LaLiga becomes a powder keg

LaLiga goes red hot. Less than a month ago, everything seemed sentenced in favor of Atlético, while the sorpasso Real Madrid or Barcelona seemed utopian. But February changed the scenery of the championship. Simeone's men have missed seven points out of the last twelve in play; while Real Madrid had a full session in February. Barcelona, ​​which has left two points out of twelve, has wasted against Cádiz putting more gunpowder into the fight. These dynamics have led to the head of the table being compressed again and the assault on the leadership held by Atlético is reduced to three points by the whites; while for the Catalans it is eight. But a fourth comes undercover … If Sevilla beat Osasuna this Monday, they would take third place and would be seven behind Atlético. LaLiga is no longer a matter of just one and March and April are presented as a powder keg.

Simeone, Zidane, Koeman and Lopetegui have used the calculator and the calendar. They add, subtract, predict … Complicated task, since surprises are the order of the day. Few expected Levante to set on fire what seemed like Atlético's solid leadership. In a week they have achieved four points against the rojiblancos, after the coincidence of playing the postponed match of the first round on Wednesday (1-1) and that of the second on Saturday (0-2). Atlético reaped their second defeat in the league against the Granotas, the first was against Real Madrid. But Simeone still has an extra ball left to recover distances on the targets. They still have their duel against Athletic pending in the Metropolitano, which corresponded to the 18th day, but was suspended due to the snowfall of Filomena that paralyzed the capital.

This match will take place on March 10. The result could be decisive for the course of the remainder of the League. Since three days before, Atlético will host Real Madrid. The derby will be decisive for the leadership. A victory for Zidane's men would leave them with the same points (depending on what happens in the next round) but it would be worth them to be the new leaders since they would have won the golaverage. On the other hand, a victory for the rojiblancos would mean maintaining a distance that could be increased in the match against Athletic. The duel against the lions is presented as an extra ball of great importance for Simeone, it would help them to regain the leadership in case of losing the derby or to give a final blow on the table in their aspiration to the title in case of increasing the advantage again if they beat Madrid and Athletic.

While Madrid is already up to date in LaLiga, there is no postponed game left to play, Barcelona also has an extra ball. The Catalans, who have a saturated calendar, They will have to play this Wednesday against Elche the match corresponding to the first day. If those of Koeman achieve victory, they will close the gap. They would stay two from Real Madrid and five from Atlético.On the other hand, Sevilla also have an extra ball. It is about his duel against Elche. A game that will be played on March 17 and corresponds to the second day.

Calendar saturation

Only Barcelona is still alive in all three competitions. Although in trouble in all of them. In LaLiga they march behind Atlético and Real Madrid; Last Tuesday in the Champions League they suffered a bulky and traumatic defeat against PSG (1-4) that makes it almost impossible for them to reach the quarterfinals, and in the Cup they lost 2-0 to Sevilla in the first leg of the semifinals. March is key for the Catalans, both for their aspirations to win titles and for their state of mind. It should arrive at the best moment on April 11, when the Classic will be played at the Bernabéu. To do this, before he will have some appointments in which he starts as a clear favorite and must not fail (Elche, Osasuna, Huesca and Valladolid) and others of greater substance (Seville and Real Sociedad). You will also have two other important paperwork to deal with in March. The one to bet on the Cup and turn the semifinals against Sevilla (on March 3 will be the return) to be in the final on April 17 at La Cartuja. And the other great appointment will be the second leg of the Champions League against PSG (March 10). Although it seems almost impossible to avoid elimination in Europe, they will have to try for pride and history. And for giving a good image.

It is undoubtedly Barcelona that has a more saturated calendar next month, but Atlético have rivals that could make things difficult for them. Simeone has to redirect and emotionally strengthen his squad after a bad month. He has this Tuesday the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Chelsea and the return will be on March 17. The European Cup is a small thorn in this Atlético. Simeone has brushed the title on several occasions and last year they received a jug of cold water after falling in the quarterfinals against Leipzig after eliminating Liverpool, who were then the reigning champions. Eliminated from the Cup, in the League he will have very relevant and transcendental duels in the coming weeks (Villarreal, Real Madrid, Athletic twice, Sevilla and Barcelona …). Two of them stand out from the rest. That of Real Madrid (March 7) and that of Barcelona (May 9). The first could reduce or increase the distance on the pursuit of the whites and the second could decide who will be the league champion just three days before the end of the season.

Madrid, for its part, has its mind set on the Champions League and LaLiga. In Europe, their fetish competition, they have a date against Atalanta this Wednesday. The return will be on March 16. In the League, Zidane's men will not have to be distracted by Real Sociedad the next day if they want to reduce the gap against Atlético. After this duel, the calendar appears feasible (Elche, Celta and Eibar) before the Classic arrives. The other duel that may decide your title aspirations.

And undercover there could be a fourth team. If tomorrow, Monday, Sevilla prevails in El Sadar, Lopetegui's men would snatch third place from Barcelona. The people of Seville, as happens to the Catalans, depend a lot on Atlético and Madrid to get into the fight, but they could benefit from the duels they have between them and those that Sevilla play against the three involved. Those from Nervión still have to play against Barcelona (February 27), Atlético (April 4) and Madrid (May 9).

The key games for the remainder of the League

Barcelona-Elche: February 24 (game postponed).

Seville-Barcelona: February 27.

Atlético de Madrid-Real Madrid: 7 of March.

Athletic-Athletic: March 10 (game postponed).

Seville-Elche: March 17 (game postponed).

Sevilla-Atlético de Madrid: April 4.

Real Madrid-Barcelona: April 11.

Barcelona-Atlético de Madrid: May 9.

Real Madrid-Seville: May 9.