Part of the season in the Spanish "La Liga" championships has passed. It is already clear that Madrid's "Real" club became the "winter champions", which seems to be seriously aiming for its 33rd Spanish championship title this season.
Last weekend, Zinedine Zidane's players took advantage of the failures of their closest pursuers and increased their lead to 4 points. In addition, the "whites" have played one game less.
Barcelona, in recent years, had shown an impressive sports form, but the weekend match spoiled all the hard work - a draw was played against Seville's "Real Betis". The league's newcomer Osasuna is not having a very successful season, occupying the penultimate place, and Leganes is in 17th place. Deportivo Alaves is not demonstrating miracles - holding the 12th position, but the performance of this team at the start of the season left no one indifferent, and both "Barcelona" and Madrid "Atletico" have suffered from them.
The most visited country's football news portal EuroFootball.com journalist Aivaras Katutis reviewed the first half of the season in "La Liga", where the main focus was on the top five teams and so far not very shining football players.
The first half of the season champion - Madrid "Real"
In the middle of last season, successfully starting with Zinedine Zidane, the "Real" club demonstrated an impressive sports form at the beginning of the season and recorded a series of 40 unbeaten matches. At one point, it seemed that the "whites" could finish the season in Spain without losing, but after the New Year, the royal club fell into a small pit.
In the first four matches of the season, "Real" celebrated confident victories, but later played a draw three times in a row. However, the drawn series was later broken, and the team from the Spanish capital achieved six consecutive wins and only separated peaceably with "Barcelona" at the "Camp Nou" stadium.
In the last few matches, "Real" won five matches and suffered one defeat, which ended the impressive undefeated streak. Sevilla scored two goals at the end of the match and forced the UEFA Champions League winners to lose for the first time this season.
It is not Cristiano Ronaldo or Gareth Bale leading Real this season, as the former is recovering from an injury for three months, but the team captain Sergio Ramos. The Spaniard has already scored six goals in the La Liga championship this season and has saved his team more than once.
The "meringue" playing style is not at its peak, but there are understandable reasons for that - constant injuries. Only three players from the entire composition did not suffer injuries at the start of the season - Mariano Diaz, Kiko Casilla, and the third team goalkeeper Ruben Yanez.
However, what Z. Zidane should not worry about this season is character and fighting until the last minute. It is possible to remember the Real's team matches in Barcelona or the match against Deportivo La Coruna, when S. Ramos's header in added time brought victory.
The last time the Madrid team triumphed in the Spanish championship was in the 2011-12 season. Florentino Perez considers this tournament a priority, so Z. Zidane will do everything to keep the team in the first place at the end of the season.
Unexpectedly joining the race for the championship title - Sevilla
In the summer, one of the key people who contributed to the success of Andalusia's club in the UEFA Europa League - Unai Emery left Sevilla. Experts expected that Sevilla could show slightly worse results this season, but Jorge Sampaoli (current head coach - ed. note) was written off too early.
Sevilla is not only successfully playing in Spain but is also continuing the fight for the championship title. Andalusians have 42 points along with Barcelona, and currently lag behind Real by 4 points.
The start of the season for the Sevilla's team was not very successful, but with each match, the game improved. Last weekend, Sevilla suffered a defeat against Espanyol in front of Barcelona, but before that, the Europa League winners had won six games in a row.
There are almost no doubts that Sevilla will remain in the top four this season and will try to maintain intrigue in the fight for the championship title until the end of the season.
Lately, the Seville team had to compete in Spain with three of the strongest clubs in Europe - Real, Barca, and Atletico. However, Diego Simeone's pupils can't find their game this season, and it's doubtful if they can seriously challenge the leader.
Sevilla has already beaten both the clubs from the capital, but they have not managed to defeat Barca yet, although there was no shortage of battles in the first season clash.
The well-assembled team of J. Sampaoli can compete in Spain not only in terms of the exhibited game and results but also in terms of composition. Sevilla has a stronger team than ever this season and a long bench of substitutes.
Discovery of the season - Deportivo Alaves club
The end of the season is still far off, but Deportivo Alaves, returning to La Liga, did not have to leave anyone indifferent. Mauricio Pellegrino's well-assembled team occupies an unprecedented 12th place in the Spanish championship, but it is impossible not to admire the game of this team.
Deportivo Alaves has achieved five victories this far this season, played nine draws, and suffered six losses. Alaves is characterized by a strong defense and a safe line, the main face of which is Marcos Llorente, rented out by Real Madrid club.
The 21-year-old graduate of the Real academy is one of the best sa...
Aivaras Katutis, eurofootball.lt
