© EuroFootball.com
The just ended season of the Spanish football championship once again confirmed that two clubs clearly dominate the country: Madrid's "Real" and "Barcelona", delighting fans with impressive records.
This time, greater success accompanied "Real", which after a few years of break overcame the Catalans and won the champion's title. Additionally, "Barcelona" will welcome the new season with a change: Pep Guardiola stepped down from the position of head coach.
Here are some observations by "UEFA.com" about the course of the season.
Champion: Madrid's "Real"
At the beginning of the season, both favorites lost points, but eventually surged and started collecting victories. For a while, "Real" was in the lead, but slip-ups in matches against Bilbao "Athletic" and "Getafe", as well as a home defeat to "Real" in December, left Jose Mourinho's pupils behind "Barcelona" due to a better goal ratio.
However, soon "Real" was in the lead again, as they won a postponed match, and later avoided major pitfalls and practically secured the title in April by defeating "Barcelona" 2-1 on their own field.
Cup final: Bilbao "Athletic" 0 - 3 "Barcelona"
This was Guardiola's last match at the helm of "Barcelona", ending with the 26th triumph in the country's cup tournament. "Blaugrana" knocked out their opponents in the first half, and after the break, they took care of the formalities and won their 14th trophy since 2008 when Guardiola took over.
Places in European cup tournaments:
- Champions League group stage: "Real", "Barcelona", "Valencia"
- Champions League qualification: "Malaga"
- Europa League group stage: Madrid's "Atletico"
- "Levante", Bilbao "Athletic" - awaiting confirmation for Europa League.
Relegated: Santander "Racing", Chichon "Sporting", "Villarreal"
Promoted: La Coruna's "Deportivo", other potential candidates: Celta Vigo, "Valladolid", "Hercules", "Alcorcon", "Cordoba"
Player of the season: Cristiano Ronaldo ("Real")
At the end of the 2010-2011 season, C. Ronaldo admitted that it would be difficult to surpass the record he set - 40 goals per season. However, he managed to do it this year: he scored a total of 46 times in 38 matches against opponents' goalkeepers.
Although Lionel Messi scored four more goals, there is no doubt that the Portuguese was the main architect of "Real's" triumph. The forward scored the team's first goal 20 times and equalized the result against opponents four times. His goal in the 73rd minute at "Camp Nou" stadium knocked out "Barcelona" and essentially secured the first place in the championship.
Breakthrough: Oscar de Marcosas ("Athletic")
The player acquired from "Deportivo Alaves" in 2009 did not initially establish himself in the main lineup, but shone under the leadership of Marcelo Bielsa. The energetic, constantly pressing tactic used by this coach was one of the most charming this season and suited midfielder Marcos well. The technical and versatile player scored four goals in 34 matches.
Surprise: "Levante"
With one of the smallest budgets in the league, the club sought victories by using veterans and young, little-known players. It was thought that the team would fight for survival, but with coach Juan Ignacio Martinez and 36-year-old veteran captain Sergio Ballesteros leading the way, "Levante" defeated "Real" and even led the tournament table for some time. The season ended with a sixth-place finish, securing a spot in the Europa League - for the first time in the club's history.
Top scorer: Messi ("Barcelona") - 50 goals
Number: 50
Although "Real" set league records by scoring 121 goals and earning 100 points, it's hard to forget Messi, whose goal-scoring statistics are more than impressive.
73 Messi goals in this season in all tournaments:
Quote: Jose Mourinho
"It was not easy to win championships in Portugal, England, and Italy, but it was the most difficult in Spain. So there is definitely something to celebrate. Work continues from now on because the next season will not be any less challenging."
Sympolic eleven:
Iker Casillas ("Real"); Dani Alves ("Barcelona"), Sergio Ramos ("Real"), Carles Puyol ("Barcelona"), Jordi Alba ("Valencia"); Mesut Ozil ("Real"), Santi Cazorla ("Malaga"), Xavi ("Barcelona"); Cristiano Ronaldo ("Real"), Lionel Messi ("Barcelona"), Falcao ("Atletico")
Tournament table
