La Real face the final game of an unblemished first round with the possibility of being two points behind second-placed Real Madrid, if they beat the whites at the Santiago Bernabéu. He is coming off of five consecutive victories after the World Cup break and is surfing on the crest of a wave that is touching the sky. He was bound and retained his privileged position. Now, fourth instead of third, he sees his margin reduced almost to the maximum with respect to his pursuers, he burns the mattress he managed to do in fifth, but, with 11 days remaining, he maintains his fourth place, which gives access to play in the Champions League and must defend his life until the end.
And it is that in this section of the second round, Real saw how its direct rivals for places in the highest continental competition reduced their advantage until they far surpassed Atlético and began to put their breath in neck of the chasers Betis and Villarreal.
13 more points in 9 days
Since matchday 18, Atlético has gained 13 points more than Real; Betis, seven more (with one more game); and Villarreal, three more. This means that the colchoneros, apart from the ‘sorpasso’, have a juicy advantage of six points when they are seven points behind Real. And Betis and Villarreal, who seem far off the hook, are placed within three and four points, with a particular ‘goalaverage’ in favor of the yellows (1-0 and 2-0).
La Real have managed just two wins in their last 12 official matches, also two wins in their last nine league games. Victories against Espanyol (2-3) and Elche (2-0) keep it in its privileged position, but the balance of this last stage of the league is terrible: two wins, four draws and three defeats. It is a team balance that struggles to maintain the category, when, until February, it was almost a title contender in a short-scoring championship.
54% chance of getting in
In any case, ELO Technology gives Real a 54% chance of reaching the Champions League, more than Villarreal (34%), Betis (26%) and Athletic (4%). Of course, according to this system, Atlético is almost classified (98.7% probability of getting in).
Before that match against Real Madrid, for example, Real had seven points on Atlético and Villarreal and 10 on Betis. A drop in performance is expected, but perhaps not for that long and even less now when Imanol has almost his entire squad at his disposal.
So, the match against Getafe, before the derby against Athletic, had a huge dimension. The advantage in seventh place continues to be astronomical and it gives peace of mind, but, after 13 days in the positions that give access to the Champions League, being knocked out of the privileged positions will be a blow to the point this, in the last quarter of the championship when everything is decided. It could happen if Real lose at Getafe and Betis beat Cádiz at home.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
