Who can win La Liga?

We're at the half-way point of La Liga and the league standings haven't been this interesting for many years:

1 Barcelona 19 11 6 2 40 17 39
2 Sevilla 19 12 2 5 37 19 38
3 Real Madrid 19 12 2 5 28 16 38
4 Valencia 19 11 3 5 28 15 36
5 Atlético 19 10 5 4 25 13 35
6 Zaragoza 19 9 4 6 30 20 31
7 Recreativo 19 9 3 7 28 25 30
8 Getafe 19 8 5 6 16 13 29
9 Osasuna 19 8 2 9 27 24 26
10 Espanyol 19 6 8 5 18 18 26
11 Villarreal 19 7 5 7 18 24 26
12 Racing 19 6 7 6 18 23 25
13 Deportivo 19 5 7 7 14 24 22
14 Celta 19 5 6 8 21 26 21
15 Mallorca 19 5 5 9 16 27 20
16 Athletic 19 4 7 8 21 28 19
17 Levante 19 4 7 8 16 26 19
18 Betis 19 4 6 9 19 26 18
19 R. Sociedad 19 2 7 10 12 25 13
20 Nástic 19 2 3 14 16 39 9

Who do you think has a realistic chance of winning the league? Is Barcelona going to regain their composure and form and run away with it again, especially after the return of their talismanic striker Eto'o? Can RM finally show some sustained improvement with Gago and Higuein strengthening the squad now? Will Sevilla crumble under pressure? Will Valencia's record breaking winning streak continue? Can Atlético maintain momentum and actually start playing well apart from collecting points? Is Zaragoza flattering to deceive? Looking beyond seems a wild fantasy even if the points difference itself does not exclude it.

Who will join Nastic in Segunda next year? Levante and Real Sociedad look likely candidates? Can Betis save itself?

Who will be the ones to watch?

btw. this weekend will be the annual referee-celebration-weekend. Tbh, they have been a lot better than last year, even if that doesn't say much.

Its too close to call, but Farsa only being 1 point ahead half way through the season is a shocker!

Yeah, we should have been at least 5, 6 points behind the leader(s) with this form.

I'd love it to be Madrid, will probably be Barca though

TITO wrote:Yeah, we should have been at least 5, 6 points behind the leader(s) with this form.

Tbh, you Farsa fans make it out to be more of a chaos than it really was, 1 loss and a couple draws

Read it again. I said FORM.

Same thing.

Barcelona being one point in front gives me hope and worries me at the same time.

It worries me because Real Madrid have dropped unnecessary points and have had to build a team. They can only get better.
Also Valencia have had a really bad patch of results and many injuries. They are only 3 points behind.
I think we have seen the best of Sevilla. For me they are favourites for 4th spot.

At the same time I have great hope because Barcelona have played without Eto'o for most of the season so far. He has saved many many points in the last two seasons and we have missed him for that and for his never say die attitude that somehow must rub off on the other players. I am confident we will get more than 39 points in the second round, but then I think both Real Madrid and Valencia will also improve their results.

It's not the same thing, we're playing terribly and that is not a good thing, regardless of being in the league. We don't accept mediocrity as easily as Madrid.

As for the league, Atletico and Zaragoza have no chance, they'll get the UEFA places, and it'll be between the other 4 for the title. I still can't see Madrid winning it, it would be a tragedy and a shock if they do, and that's not just from a rivalry perspective. I said yesterday on our thread that if we can play with the same intensity as we did in the last 30 mins of the Betis game, then we'll win the league. I still believe in that, though IMO what will also matter a lot is the stretch of matches in late Feb./early March when we play Valencia, Sevilla, Madrid, and Liverpool, all close to each other. If we can get 2 wins and a draw out of the league games, then I think we can win it.

As for Valencia and Sevilla, they seem to currently be going in opposite directions. Couple more weeks of Sevilla's games will tell us whether they're for real or not, but I think Valencia are here to stay till the end barring another injury crisis. Should be interesting!

Based purely on the current standings, I'd say any of the top five have a realistic chance. Barcelona are still the favorites, in my opinion but I think toon is right -- Valencia and Real Madrid have gone through a very difficult time in the first half of the season and are still just a point back. I have a feeling Sevilla will fade and Atletico have too many injury problems even though their defense is still very strong.

I would say the top 4. If Valencia win it wouyld be remarkable considering that match of form they went through, and realistically, most seasons any of the top 4 would be trailing the leaders by probably around 9 or 10 points at this stage.

I would really like Sevilla to win it, although I am very unsure wether they are genuine title contenders, their form in the next few weeks is crucial. If they can stay in the top two up to say....jornada 25, I think they can do it.

But....my head still says Barcelona.

Love Sevilla to win it but Barca will more than likely will retain it.

Key dates in the title battle.....

Valencia vs Barcelona (18 Feb)
Sevilla vs Barcelona (4 Mar)
Barcelona vs Real Madrid (11 Mar)
Valencia vs Sevilla (15 Apr)
Real Madrid vs Valencia (22 Apr)
Real Madrid vs Sevilla (6 May)

I argee with everything Toonh wrote.

I don't remember which manager is was the said now time can win any of the big 3 league if the lose 6+ games, so if that calulation remains true (and it was for about 5 seasons now) then barca are in pole position to retain their title.

sevilla have had navas injured
and barca have had ETO injured

once these players comeback, it will be between these two teams IMO

I think Barca will win, but I'd like to see Sevilla do it.

Athletico would have been real candidates, if they kept Maxi & Petrov fit, particularly former. Are they still being linked with Quaresma?

Atletico have the advantage of being able to concentrate on La Liga only. All other contestants have 2 or 3 competitions they're still active in.

Barcelona still IMO.

They have eto'o returning relatively soon and Sevilla are going through a poor patch.

Real Madrid IMO don't have the quality to take on Barce quite yet.

Valencia could go on a run of form and shock a few people though

I still think Madrid can get it. Capello is a natural born winner, and even though he is now playing a squad that can't handle 2 fronts (too few good players for some positions), it is clear for every guy in the starting eleven they have to give 111% to not have troubles with him.

Barça has the better team, Seville the less presure... but I think Real can really win it.

13 Deportivo 19 5 7 7 14 24 22
14 Celta 19 5 6 8 21 26 21
15 Mallorca 19 5 5 9 16 27 20
16 Athletic 19 4 7 8 21 28 19
17 Levante 19 4 7 8 16 26 19
18 Betis 19 4 6 9 19 26 18
19 R. Sociedad 19 2 7 10 12 25 13
20 Nástic 19 2 3 14 16 39 9

I am most disappointed with the relegation zone. Lots of teams I like in risk - Real Sociedad, Bétis, Athetic Bilbao, Mallorca, Celta, Depor...

Yeh a lot of big teams are down there. Its been coming a long time for Athletic and I think they are doomed despite their good form of late. Betis certainly have enough quality to escape whilst Sociedad have a massive task to stay up. Mallorca could be in there come June, as could Levante. Apart from that, I think Celta and Depor are in no real danger.