Barça Loses Messi for 3 Weeks; Real Madrid Just Loses
It probably won't last, but for now, La Liga is actually looking like an open competition again.
In so many ways, European football mirrors what NCAA gridiron has become:
- a preeminent set of conferences that
- form a power base for a select group of the same old teams where
- no other team in that base really matters except for their upset potential every few years.
With Barcelona and Real Madrid spending time this season falling back to earth, this could be one of those few occasions where a few more La Liga clubs actually do matter.
Probably not, but for the immediate future, at least, Spanish football might actually see more than a two-horse race with the odd disruptor making a token appearance.
Right now, here's the state of play:
Levante just climbed within one point of Real by sending the so-called Galacticos to their fourth loss in five matches with a 1-2 victory at the Bernabéu.
Julen Lopetegui's fall from grace is now bordering on the spectacular.
- First, he's sacked by the national team just before the World Cup because he privately agreed to take the Real Madrid job afterward, and now,
- It's only a matter of time before Real pink-slips him.
Real's actually controlling play during their slump, but time of possession and pounding woodwork don't show in the standings. Marcelo's goal in this match broke a 481-minute drought.
As bad as their attack is right now, Real's defense is diabolical.
Then there's the Blaugrana.
They've been leaving points on the pitch in the season's early going, and now, they'll be doing it without the services of Lionel Messi.
Barça still cruised to a 4-2 victory over Sevilla:
Still, they've yet to pull away from the pack like they usually do as November approaches.
The season's first El Clásico is next Sun 28 Oct, so maybe these two squads can take a moment to commisserate with each other.
As far as the rest of the league's concerned, that'll be a private party.
Just like the championship celebrations at La Liga usually are.