As La Liga Returns, Here Are 5 Things To Know

After a near three-month hiatus, professional soccer returns to Spain this week.

And the really good news is La Liga, the country’s top division, has plenty to resolve in the remaining 11 matches of the season.

Giants Barcelona and Real Madrid are in one of the tightest title races for years and as many as eight teams are eyeing two remaining Champions League spots. The battle to avoid relegation is also set to go to the wire.

So, with virtually every team having something left to play for, here are five things to know as La Liga returns.  

Lots Of Games, Unusual Surroundings

La Liga resumes on Thursday, with the Seville derby between Sevilla and Real Betis. From then, the plan is to have at least one match every day for the following five weeks. That’s 110 matches in just 39 days.

It sounds like a soccer spectacular, though one thing that will be missing is fans in the stadiums. Like in Germany and England, matches will be played behind closed doors. As has been seen in Germany’s Bundesliga, the absence of fans could reduce the home advantage of hosting teams. That advantage could be further eroded for those teams choosing not to play at their ‘traditional’ home grounds. Real Madrid is swapping its 80,000+ capacity Santiago Bernabéu stadium for the 6,000-seater Alfredo Di Stefano stadium at its training ground. Levante, which has building works ongoing at its Ciutat de Valencia stadium, will play matches nearly 100 miles to the south.

La Liga is attempting to keep the viewing experience special for fans with new broadcast measures, including new camera angles, virtual home fans and “atmospheric audio”.

A Title Race With Twists And Turns

Barcelona sits two points above arch-rival Real Madrid, but it would be a brave person to bet now on the Catalan team claiming its third title in a row. Both sides have looked unconvincing at times this season and Barca has already lost five matches – the most since its 2015/16 campaign. Under new coach Quique Setien, Barca may have to win all of its remaining matches and will likely again turn to star Lionel Messi for inspiration.

Madrid has also been inconsistent this season. A fact best summed up by its league results before the enforced break, which saw a win over Barca in El Clásico sandwiched between defeats to Levante and Real Betis. Los Blancos have a deeper squad to choose from though and, with Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio back from injury, they will fancy their chances of claiming their first title in three years.

Champions League Places Up For Grabs

While it would be a shock for any team to catch Barca or Madrid, the race for the final two Champions League qualification spots is wide open. There is just five points between Sevilla (3^rd) and Valencia (7^th). Even Athletic Club, sitting 10^th and nine points behind fourth-placed Real Sociedad, could have an outside shout if it puts together a run.

Atletico Madrid (6^th) and Sevilla both had summers overhauling their squads but the former, in particular, will be desperate to qualify for a tournament where it has become a regular. Real Sociedad (4^th) has become a neutral’s favorite with a youthful squad playing attractive attacking soccer. Getafe, in 5^th place, has a style that isn’t as easy on the eye but to again be in the running at this stage of the season is hugely impressive. Valencia (7^th) has had a typically tumultuous season and looks more likely to have to settle for a Europa League place.

The Fierce Battle Against Relegation

No team is adrift in the fight to stay in Spain’s top division. Even Espanyol, bottom and six points from safety, will believe it can avoid the drop. The Barcelona-based team has home fixtures against fellow strugglers Leganes, Eibar and, on the last day of the season, Celta Vigo. It also has striker Raúl de Tomás, who signed for a club record fee in January and has scored four goals in six games.

Leganes, in 19^th, was dealt a cruel blow when it lost striker Martin Braithwaite to Barcelona in February but proved it can surprise in its last match before lockdown – a win at Villarreal. Mallorca, in 18^th, and Eibar, in 16^th, could suffer without their usual vociferous home support. Celta Vigo, in 17^th, looks too good to go down but is only a point clear of the relegation zone.

Bigger Squads An Advantage

The hectic schedule, coming after an unprecedented break, means teams will be allowed to make five substitutions in a match. The rule will naturally favor those clubs that have invested in balanced squads, with players of similar quality available off the bench. Barcelona boss Quique Setien has already claimed the rule will “do us more harm than good”, with rivals able to bring on extra fresh legs if flagging in the latter stages.

As Spain moves into summer, and sometimes intense heat, the fittest squads will also have a clear advantage. Expect plenty of late goals as La Liga returns, and plenty of drama.