Real Madrid are Spain’s form team. Since their October 26 Classico defeat at Camp Nou, Madrid have won all their five league games, scoring 24 goals and conceding six.
They are now within three points of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, the two teams who have beaten them in the league so far this season.
Ominously for their rivals, their front three of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema are settled and in form.
Bale is happy and makes Madrid doubly dangerous. He was not signed as a playmaker, but another direct goal threat, another Ronaldo.
Fortunately for one of football’s most ego-driven dressing rooms, his arrival has been embraced by Ronaldo. After a poor start to the season, Benzema is scoring. Ronaldo never stops.
Behind this exalted triumvirate, Carlo Ancelotti’s team looks more balanced.
Back from injury, Xabi Alonso remains a steadying influence on the team, the signing of the playmaker Isco has been a success, though he does not always get to play with the stars in front of him.
With Ronaldo out, Isco started against Valladolid last weekend and was the best player on the pitch. He has also scored five league goals. Luca Modric, a holding midfielder with Alonso, is another success after an indifferent first season.
It is what fans of the club with the highest turnover in world sport expect. “There are technical differences between us and Real Madrid,” explains Diego Simeone, the Atletico coach.
“If we play ten games against them it is normal to lose eight. Obviously, you don’t go into the match to lose, but this is football and we have to be realistic.
“And the reality is that they are better than us, so they are more likely to win. But that doesn’t mean that they’re going to win.”
“I think it’s really difficult to fight Real Madrid and Barcelona,” adds Atletico’s Felipe Luis.
“Real Madrid can afford to buy a €40 million (Dh200.7m) player and leave him on the bench. Barcelona can do the same the same thing. This makes a big difference in a 38 match league.
“Atletico have got a great squad, a very competitive one, but for a 20-game season, not a 38 one. Their budget is much bigger than ours. At the end of the day, it makes the difference.”
Barca and Atletico are on 40 points, Real Madrid on 37. It is the closest title in years, but with such a vast disparity in wealth, can it stay close for long?
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