Real Madrid fell from the lead only on the second day and the top seven of the 2020-21 academic year was repeated
The end of the 2021-22 Liga yields two quick conclusions in a flash: Real Madrid was the hegemonic team of this championship, which it conquered without a doubt, the leader in all days except the second, consolidating the hierarchy of Spanish football , with the same seven European teams from the 2020-21 academic year. Madrid, Barça, Atlético and Sevilla back in the Champions League, Betis and Real repeat themselves in the Europa League and Villarreal finish seventh, just like last year, albeit with a ticket for the Conference League.
So many months and 38 days later, many of the names of this League that is already history wear white. The player of the season has undoubtedly been Karim Benzema. With his 27 goals by far the top scorer, the weight of the French striker in Real Madrid’s thirty-fifth league title transcends mere numbers. He is the leader of a team far superior to the rest, well accompanied by the explosion of Vinicius, second leg of Carlo Ancelotti’s attack with 17 goals, but also by the teaching of Modric, Kroos and Casemiro in a fireproof midfield, the defensive leadership from Militao and Alaba, the new pair of centre-backs in fashion in the League, and for the absolute safety of Thibaut Courtois, the best goalkeeper in the world this season.
In August, when Caletto’s second project on the Madrid bench began against Alavés in Mendizorroza, with Hazard and Bale in the starting XI, few could imagine that the white team would be able to secure that competition that the Italian coach lacked with a clear superiority. So much so that he’s even broken his particular record in terms of points advantage over runner-up, thirteen units topping the 1961, 1963, and 1975 dozen, all under the two-point-per-win criterion, yes.
Barca were ultimately left with a second-place finish that tastes of glory under the circumstances in which it faced this championship, after the departures of Messi and Griezmann and in limbo on a financial level. Koeman started the course already stricken with death, after Laporta bet on the Wembley hero alone due to the impossibility of convincing another coach, and it lasted as long as it lasted. The hasty arrival of Xavi, who had never imagined such a state of emergency, and the winter signings made it possible to straighten the course. So much so that, despite the historic Champions League bump that condemned the Europa League to desertion, Barça even dreamed of fighting for the League after beating a relaxed Madrid in the Santiago Bernabéu classic.
It was a mirage as Barça’s house of cards collapsed during a more than disappointing final leg of the campaign. Only 13 of the last 24 points at stake in the League and the embarrassment of the KO in the Europa League, in a white Camp Nou due to the massive presence of Eintracht Frankfurt fans, sullied the reaction of Xavi’s hand, who nevertheless breathed a sigh of relief with a second place that ensures their presence in the next Spanish Super Cup and also that Champions League standings that were sometimes so in jeopardy. The presence of emerging talents such as Pedri, Ansu Fati or Araujo suggests better times are ahead at Can Barça.
Atlético remained very close to the Barca team, on the podium for the tenth season in a row, something unimaginable before Simeone’s arrival. And that this was perhaps the most complicated campaign for Cholo on the mattress couch. More was expected from the title defender, but the defensive fragility at times with style, the performance drop of Luis Suárez or Marcos Llorente, decisive in the 2020-21 title, and the disappointing return of Griezmann, to whom they have injuries. denied the necessary continuity to shine as the leader called to be in the Metropolitano, they have prevented Atlético from fighting to keep the crown.
Nor could Sevilla take the step of fighting for the title in the noble zone. And that seemed to be the only real alternative to Madrid for a long time. Lopetegui’s team ran empty in the final stretch, although their progress allowed them to repeat that fourth place that corresponds a priori to them for economic and sporting capacity and which they already achieved in the previous two seasons. The arrival of forwards like Rafa Mir, Martial and Tecatito Corona didn’t ultimately give Pizjuan that extra goal that Sevilla seem to be missing as a candidate for everything. Once again, the reliability of the defensive trident composed of Diego Carlos, Koundé and Fernando became the cornerstone of a team beset by injury, but for the first time in its centuries-old history the Zamora Trophy, an award Bono wins by 24 conceded goals in 31 matches.
Betis and Real Sociedad also repeat in the Europa League, two of the most interesting sports projects in Spanish football, able to eclipse the transatlantic competition with continued growth and a dedication to touch and quality football for two managers who are equally distant from the crowds if they are successful: Manuel Pellegrini and Imanol Alguacil. The Fekirs, Canales, Merino or Silva are a guarantee of a good game, like Emery of the solvency and competitiveness of a Villarreal who, despite their efforts at a Champions League in which they surprised Europe and reached the semi-finals, finally managed to seventh position, the last to award a continental ticket, for the second edition of the Conference League.
Already in the middle zone, pedigree teams are still being created, but those who need one more step to attack Europe, such as Athletic, Valencia, always in institutional crisis of Peter Lim or Celta. Osasuna, who was led by Arrasate and stability, has also exchanged suffering for comfort.
Interestingly, the three PhD students have extended their stay with the best. Rayo de Iraola as one of the positive surprises in the League, Espanyol from more to less despite goals from Raúl de Tomás and Mallorca in agony.
The 2021-22 League is ultimately based on the relegation of three teams that a priori did not start as scapegoats in the groups. Alavés, Levante and Granada say goodbye to the top class after six, five and three years respectively.
The Nasrid club returns to the top of the rankings in the silver category after two seasons. Led by Diego Martínez at Los Cármenes, they even made the leap to the old continent for the first time in their history, with a Europa League quarter-final game against Manchester United that will go down in history.
Levante is also experiencing the bitter face of football after years of prosperity, with the milestone of the Copa del Rey semi-finals in the 2020-21 season and resounding victories in the toughest stadiums in the league, crafted by the quality of Morales, Roger Marti or De Frutos.
Alavés, who built the longest cycle in the First Division, dreamed big with a cup final in 2017, although after two very long stays, the reactions led by Abelardo and Calleja have finally confirmed their downward trend.
Source: La Verdad
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