La Liga Table 2014 Week 23: Updated Standings Following Matchday 22

After 18 years, Atletico Madrid are back atop the La Liga table:

On Sunday, Madrid got the three points which catapulted them to the top of the table with a dominant 4-0 performance over Real Socieadad. 

That match was closer than the score suggested. In fact, Atletico Madrid were up just 1-0 into the 72nd minute. They then quickly turned it into a blowout. 

Combine that with Barcelona's 2-3 loss to Valencia on Saturday and there is a new king atop the table. 

Matchday 22 opened with a bang on Friday, Jan. 31 as Celta Vigo stunned Granada 2-1 on the strength of Augusto Fernandez's 88th-minute go-ahead strike. The result, which marks the Celts' second consecutive league victory, lifts the them over Granada in the La Liga table.

That wasn't the most shocking result of the weekend, however. That award goes to Barcelona, who lost their second match of the season to Valencia. The result gives Madrid—both Real and Atletico—the chance to overtake Barca in the table and take control of the top spot. 

With Week 22 already underway, let's take a look at the latest La Liga table and results. 

Date	Home	Score	Away
Jan. 31	Granada	1-2	Celta Vigo
Feb. 1	Barcelona	2-3	Valencia
Feb. 1	Levante	0-0	Rayo Vallecano
Feb. 1	Getafe	0-0	Real Valladolid
Feb. 1	Malaga	3-2	Sevilla
Feb. 2	Elche	1-0	Almeria
Feb. 2	Real Betis	2-0	Espanyol
Feb. 2	Atletico Madrid	4-0	Real Sociedad
Feb. 2	Athletic Bilbao	1-1	Real Madrid
Feb. 3	Villarreal	3-1	Osasuna

Pos.	Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts.
1	Atletico Madrid	22	18	3	1	42	57
2	Barcelona	22	17	3	2	43	54
3	Real Madrid	22	17	3	2	39	54
4	Athletic Bilbao	22	13	4	5	14	43
5	Villarreal	22	12	4	6	19	40
6	Real Sociedad	22	10	6	6	8	36
7	Sevilla	22	8	7	7	4	31
8	Valencia	22	8	4	10	-4	28
9	Levante	22	7	7	8	-8	28
10	Espanyol	22	7	5	10	-4	26
11	Celta Vigo	22	7	4	11	-6	25
12	Getafe	22	7	4	11	-12	25
13	Malaga	22	6	6	10	-7	24
14	Granada	22	7	3	12	-9	24
15	Elche	21	5	6	10	-13	21
16	Osasuna	21	6	4	19	-18	22
17	Almeria	22	6	4	12	-19	22
18	Real Valladolid	22	4	8	10	-13	20
19	Rayo Vallecano	22	5	2	15	-30	17
20	Real Betis	22	3	5	14	-27	14

The biggest news of the weekend was clearly Barcelona's loss. Not only did they lose a game they shouldn't have lost, but it came at home. Samuel Marsden of Sport gave an indication of how startling the result was:

Cristiano Ronaldo and Los Blancos will travel to play Athletic Bilbao in prime time on Sunday, Feb. 2 at San Mames, while Atletico Madrid host a tough Real Sociedad team that is currently sixth in the league table.

Sociedad are an overlooked but dangerous squad led by Antoine Griezmann, who ranks only behind Ronaldo and Diego Costa with 14 goals this season.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

Atletico Madrid have racked up 54 points through 21 games and—like Barcelona prior to this week—have lost just once in league play all season coming into Week 22.

But if Real are able to extend their incredible unbeaten streak with a win over Bilbao, then a loss or draw by Atletico would see Los Blancos leapfrog into first place. Barcelona's slip-up could open the door for Real to move into second place.

But keep in mind that Real will be without superstar Gareth Bale after he suffered a groin injury in Real's win over Granada on Jan. 25.

With eight goals and seven assists to his name in 14 La Liga appearances this season, Bale's potential absence will have a mighty impact on how this match plays out.

Matchday 22 will conclude on Monday, Feb. 3 with Villarreal hosting Osasuna. Villarreal began the week in fifth place in the table and will attempt to gain separation from Real Sociedad with a bounce-back victory to close out the week. 

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.