We’ve had a two-week break from La Liga and are ready and raring to go again with a feast of domestic football to get our teeth into.
There are battles brewing up at both ends of the table. While Barcelona are beginning to run away in the title race, the competition for Champions League places is heating up.
And with 11th-placed Mallorca just six points above the drop, half the division has work to do to ensure survival and there isn’t one team in the league with nothing to play for.
Nerves will be shredded over the next 12 games for sure, but things have already been getting a little tetchy at home and for the international team abroad.
Spain were in Euro 2024 action against Scotland, and it all went rather pear-shaped as the Scots pulled off a shock 2-0 victory thanks to a brace from Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay.
Meanwhile, Manchester City and Spain star Rodri gave an angry response in his post-match press conference as he took aim at the Scots, saying: “It’s the way they play. You have to respect at the end but for me it’s a bit rubbish because it’s always wasting time. They provoke you and they always fall. This is not football. It was frustrating because we want to win and it’s difficult because they waste time, waste time. But it is what it is.”
Indeed it is.
The Scotland team did what they could to win, but they faced a much changed side and I wonder if the Spanish coach, Luis de la Fuente, regrets leaving out Barcelona’s wing-back Alex Balde.
The 23-year-old has had a breakthrough campaign at the Camp Nou, and he impressed in La Roja’s 3-0 win over Norway as he made an assist, but he had to make way for the Scotland match.
Fati’s dad isn’t happy
This is Barcelona’s title to lose, and the latest La Liga 2023 betting odds reckon the trophy is already on the way to Catalonia. But another of the Blaugrana’s young stars has struggled for game time and his father has weighed in to the discussion.
Bori Fati has said that if it were up to him, he’d make sure that his son Ansu leaves Barca this summer.
“Ansu does not want to leave Barcelona but I want him to succeed,” said Bori, who insists he won’t go to the Camp Nou Stadium anymore. “I’m very angry with the club. It bothers me that Ansu plays so little. In a month we will meet with Jorge Mendes for sure.”
I’m sure his dad means well, but I’m not entirely convinced the young Spain international will want his old man to burn his bridges in Catalonia.
Brazil move for Ancelotti
In other La Liga 2023 news, things haven’t been going to plan for Real Madrid in recent weeks, and the speculation surrounding the future of boss Carlo Ancelotti is reaching fever pitch.
Apparently, he’s on good terms with the Los Blancos board, but that hasn’t stopped Brazil’s fans and players calling for his appointment as their boss following the departure of Tite after the nation’s 2022 World Cup exit.
The Spanish media has reported that the Brazil Football Confederation president Ednaldo Rodriguez is planning a trip to Spain on the 6th April to negotiate terms with Ancelotti.
The Samba Boys are keen to tie their man down and Ancelotti is said to be interested, but they may be a little premature as Los Blancos are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and the head coach’s current contract runs until 2024.
What’s next?
With a 12-point gap to make up on Barca, Los Blancos have a must win game at home to Real Valladolid this weekend. And at SBOTOP odds of 1.18, they should pick up the three points.
However, Barcelona are at 1.33 to win away to Elche and are highly unlikely to slip up.
At the other end of the table, Sevilla have a chance to pull away from the relegation scrap, but only if they can win away to Cadiz. Both teams are just two points above the drop zone and this is a six-pointer to watch.
And the race for the top four throws up two fantastic clashes. Sixth-placed Villarreal hosts fourth-placed Real Sociedad who, with just one win in five, are desperate for a victory.
Meanwhile, third-placed Atletico Madrid host Real Betis in fifth. Atleti are on the charge with 13 points from five, while in-form Betis have won 12 points over that period.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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