Real Madrid moved ahead of second-placed Barcelona with a point after a 1-1 draw at home to Girona on Sunday. After letting slip a goal advantage, it was not the result, but extended the unbeaten streak to 15 games. And it kept its competition at bay for now.
All this happens as the world of football tries to discover how Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla left the Champions League in the first hurdle of this season. Tellingly, Real will be confident with their trophy, even after showing some rare weaknesses. at the festival and now in LaLiga.
In Europe, Real’s draw against Shakhtar Donetsk and defeat in Leipzig were uncharacteristic, showing that even the most productive groups are flawed. But qualification was not in doubt for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, as the hopes of their league rivals hung. through a thread. A not uncommon thread that ended up breaking with a collective game to spare.
Rivals and dropouts Barcelona and Atletico, who are expected to pass, missed out on the expected cash prizes awarded for progressing. And Los Blancos’ progression as the only team in La Liga means they are sure to pocket more than millions at their expense. How much depends on the effects of the knockout round team.
Its position as the most sensible in Europe and Spain comes from more than one coherent set of stars. While the trajectories of its competition are slowing down for reasons, White Madrid is a beacon of stability with long-term plans with monetary sustainability at its core. And, unfortunately for his rivals, it looks like he’s going to continue, despite the strange setback along the way.
Barcelona gives the most difficult festival for Real, but they have sacrificed a lot to mount a challenge in the league. Costing up to €50 million ($50 million), Robert Lewandowski is Barca’s most sensible goalscorer with 18 moves across all festivals, representing around part of his goals, a magnificent addition so far. But relying so much on one player, in an offensive sense, poses problems.
The 34-year-old can’t keep the numbers forever, and an injury would leave the team stranded. In Valencia, he had to borrow the issues in extra time. On the other hand, La Real distributed the objectives more equally. Karim Benzema receives a lot of praise, but Vinícius Júnior and Federico Valverde have provided decent numbers up front.
On the rise, he didn’t want to reinvent himself with new faces. Instead, it has built its resolute characteristics, and the largely young team is arguably stronger.
Similarly, Real can sell on the go. Take Casemiro, for whom he has collected more than 70 million euros ($70 million), knowing he has capable replacements. This contrasts with the endless saga of Frenkie de Jong. . Barcelona can settle for the cash from its sale. He also knows he wants all the quality he can to challenge at the highest level, which includes the Dutchman and a steady wave of signings.
Asked about the club’s goals in the January transfer window, Ancelotti said there were none. Real Madrid takes it for granted with its players and does not want to invest suddenly in winning. A flexible spending style based on short-term gains and that does not guarantee the obtaining of values.
For the rest, the game plans of Atletico Madrid and Sevilla are in trouble. Under Diego Simeone, Atletico’s incessant taste for the game has worked wonders in some seasons. Now the high-energy technique is showing signs of tiredness. For Sevilla, its painstakingly researched entrances and exits have helped it compete for so long. The lack of spark and team spirit at the moment shows how complicated this is without the resources that some clubs have.
To invest in a winning team, indebted Barcelona sold the rights to the stadium, television and vending machines to raise funds. Essentially, he presented more of himself to build a winning team and brand, offering a foundation for more profit in the future.
This bendy technique is wonderful if everything works. Otherwise, the total operation evaporates. Currently, Barcelona can boast of good profits from the last financial year thanks to the injection of liquidity from these levers.
If a Champions League or La Liga trophy doesn’t arrive soon, the club can only sell out more and hold on to its prestigious call-up for so long before everything runs out. Sponsors and rights holders, such as media rights sharing Sixth Street, are likely to reconsider their rankings, leaving the club with no recourse.
Real is strengthening in a position of strength. The others seem to build from a state of weakness. Last month, despite the effects of the pandemic and significant investments in the redevelopment of the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, the club said it had made a profit to accompany its achievements on the pitch.