In the first game of 2022, Ancelotti suffered a blow, Real Madrid lost to Getafe, while Barca and Atletico both won. The La Liga title race has reached a turning point? This may not be the case, real Madrid not only lead Atletico by 14 points, but also have five major advantages.
After losing to Getafe, Real Madrid's 15-game unbeaten record was ended, and it was their first defeat since October 2021. At the same time, this is also the first time since July 16, 2020 that Real Madrid lost and Barca won.
Despite leading the table with 8 points, Real Madrid (46 points) should indeed be careful, as second-placed Sevilla (38 points) have two fewer games, while Atletico Madrid (32 points) and Barca (31 points) also have one less game each.
However, from the perspective of stability, overall state and other factors, Real Madrid is still expected to win the La Liga title.
stability
After entering the 21st century, only four teams have won La Liga, with Barca topping the table with 10 times, Real Madrid winning the title seven times, followed by Atletico and Valencia, who have won the title twice each.
This season, Real Madrid's two major rivals, Barca and Atletico, have had problems. Defending champions Atletico have been stumbling, and after being affected by injuries, Atletico's defence is no longer as brave as it once was.
In December, Atletico lost all four La Liga games, and even though they beat Rayo Vallecano, they still trailed Real Madrid by a full 14 points. After letting Messi go, Barca's performance plummeted and it was hard to believe they could compete for the league title.
Excellent attack and defense
In the first half of the season, Real Madrid scored 41 goals, the top of La Liga teams, and Betis, who are currently in second place, have only scored 32 goals. Meanwhile, Real Madrid conceded just 16 goals in the first half, just higher than Sevilla, who conceded 13.
Real Madrid's quick counter-attack this season has been refreshing, with The addition of Alaba making it easier for Real Madrid to play the ball at the back, while Vinicius has found the feel and Benzema has continued to be in excellent shape.
When strong, it is strong
The loss to 16th-placed Getafe made Real Madrid fans very dissatisfied. However, real madrid remain unbeaten against the top 10 teams, which is one of the key factors in their ability to win the title.
In the first half of the season, Real Madrid won 8 wins and 1 draw against the top 10 teams, and the only time they failed to win was a white paper with Villarreal. The 2-0 victory over Atletico and the 2-1 victory over Barca and Sevilla all reflect the strength of Real Madrid.
Overall status
The departure of Varane and Ramos once made fans very worried about Real Madrid's defense, however, Alaba and Militão have performed very well this season and successfully filled the gap.
In midfield, the midfield triangle of Modric, Casemiro and Kroos has entered its seventh season, and they still have excellent performances. Casemiro has averaged 2.9 steals per game this season, third in La Liga, Kroos has averaged 85 passes per game and a pass success rate of 94.2%, and Modric has delivered four assists.
Sharp attack
After taking over Real Madrid again, one of Ancelotti's biggest achievements has been to let young players like Vinicius and Asensio find their feelings completely. Vinicius has finished third in La Liga's top scorers list with 10 goals, after Ansonsio, who was plagued by injuries, has scored five goals, just one goal away from his single-season goal record.
Meanwhile, Benzema continued his form of excellence, scoring 15 goals in La Liga this season, topping the top scorers list. In the first 20 La Liga games, Real Madrid scored 41 goals, which is expected to break the goal record of last season (67 goals).
Despite the defeat in the first game of the new year, if nothing else, Real Madrid are expected to win their second La Liga title in the last three seasons.