5 Key Remaining Fixtures in Real Madrid's Liga Title Quest
The change of manager has worked. For now, anyway.
Since Zinedine Zidane replaced Rafa Benitez in early January, Real Madrid have looked a completely different outfit. Vibrant, relentless and lethal, Los Blancos have dispatched Deportivo La Coruna and Sporting Gijon in emphatic fashion to suggest they're still very much in La Liga's title race with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid despite their tumultuous first half to the season.
Indeed, the capital club sits just two points behind the Catalans (who have a game in hand) and only four behind their cross-city rivals at the top, and as ever in La Liga, the run to the finish line will take multiple twists and turns as three of Europe's finest sides battle it out.
So which are the key games for Real Madrid in the season's second half? Which weekends could help tip the balance in their favour?
Across the following slides, we pick out five.
Jornada 24: Home to Athletic Bilbao
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You can ignore Athletic Bilbao's 6-0 hammering at the hands of Barcelona on Sunday. Not only were the Basques missing two of their finest players in Aritz Aduriz and Raul Garcia, but they also saw goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz sent off in the opening minutes.
As such, the scoreline wasn't a true reflection of Athletic's level—a level that was better demonstrated in 2015 when they defeated Real Madrid in the league and Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup.
Athletic are a handful. And Madrid know it.
Yet the significance of this contest, like a number of others in this list, goes beyond the challenge it presents. On the same day, Barcelona take on Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou, having lost two of their last three against Eduardo Berizzo's men.
Of course, the Galacians thrashed Barcelona 4-1 at Balaidos earlier this season, but they also took all three points from their last visit to the Camp Nou.
Similar in style, Celta trouble Barcelona. And if there's any chance of Luis Enrique's men slipping up again, Madrid have to take advantage on the same weekend.
Additionally, 24 hours later, Atletico will head to the outskirts of Madrid to take on a Getafe outfit that's been extremely solid at home this season. In 11 games at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, Getafe have lost just twice and conceded only seven goals in the process. Thus, Atletico, like Barcelona, could be in for a slog.
If Madrid can defeat Athletic, it's possible that the table could take on a different complexion.
Jornada 26: Madrid Derby
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To find a time when Real Madrid last defeated Atletico in the league, you have to go all the way back to early 2013. Since then, five league derbies have been and gone, Diego Simeone's men having triumphed in three and drawn the other two.
If Real are going to win the league this season, that has to change—and it's not just about the points.
Emotionally, the effect of a derby victory could be significant for Zinedine Zidane's side, lifting them to another level by exorcising some demons and reinforcing their own belief.
When the two teams met earlier this season, Los Blancos at one point looked poised to do exactly that but sat back in the second half and handed away the initiative to Atleti. By the end, Keylor Navas was the only reason Real didn't lose, and from that point, Rafa Benitez's side lost much of the momentum they'd gathered until then.
Taking the extra step when the sides meet in February would be a significant boost to Madrid's title chances.
Jornada 30: Home to Sevilla
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Sevilla are the most curious of opponents. At home, they're fearsome and border on unbeatable (on Saturday, they won their ninth straight at home in the league); when away from home, they're not anything like that. In fact, they haven't yet won away from home. Not once.
A meeting at the Bernabeu with the Andalusians, then, might not seem like a pivotal occasion. After all, the last six results in the capital between these teams have been 2-1, 2-0, 7-3, 4-1, 3-0 and 2-0—all in favour of Madrid.
Yet, this meeting in mid-March will be important for three reasons. First, Sevilla are capable of anything on their day; second, Barcelona travel to Villarreal on the same weekend for their most difficult remaining away game; and third, because the Clasico immediately follows it.
Indeed, the manner in which a Clasico is approached is significant. When Madrid met Barcelona in November, they were coming off the awful implosion against Sevilla and had taken on a muddled identity; by contrast, the Catalans were settled and full of clarity. And it showed.
Thus, the second clash with Sevilla just prior to the season's second Clasico will be extremely important in a preparation sense.
Jornada 31: El Clasico
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It's the Clasico.
On the calendars of Real Madrid and Barcelona, there is no bigger occasion, its significance barely in need of explanation. We know the rivalry. We know its political undercurrents. We know its ferocity.
We know it.
And we can't wait.
Jornada 34: Home to Villarreal
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Villarreal have been a constant thorn in the side of Real Madrid in recent seasons. Since 2012, the men from capital have won only two of six meetings with the Yellow Submarine, and they lost the most recent clash 1-0 at El Madrigal.
A major factor behind that record is the similarities between the teams. Like Madrid, Villarreal are excellent at attacking space, their mobile and direct forward setup perfectly suited to counter-attacking in numbers and with speed. Thus, when Madrid lose the ball, they're particularly vulnerable against Villarreal, and Marcelino's side has the fitness, durability and work ethic necessary to quell Real's threat.
Yet this fixture is another one whose significance goes behind the challenge and points on offer.
On the same weekend, Atletico Madrid travel to the notoriously difficult San Mames to take on Athletic Bilbao, while Barcelona head to the north-west of Spain to take on Deportivo La Coruna. Depor are hardly fearsome, but they are hard to break down, just as Barcelona have found in consecutive games against them that have finished 2-2.
Again, this weekend is one that holds the potential for momentum swings.
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