This year in the Spanish league has been unlike most. Sure Barcelona is on top, which is not unusual, with Atletico and Real Madrid rounding out the top three for La Liga’s automatic Champions League bids. After the weekend Atletico moved into second place, two points clear of their Madrid neighbors. 

Though we see Villarreal, one season removed from playing in the second division, hanging around, as well as Celta Vigo and Eibar. Villarreal, although newly promoted, were fixtures in the top five of the league standings before being sent down, but Celta Vigo and Eibar are the real surprises.

Teams such as Celta Vigo and Eibar among the top five are a rarity, in that they come from smaller towns and thus less money for even middle tier players. Yet both teams are thriving, and in distinct ways.

Eibar is one of the better defensive teams in the league, conceding only 12 goals so far, good for third in the league. As a result they have held bigger teams like Sevilla and Villarreal to a draw. They have even drawn against the aforementioned Celta Vigo.

On the other hand Celta Vigo have been more of an attacking side, putting them among the top goal scoring teams in La Liga. With 22 goals scored, they have scored third most in the league, trailing only Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, perennial contenders for La Liga’s European tournament spots Sevilla, Valencia, Malaga and Athletic Bilbao find themselves scattered throughout the table, outside of the European competition slots. Malaga especially is in dangerous territory, in last place with nine points and in danger of being relegated.

This weekend we will see one of the up-and-comers take on the old guard, with Real Madrid traveling to Basque Country to take on Eibar on Sunday. How Madrid reacts after being embarrassed by their rivals Barcelona will make the match an interesting affair.

Photo: Flickr/Jan SOLO