Why Real Madrid will best Barcelona in La Liga title race

Barcelona have been on course for their third consecutive league title this season, having led the league for 16 of its 32 game weeks. However, the Blaugrana now sit two points behind rivals Real Madrid, with only six games left to play.

Barca have looked pretty unconvincing in recent outings, while Los Blancos have won all five matches since the restart. Zinedine Zidane’s team look poised to claim their first league title since 2017.

Clearly, there are plenty of problems in Catalunya right now. It’s been a difficult campaign, with coach Ernesto Valverde fired in January in protracted and messy circumstances.

Barca were also dumped out of the Copa Del Rey at the quarterfinal stage and the Champions League at the round of 16.

Coach Quique Setien has instilled a more attacking style, but there are still problems in a team that lacks control in midfield, and which still relies far too heavily on star player Leo Messi.

Barca currently don’t control games like they used to, and they often struggle when they lose the ball. With rumors of a dressing room bust up between Setien and his players at the weekend, all is clearly not well.

At Madrid, meanwhile, it seems much less likely that points will be dropped in the remaining fixtures. The spine of the team is fantastic: Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos are an incredible centre-back pairing, Casemiro bosses central midfield, and Karim Benzema is in the form of his life right now.

Barca have two challenging ties coming up in Atletico Madrid and Villarreal, while Real Madrid will not face any top four opposition in their run-in.

Zidane’s side are now odds-on favorites to claim the title, while Barca will need a drastic change in form to earn maximum points in their final six games.

Spanish Primera title races aren’t always straightforward, and it’s possible Real will drop points. But a 34th league title is theirs to lose.
