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Expectations are high, after the nail-biting and rather, unexpected end to the last La Liga season as the competition has intensified. Atletico’s triumph had left the big two with some soul searching to do. The smaller teams have been invigorated after seeing that a league victory is possible with even such limited ressources. There’s a new buzz to the competiton, a renewed belief that the competiton is not a foregone conclusion.These are not the romantic words of a writer. Changes have been made and are there for all to see. Teams have started changing their styles and philosphies instead of trying to replicate the tiki-taka and dream, starry eyed, about the success it could bring them. There has been a defined approach, at least, in the top half of the table, and the results have been stunning.Here’s an analysis of the top 7 cubs in La Liga so far.
#1 Real Madrid
After the first three games, Real Madrid's record read: 3 games, 1 win and 2 defeats. Since then, they have played 8 games, scoring 37 goals in the process, ie. an average of more than 4 goals per game.
There were many doubts as to how Madrid would manage such a ferociously attacking unit as many feared about the balance of the team. And yet here we are - Madrid having belligerently assuaged those doubts by scoring a reckless amount of goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo's hunger for success seems to have only increased with the Champions League triumph last season. New boy James Rodriguez has bedded in well. Gareth Bale has delivered performances that fit his price tag. Isco has been phenomenal for them, as he has worked tirelessly to integrate attack and midfield. Every possible thing is working in tandem for Madrid. They sit, comfortably, atop the league. If they manage to maintain this form, they will have sizzled the world with their swashbuckling football and their results.
An impressive start to the campaign by all accounts.
Grade: A+
#2 Barcelona
It has not been a very good start for Barcelona at all. They started off brightly but have now fallen behind rivals Real Madrid.
Pep Guardiola has become a yardstick for Barcelona managers to be judged by and so it is no surprise that Barcelona fans are not happy with what they've seen from Luis Enrique so far. Barcelona's recent performances can be labelled as sterile domination. They've dominated possession as always, but have lacked the cutting edge to make that possession count.
Enrique seems to be struggling with making a cohesive unit out of Neymar, Messi and Suarez. Having said that, it is still early days and could just be a bump in the road due to Suarez's sudden introduction into the team set-up after serving his ban. It has to be said that their midfield too has struggled this season, and they are yet to find their best combination.
Barcelona are still a strong squad and have the talent to match Madrid if not trump them, but their season so far has been without direction and purpose. Enrique will be hoping to instill some belief in his team before it is too late as talks of crisis are already in the air.
Grade: C
#3 Valencia
Just this summer, Juan Antonio Pizzi - Ex-Valencia manager, and a very popular one at that, was unceremoniously fired. Twenty players were sold and only eleven brought in, the most famous of which has been injured since before the season. Issues with ownership and club finances had ravenously savaged the club. There was a grim atmosphere at the Mestalla, a mutual consensus that the club would do well to match the eighth position achieved in the previous season.
Nuno's arrival as manager was met with skepticism. He was considered to be a pawn in soon-to-be owner Peter Lim's grandiose plans, but what has ensued has been in stark contrast to the pre-conceived notions about Nuno, who before this had only a brief experience of management at Rio Ave.
He has defined a style at Valencia and put his stamp on the team, refusing to adhere to Spain's much vaunted tiki-taka or any such possession obsessed tactics. The result has been a highly physical, fast paced, attacking outfit who have become very hard to beat.
They are currently third in La Liga, two points adrift of the mighty Barcelona having played a game less. They've been beaten only once, a record only matched by Atletico Madrid and Celta Vigo. They are third in goals scored, again, two adrift of Barcelona. All this is without their biggest signing, Alvaro Negredo, having even started a game.
Confidence is high at Valencia. They believe that this is the beginning of something special. They may not end up holding on to their current position come the end of the season, but this is definitely a move in the right direction. Sooner or later, with continued perseverance, they'll be able to soar to the heights they desire. For now, it is perfect.
Grade: A+
#4 Atletico Madrid
The dynamics of the league have changed drastically for Atletico this year. Singed by the embarrassment caused due to their failures in the league last season, Real Madrid and Barcelona spent enormously large sums to build a more potent line-up than last season. Other teams have grown wary of Atletico's status as perennial underdogs. To add to their troubles, they've had to bed in a lot of new additions to the squad.
Simeone had openly predicted that his team will not win the title this season, but in their performances it doesn't look like they've given up yet. Their undulating performances early in the season, could be attributed to a change in style. Defensively, they remain a similar, tough tackling outfit as last season, but in attack there are notable changes. Costa's departure has led to a change in approach to goal-scoring as replacement, Mario Mandzukic, isn't quite of the same ilk as Costa.
Mandzukic's attributes are very different to that of his predecessor. His lack of pace means they cannot exploit the opposition by passing into space. They've had to develop a more pronounced approach in attack and it is slowly showing its effect.
Atletico, like Valencia, are two points behind Barcelona and four behind fierce rivals Real Madrid, having played a game less. They are slowly getting used to their new personnel and one gets the feeling that we haven't seen them performing to their full potential yet. This is an Atletico with all the positive attributes of last season seasoned with some very unpredictable finesse and caliber. It won't be surprising to see them carry this form and make another strong title run.
Grade: A
#5 Sevilla
Ten games in and Sevilla have had as many losses, this season, as Real Madrid and Barcelona. They are just 2 points behind Barcelona, and 4 behind Real and it has really been a very decent start for Unai Emery's side this season.
The Europa league triumph last season has done wonders to their confidence. They aren’t a vastly improved side compared to last season, but their approach to games is now refreshing, with the meek attitude of last season having, mostly been done away with.
They have dispatched smaller teams with considerable ease, tossing them about with the contempt of a much bigger side. It is a disdainfully rosy picture when only the positive side is considered. On the negative side, they still haven't figured a way to live with the bigger sides.
Their two losses have come at the hands of Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid, with the latter one being a complete mauling by a scoreline of 4-0. They also faced considerable difficulty when they faced Villarreal and Valencia.
Sevilla, realistically, have only about 5 teams better than them in the league. They can thrash as many small teams as they like, but if they're not going to prove a hurdle to bigger teams, they're not going make a drastic improvement in their league position from last season (5th).
It has been a good start, but Sevilla need to start capitalizing on this and what better way to do it than in their next fixture, when they face Barcelona.
Grade: B
#6 Malaga
It has been a good start for new manager Javi Garcia. His team are currently on a 5 match unbeaten streak and lie 6th in the table and the manager couldn't have wished for a better start.
21 points from 11 games is a promising start for a team that only managed 45 from 38 last season. There has been a change from last term but nothing radical like their nearest rivals in the division. Unlike their rivals, Malaga have opted for a more compact system, a defense before offense mentality and it has helped them reap dividends.
It is perhaps for the best that Malaga concentrate on their defense more than attack. They're not as prolific as some of the other teams and will have to ensure they keep it tight at the back.
One gets the feeling that this is just a hot streak and the purple patch will soon fade away. Whatever it is, it is working for now and should inspire joy among the Malaga faithful.
Grade: B
#7 Celta Vigo
Celta Vigo sit gregariously in the top half of the table as if they belong there. As if they always have. Looking at them now, it is hard to believe that this team was battling relegation just one season ago. It has been a mercurial rise for them.
Celta Vigo, with 20 points, sit 7th in the table, a mere 5 points off of Barcelona and 7 off Real Madrid. They've only suffered one loss, a 3-1 reverse against Villarreal, despite already having played the likes of Atletico and Barcelona. They are no longer a small team that is there for the taking. Over the last year they've evolved into a more adventurous unit, showing a brazen attitude to the bigger teams and refusing to bow down before them.
One could be forgiven for thinking that Celta would succumb due to the departure of Luis Enrique. It was under his tutelage that they began to nourish a more open brand of football, shedding, in the process, their sad style and the fear of relegation. It was feared that they would regress to what they were before him, but Eduardo Berizzo's leadership has done away with such fears.
Berizzo's team play a fearless brand of football which was most evident in their recent victory against Barcelona. In the wilderness of the Nou Camp, they matched Barca's tenacity, pressing them high up the pitch and playing a high pressure game. This style has been carefully molded all season and has made them the only team to not have lost away from home.
It has been a brilliant season so far for Celta. They may not be able to maintain it in the long run, but they have certainly managed to raise their expectations to a decent top half finish.
Grade: A
