As spring sunlight spills across Spanish stadiums, La Liga’s title race, and indeed the live football betting that surrounds it, sharpens into a contest of real substance – rich with narrative, momentum shifts, and the promise of drama to come. All the La Liga upcoming matches have substance, and could define which direction the massive trophy goes in.
As the international break gives way to the season’s final act, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atlético Madrid—Spanish football’s holy trinity—have once again separated themselves from the chasing pack. But as we enter these decisive weeks, a campaign once considered Barca’s to lose has dramatically shifted on its axis. The shift between Catalonia and Madrid will be interesting to follow, with the capital’s giants desperately trying to recapture form.
In this article, we break down each contender’s strengths, weaknesses, and remaining fixtures to assess who’s best placed to lift the La Liga trophy.
Barcelona
Under Hansi Flick’s guidance, Barcelona have transformed from inconsistent challengers into title favourites through sheer force of will and tactical cohesion. The Blaugrana now sit atop the table with 60 points at the time of writing, level with Real Madrid but crucially ahead on head-to-head record—a position unthinkable just months ago.
Seven consecutive league victories have sent their title hopes soaring, with confidence surging and belief taking root across the squad. Their emphatic 4-0 dismantling of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu marked a turning point— a statement performance that shook the league and firmly reasserted their place at the top.
Barcelona’s attack has proven La Liga’s most potent, netting 64 goals through a blend of youth and experience. Robert Lewandowski continues defying time, his 19 goals leading the scoring charts, while the electric talents of Lamine Yamal and Pedri provide creative spark. Perhaps most crucially, Barcelona control their destiny with fixtures against both title rivals still to come.
Real Madrid
Los Blancos find themselves in unfamiliar territory—matching Barcelona on points but having played a game more and now chasing rather than being chased. Statistical models reflect this vulnerability, with their title odds plummeting after a shock defeat to Real Betis that rocked the capital.
Carlo Ancelotti’s squad battles multiple headwinds: defensive injuries have destabilised their backline, Toni Kroos’ summer retirement has left midfield gaps yet to be fully addressed, and even Jude Bellingham’s prolific early-season form has cooled considerably. The Champions League’s physical and mental toll looms large over their domestic ambitions.
Yet dismissing Madrid would be foolish. Kylian Mbappé has discovered his scoring touch in white when it matters most, netting 16 goals in his last 18 appearances. More importantly, this club’s DNA contains an almost mystical ability to prevail when logic suggests otherwise—their historical pedigree serving as both inspiration and psychological weapon against rivals. Don’t put it past them to complete a league and European double again.
Atlético Madrid
Diego Simeone’s warriors at Atlético Madrid may trail in the standings, their title ambitions dimmed by recent stumbles, but they are far from beaten.
While others juggle deep Champions League runs, Atlético’s narrow penalty defeat to Real Madrid in Europe could prove a blessing in disguise—freeing them to focus fully on the league.
With the Metropolitano still a fortress and El Cholo’s trademark intensity coursing through the squad, don’t count them out just yet. The road is steep, but the fight for a first title since 2021 is far from over.
Their foundation remains characteristically solid—a league-best defensive record with only 15 goals conceded. Their home form in San Blas-Canillejas offers faint hope, yet their more experienced squad may struggle with the intensifying schedule that includes the Copa del Rey, and their attacking output lacks the firepower of their rivals.