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La Liga is an indisputable duopoly where only two teams can thrive. So, all it takes for one team to lift the trophy is for the other team to perform badly. So, we arrive at the looming question. Does Real Madrid’s success this season signify their revival or does it actually mean Barcelona‘s slump? Let us take a look.
When Real Madrid hired the most wanted coach in Europe two years back, a lot was expected of him. After all, he was the “Special One”. Last year, in February, Real lost to Deportivo with 13 games to go leaving them seven points behind Barcelona. Deportivo got relegated at the end of the season and despite promising so much Mourinho failed to win the league.
Fast forward 12 months, this February, Real Madrid are 10 points clear off Barcelona who are now in no place to win the league. Despite Mourinho’s brilliant match-winning tactics, it was Barcelona’s slump which helped Real Madrid reach this place. Last year, after 24 games, Real Madrid had 60 points and they have only 64 now. But, Barcelona last year had 65 points and now, they only have a mere 54. In a year’s time, Real Madrid have gained only four points whereas Barcelona have lost 11 points.
But, you have to give due credit to Real Madrid too. Cristiano Ronaldo has been nothing short of brilliance in front of the goal, Benzema and Higuain have made the most out of their chances, Ozil and di Maria have provided a total of 25 assists amongst them. Thus the numberof goals by Madrid has also dramatically increased from 55 to 80 this season.
Barcelona have lost 16 points only in away games this season and that includes loses against Getafe and Osasuna. Fatigue and loss of form have been the main causes for their slump. May be they got too tired of winning everything, the theories can only be imagined by us.
Guardiola has openly said that the major aim of his team this season will be to retain the Champions League. However, despite all these, Jose Mourinho has won only one out of his 12 El Clasicos and that solitary win came in the dying moments of the Copa del Rey finals. Then again, that is what Jose Mourinho does. He doesn’t care about anything but winning and that is what he has achieved. This trophy might buy him some time and popularity at the capital but his true aim will be to succeed against Barcelona and at the Champions League.
So, to conclude, it doesn’t really matter if it is Real Madrid’s revival or Barcelona’s slump. What matters is that Catalonia will not rule Spain this season and that is a definite success for the best manager in Europe.
