Real Madrid were defeated 2-1 by fierce rivals Barcelona in the last La Liga El Clasico of the season. The result sees Carlo Ancelotti’s side four points adrift of the Catalan giants with 10 league games to go, while capping a woeful run of form in the process. But have Real now thrown away the La Liga title?
Defeat to Barcelona was their third loss in the league in their last seven games, which has seen them relinquish their lead above Luis Enrique’s men at the summit at the worst possible time. Reports come out of the Real camp suggesting unrest between the players, and performance levels of Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo would certainly back up such rumours.
Supporters were alleged to have attacked Bale in his car recently, while the Welshman continues to be booed and heavily criticised by major Spanish publications. The club are falling apart on the pitch and off it, and such distraction is doing the most damage in games.
Even manager Carlo Ancelotti previously admitted there was to much individuality in the team, and results are now spiralling as a result. Real went on an incredible 12-game winning run in the league earlier in the campaign, but one win from their last four games gives them little to shout about currently.
At the start of last month, Real Madrid had a chance to go four points clear over Barcelona in the title race, but they blew the opportunity by, and it’s since come back to haunt them. Valencia gave a hint of things to come, winning against Los Blancos in their first league game of 2015, and Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona have followed suit.
Last season’s Champions League and Copa Del Rey winners had lost three games from 21 in the league back in February, but lost three in the seven that followed, and they currently stand at a precipice. There’s still time for Real to make back the deficit, but Barcelona are enjoying their best form of the season (10 wins from last 11 games). It’s a question of who will blink first, and currently there’s only one team looking and playing like champions.
Real have to now worry about sides breathing down their neck too, with Valencia and holders Atletico Madrid just four points and five points behind respectively. There’s enough points to play for this season for Ancelotti’s men to regain a stronghold in time, but have they thrown the title away following poor recent form?
