at the Di Stéfano. Madrid finished five points ahead of their eternal rival.
The calendar of Barcelona and Real Madrid after the World Cup
The immediate calendar when the League resumes has a trap for both. In the five remaining games of the first round, Barça has to visit Atlético, Girona and Betis. At the Camp Nou there will be a derby with Espanyol and another game against Getafe. Two rivals from the top and three from the lower-middle zone of the table for Xavi’s men. Madrid, meanwhile, will face four of the top ten. He will resume the pulse of the competition in Valladolid, to later visit Villarreal and Athletic and reopen the Bernabéu to receive Real Sociedad and Valencia.