The fight for the league championship is raging. There are three teams involved: Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid. The first two are tied on points with Barça leading on general goal average. Below them, the Colchoneros are only one point behind, so everything is in the balance at a key moment in the season.
Real Madrid were top until last Monday when, amid referee controversy, their injury plague and the Champions League Playoffs, they saw Barça snatch the top spot by winning by the smallest of margins from the penalty spot against Rayo Vallecano. Atlético de Madrid’s draw also led to the culmination of a comeback by Barça, who in recent weeks cut the seven-point lead that the Whites had, who have not won in the league since January 25th when they beat Real Valladolid. From there, the controversial defeat to Espanyol and draws against Atlético and Osasuna.
With this panorama, the classification is in a fist and this is what awaits each of the three contenders in the league before the international break in March.
Real Madrid’s LaLiga fixtures
- 15/02 · Matchday 24 · Osasuna-Real Madrid · 1-1
- 23/02 · Matchday 25 · Real Madrid-Girona (16:15 hours)
- 02/03 · Matchday 25 · Betis-Real Madrid
- 09/03 · Matchday 26 · Real Madrid-Rayo V.
- 16/03 · Matchday 27 · Villarreal-Real Madrid
Until the international break, Real Madrid want to put the controversy over refereeing decisions behind them and get back to winning ways in the next month, when they will play two home games and two away games, all against teams in the fight for a place in Europe.
Barça’s LaLiga fixtures
- 17/02 · Matchday 24 · Barça-Rayo 1-0
- 22/02 · Matchday 25 · UD Las Palmas-Barça (21:00)
- 02/03 · Matchday 25 · Barça-R. Sociedad
- 09/03 · Matchday 26 · Barça-Osasuna
- 16/03 · Matchday 27 · Atlético-Barça
Meanwhile, in the run-up to the break, Barça will also play two home games and two away games, the most important being the direct duel against Atlético de Madrid.
Atlético de Madrid’s LaLiga schedule
- 02/15 · Matchday 24 · Atlético-Celta · 1-1
- 02/22 · Matchday 25 · Valencia-Atlético (6:30 p.m.)
- 01/03 · Matchday 25 · Atlético-Athletic Club
- 09/03 · Matchday 26 · Getafe-Atlético
- 16/03 · Matchday 27 · Atlético-Barça
Atlético, like their rivals, have a direct duel to play before the break that could be key to winning the title at the end of the season. In addition, they will face their closest pursuer, Athletic, and a Valencia team playing for their lives.
To these matches, we must add the Copa semi-finals, the first leg of which will be played next week, on the 25th and 26th, with Barça and Atlético facing each other and Real Madrid playing Real Sociedad. In addition, the Champions League round of 16 will be played on March 4-5 with the first leg and on March 11-12 with the second leg. The opponents will be known this Friday the 21st at 12 noon.