LaLiga is red hot. About to enter the final stretch of the season, Real Madrid did not fail in Balaídos (1-3) and stands with 60 points, three ahead, with ten days remaining for the end of the championship.
With everything to decide, Atlético (63 points), Real Madrid (60) and Barcelona (59 points) are in a dizzying sprint for the championship. Rojiblancos and culés have yet to play their match of the 28th day this Sunday. Simeone's men face Alavés (6:30 p.m.) while Koeman's team has to visit Real Sociedad in Anoeta (9:00 p.m.). Faced with such a tight league fight, any detail can be important … and decisive.
The Champions factor
ANDhe Real Madrid is the only Spanish team that is still alive in the Champions League. His quarter-final match against Liverpool coincides in the same week as the El Clásico. A wear that the whites will have and that their rivals will not suffer for LaLiga. The quarterfinals of the Champions League will be played on April 6 and 14. The hypothetical semifinals on April 27-28 and May 4-5. And the final on May 29. We will see if Real Madrid is still alive in the Champions League and that distraction affects them in the domestic competition.
The calendar of Atlético, Barcelona and Real Madrid
| Athletic 63 points | Barça 59 points | R. Madrid 60 points | |
| 21-mar | Alaves (c) | R. Society (f) | * Celtic (1-3) |
| 04-Apr | Seville (f) | Valladolid (c) | Eibar (c) |
| Apr 11 | Betis (f) | R. Madrid (f) | Barça (c) |
| Apr 21 | Huesca (c) | Getafe (c) | Cadiz (f) |
| Apr 25 | Athletic (f) | Villarreal (f) | Betis (c) |
| Apr 28 | Eibar (c) | Granada (c) | Getafe (f) |
| 02-May | The chef) | Valencia (f) | Osasuna (c) |
| 09-May | Barça (f) | Athletic (c) | Seville (c) |
| May 12 | R. Society (c) | Lift | Granada (f) |
| May 16 | Osasuna (c) | Celtic (c) | Athletic (f) |
| May 23 | Valladolid (f) | Eibar (f) | Villarreal (c) |
* One more game.
Cup Final
Barcelona, on the other hand, will have the final of the Copa del Rey against Athletic (April 17) in this final stretch of the campaign. A final that can be a double-edged sword. A victory would be a boost in morale for the last few days in search of the league trophy. But a defeat would not leave Koeman's men in the best mood. and with the league as the only chance to save the season. Extra pressure.
The FIFA Virus factor
The last national team break in November left an exodus of players in the three squads: 11 at Atlético, 13 at Barcelona and 11 at Real Madrid. The selection calendar leaves us another stop between next March 25 and 31. After this exodus of internationals there will then be 10 games to play, but the risk of this type of commitment comes in the form of injuries. Any loss at Atlético, Madrid or Barça could change the current LaLiga panorama.
The goal-average factor
One of the great factors to take into account is the goal-average. That is, who is above in case of equality to points. In Spain, it is decided by direct confrontation. In the event of this ending in a draw, the overall goal difference would be taken into account. Without a doubt, this Atlético-Real Madrid (1-1) has managed to keep LaLiga red hot. “We have not yet said the last word,” said Karim Benzema. Atlético was able to 'sentence' the championship and remove the thorn of not winning the eternal rival this season, but there is still life for Barça and Real Madrid. El Clásico on April 11 will be another one of those vital games on the calendar. After this Madrid-Barça eight days of competition will remain. This great match, in addition, will be played between the first leg and the second leg of the quarterfinals of the Champions League in which Real Madrid face Liverpool. In addition, there will be an Atleti-Barça (May 9) four days from the end of the competition, which may be decisive.
Direct confrontations
| Athletic vs Barcelona | 1-0 |
| Barcelona vs Athletic | May 9 |
| Real Madrid vs Atlético | 2-0 |
| Atlético vs Real Madrid | 1-1 |
| Barcelona vs Real Madrid | 1-3 |
| Real Madrid vs Barcelona | April 11 |
The coronavirus factor
It is a title in times of pandemic. The competition, of course, has been affected in this regard. First, because the field factor disappeared because playing at home or away is no longer so important. Goodbye to the environmental factor. But the danger of this bug that is making our lives bitter is also suffered by the footballers themselves. The last was the rojiblanco Herrera. Although, on February 17 of the 20 teams that compete in the First Division, they did not have any cases in February, the COVID was primed with Atlético in recent weeks. No one is safe and last season we saw a finale in Segunda that went around the world with him Fuenlabrada case. For example, Osasuna suffered several casualties due to forced quarantine when several soccer players were in contact with positives. Undoubtedly, this factor will be of vital importance for the shortlist of teams that fight for the title. Be very careful about the international commitments of national teams that last November unleashed a terrible wave of infections among internationals. COVID was the real FIFA Virus.