Real Madrid: If Barcelona Leave La Liga, What Does It Mean for Los Blancos?

Spain has a slight problem: Catalonia is seriously contemplating independence.

While many are familiar with the notion of secession, Catalonia's is an exceptional case.

Home to Barcelona, one of the largest metropolitan hubs in Europe, the loss of the Catalan capital would be nothing short of devastating for Spain. Thus, in recent weeks (before and after elections), the fate of FC Barcelona has become the subject of a massive debate.

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Used as a political pawn by members of the Spanish government, the thinking suggests that should Catalonia declare themselves independent, Barca (and clubs like Espanyol) would be no longer eligible to play in La Liga, nor any lesser division of Spanish football.

This would-be warning, as suggested by Spain's Secretary of State for Sport Miguel Cardenal, has presented Barcelona with something of a quandary.

A working solution, posited by France Prime Minister Manuel Valls during an interview with French magazine Challenges (h/t the Telegraph), is allowing the current Copa del Rey, La Liga and UEFA Champions League holders to swap allegiances and join their northern neighbors in Ligue 1.

In the case Barca are destined for France, the next logical question (in Spanish footballing terms) must be: "What now for Real Madrid?"

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Joined at the hip for over a century, the loss of Barcelona would place Real Madrid in tentative uncertainty. What makes Spanish football the commodity it has become is the two-headed monster of Real Madrid and Barcelona buying and/or producing the best talent in European football, then pitting them against each other over the course of 38 matches.

Losing half of that dynamic would be a legitimate cause for worry.

In many respects, La Liga would transform into the Bundesliga, with Real representing Bayern, Atletico Madrid a version of Borussia Dortmund and the rest filling in accordingly. None can question the global viability of Munich, but Germany's top division is a largely one-sided affair and not greatly compelling.

Barcelona's absence would create a power vacuum. Real Madrid would have no worthy competition in the Spanish league, unless the likes of Atletico, Valencia and/or Sevilla somehow raised their levels.

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Furthermore, would Madrid have spent ridiculous amounts of cash (as seen with Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez) were Barcelona in Ligue 1? Probably not; having a consistent, equal-leveled giant to complete alongside only enhances a club's desire to improve—especially when money is hardly an object.

Real would be receiving the keys to the proverbial kingdom and what appears to be an eternal birthright to the La Liga crown. They would have smooth sailing in domestic play, loads of rest for continental matches and the economic wherewithal to fend off any and all challengers.

One must wonder though: Do they want that? Or possibly a better question: Is Madrid damaged by not having Barcelona around?

The answer is an unequivocal yes.

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In less than a month, 2015/16's first El Classico will take place at the Santiago Bernabeu. It is estimated, as suggested by BBC Sport, that around 400 million people will watch the world's two most popular clubs clash for Spanish supremacy.

The figure confirms popularity but means money above all else.

This takes us back to the original issue: politics. Not only is Barcelona being used as political collateral, but so is their current league, primarily their major rival.

Losing Catalonia would be detrimental to Spain (not that the Catalan people should really care), but Spanish football would take an unprecedented blow—with Real Madrid feeling the brunt in a worst-case scenario.

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Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.