La Liga Results: Examining 2015 Title Outlook Following Week 19 Matches

All three of the title contenders in La Liga claimed victory on Sunday with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid displaying their dominance despite recent losses early in 2015.

Valencia extended their unbeaten run in the Spanish top flight to six matches with their entertaining 3-2 victory over Almeria at the Mestalla on Saturday and sit in fifth, while Sevilla stay fourth after their 2-0 win over Malaga.

Things are ever so tight in the bottom half of the table. Only five points separate 20th from 12th with victories at a premium in the relegation battle.

Here we take a look at all the results from the weekend's action and examine how the 2015 title race is shaping up in La Liga:

Date	Home	Score	Away
Friday, Jan. 16	Cordoba	1 - 1	Eibar
Saturday, Jan. 17	Real Sociedad	0-1	Rayo Vallecano
Saturday, Jan. 17	Valencia	3-2	Almeria
Saturday, Jan. 17	Villarreal	2-0	Athletic Bilbao
Saturday, Jan. 17	Espanyol	1-0	Celta Vigo
Sunday, Jan. 18	Getafe	0-3	Real Madrid
Sunday, Jan. 18	Atletico Madrid	2-0	Granada
Sunday, Jan. 18	Deportivo La Coruna	0-4	Barcelona
Sunday, Jan. 18	Elche	1-0	Levante
Sunday, Jan. 18	Sevilla	2-0	Malaga

Real Still Team to Beat

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After their superlative 22-match winning streak at the end of 2014, Real have been subjected to an unfamiliar set of results in 2015 so far, losing twice—to Valencia in the league and Atleti in the cup—and drawing once.

However, there is no doubt that they are still the team to beat for the La Liga title, sitting as they do a point clear of second-placed Barca with a game in hand.

Their star men came to the fore in their 3-0 away win against struggling Getafe on Sunday, with Cristiano Ronaldo bagging a double and Gareth Bale scoring the other, Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez providing the assists (the latter on two occasions).

Benzema's work to set up the opener for Ronaldo in the 63rd minute was phenomenal, the Frenchman hitting the byline and befuddling the oncoming keeper before squaring to the Portuguese star to turn home from six yards, per ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan:

It was a clinical performance from Los Blancos, especially in the second half, and given how few points are given up by the top teams in La Liga, Barca and Atleti will fail to catch Real if the European champions maintain this level of play.

Indeed, Bernabeu boss Carlo Ancelotti believes his side have returned to their 2014 form after a brief blip around the new year, and the Italian ominously suggested post-match that his side can get even better, per FourFourTwo: "The first half of the season has been very good. We started with some problems and then went on a very good run. The team continue to win and are well positioned. I think the intensity with which we ended the year is coming back. The team are improving."

In their title bid last season, Real dropped off drastically when they put all their efforts into successfully bagging the elusive La Decima in the Champions League.

Having achieved said feat, there is clearly an eagerness at the Madrid giants to wrestle back the title they last won in 2012, and they certainly look to be the favourites.

Barca and Atleti Need to Keep the Pressure On

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While Barca are just one point book and Atleti four, Real's game in hand means the trailing pair need to win every match in order to take advantage of any possible Los Blancos slip-ups.

They both did just that on Sunday, Diego Simeone's defending champions returning to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over bottom-of-the-table Granada, while Luis Enrique's men beat Deportivo la Coruna 4-0.

Atletico have the more difficult task in overhauling Real at the top of the table, not only because of the larger points difference but due to the pressure on them as reigning champions.

The two Madrid sides face off at the beginning of February in a must-win game for Atleti, which could prove hugely significant in the title race, and Simeone's men have beaten their more auspicious neighbours in three of the last four meetings between the pair.

Mario Mandzukic and Raul Garcia were on target against Granada, and the returning Fernando Torres had another decent outing, per football writer Graham Ruthven:

However, Barca are the more likely side to contend until the final weekend for the La Liga title, and especially with their star man Lionel Messi in form like he was on Sunday, scoring a hat-trick in the victory over Depor.

Many recent reports had suggested the Argentinian was unhappy at Barca, specifically with boss Luis Enrique (per ESPN FC's Corrigan), but he certainly seemed to be enjoying himself in Week 19.

His first was a fine lopping header, his second a clever flick over the keeper, and his third a sweeping left-footed strike from the right of the area; Barca's fourth was an unfortunate own-goal from Sidnei.

Obviously, Messi's form will be key in Barcelona's title bid, and with him in this kind of form, there is no doubt that the Catalan giants will push Real all the way.