Real Madrid
Position: 1st
Goals for: 44
Goals against: 15
Top scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo: 29
Top Assists: Cristiano Ronaldo: 9
Real Madrid has had a superb 2014-15 season so far in La Liga. The first Super Clasico of the season had Real Madrid defeating Barcelona 3-1. They were four victories away from breaking the record for longest win-streak. However they came short at the 22-match winning streak when they lost to Valencia 2-1. Real Madrid continues to be one of three title contenders as their competitors right now are Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. They are also the current champions of the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup.
Barcelona
Position: 2nd
Goals scored: 41
Goals against: 8
Top Scorer: Lionel Messi: 16
Top Assists: Lionel Messi: 8
Barcelona started off this season strong and undefeated until they lost the Super Clasico against Real Madrid. Neymar’s early goal was not used to their advantage as Barcelona fell 3-1. Questions came up as to why Luis Suarez’s first game would be starting in the Super Clasico. It took him a bit to adjust to his new surroundings, but Suarez has proven to be a key component to what may be a successful Barcelona season. Barcelona however needs to step it up if they want to catch up and get ahead of their rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Atletico Madrid
Position: 3rd
Goals scored: 34
Goals against: 15
Top Scorer: Antoine Griezmann: 8
Top Assists: Koke: 8
Currently the reigning champions from the 2013-14 La Liga season, Atletico Madrid came into the season confident and have been able to perform well against the other teams so far. Summer signings Mario Mandzukic and Antoine Griezmann have bolstered the attack ever since Diego Costa was sold to Chelsea. The club doesn’t have as much financial power like Barcelona and Real Madrid, but they have been able to show great quality from the players they currently have. Atletico Madrid has defeated Real Madrid in every confrontation so far this season proving themselves as a continuous title contender. Their largest margin victory so far this season was 4-0 against Sevilla.
Sevilla
Position: 4th
Goals scored: 26
Goals Against: 17
Top Scorer: Carlos Bacca: 5
Top Assists: Gerard Deulofeu: 3
One of the underdogs of La Liga, Sevilla has not disappointed so far this season even though they sold their best player, Ivan Rakitic, to Barcelona in the summer. They have still been able to perform well this season. They are currently in the position to qualify into next seasons Europa League and have proven to be a challenge to Barcelona this season. Their biggest margin victory so far this season was a 5-1 victory over last place Granada.
Valencia
Position: 5th
Goals scored: 32
Goals against: 15
Top Scorer: Paco Alcacer: 5
Top Assists: Pablo Piatti: 5
Another underdog of the Spanish League has had a great season so far as they broke Real Madrid’s 22 match win-streak stopping them only four victories away from breaking the all-time record. So far in their matches this season, Valencia has not been able to score more than three goals per match. If Valencia continues the rest of the season just how they played against Real Madrid, they can pull off winning La Liga.
Villareal CF
Position: 6th
Goals for: 30
Goals against: 17
Top Scorer: Luciano Vietto: 8
Top Assists: Denis Cheryshev
Villarreal has done well so far this season. Villarreal however does not have the quality to be higher in the table so far this season as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, and Valencia are in such good form. However, Villarreal is not the type of team to let down as easy as they defeated Atletico Madrid earlier in the season. They are currently on a six game unbeaten streak.
Malaga
Position: 7th
Goals scored: 22
Goals against: 18
Top scorer: Samu: 4
Top assists: Nordin Amrabat: 3
Malaga has not been as good as they used to be when Isco was still a part of the club. They have gone down a bit in average league position, but that has not stopped them from still proving to be a challenge to the teams in La Liga. They are currently only one point beneath Villarreal still keeping them out from the Europa League qualifiers next season. Malaga managed to draw with current second place Barcelona at the start of the season.
Eibar
Position: 8th
Goals scored: 23
Goals against: 24
Top scorer: Federico Piovaccari: 4
Top assists: Saul Berjon: 4
One of three teams that was promoted from the second division has impressed so far this season as they are currently one of the top 10 on the La Liga leaderboard. Eibar became the first club from Segunda División to achieve promotion to La Liga after its 1–0 victory over Deportivo Alavés on 25 May 2014. If Eibar can continue their form throughout the rest of the season, they may surprise fans with a Europa League qualification.
Celta Vigo
Position: 9th
Goals scored: 18
Goals against: 20
Top scorer: Joaquin Larrivey: 7
Top assists: Nolito: 5
Celta Vigo is right where they finished the 2013-14 season. Current loaned out player, Rafinha is having a great loan spell at Barcelona. Celta Vigo has not won in their last four matches. Their most recent result was a 1-1 draw against Valencia. Their biggest loss was when they fell 3-0 against Real Madrid as they went on a five match losing streak.
Espanyol
Position: 10th
Goals scored: 10
Goals against: 21
Top scorer: Sergio Garcia: 7
Top assists: Sergio Garcia: 4
One of La Liga’s “midtable” clubs is in a better position right now than where they ended up last season as they are three places higher. Espanyol recently fell to Real Madrid in their latest La Liga encounter. They have not been able to score more than two goals in a game so far this season. Their biggest margin loss came against Barcelona as they fell to La Liga giants 5-1. Right now, Espanyol has not shown to be capable of qualifying into any European competition.
Rayo Vallecano
Position: 11th
Goals scored: 19
Goals against: 23
Top scorer: Leo Baptistao: 7
Top assists: Gael Kakuta: 4
Rayo Vallecano has not impressed this season as they are on a five match losing streak. They are currently one position higher than where they finished off last season. Their largest margin of defeat saw them lose 4-0 against 8th place Malaga. Also seen as another “midtable” club, Rayo Vallecano does not have the capability to go any higher on the leaderboards this season.
Real Sociedad
Position: 12th
Goals scored: 19
Goals against: 23
Top scorer: Carlos Vela: 7
Top assists: Xabi Prieto: 5
Real Sociedad has shown a bit of a downfall on their attack as they sold one of their star attackers to Atletico Madrid. Antoine Griezmann was a crucial component to their success last season but now they are left with Carlos Vela who has continued to impress ever since his arrival to the club a couple years back. Newly appointed manager, David Moyes helped Real Sociedad defeat Barcelona a couple weeks ago shocking everyone as his time at Manchester United was not successful. Ever since he was appointed as manager, the club has not shown improvement as they have not won a single match in La Liga ever since David Moyes’ arrival.
Athletic Bilbao
Position: 13th
Goals scored: 15
Goals against: 23
Top scorer: Aritz Aduriz: 5
Top assists: Markel Sasaeta: 4
Athletic Bilbao is also another club that has disappointed so far this season. Going from finishing top four to being 13th place is depressing. The club did lose a crucial player as Ander Herrera was sold to Manchester United in the summer transfer window and the club has not succeeded in finding another star and it seems like America Laporte will leave the club , being linked with Manchester United as well. Only five points away from the relegation zone should have club and manager worried and rapidly looking for a solution to their terrible first half of the season.
Getafe CF
Position: 14th
Goals scored: 14
Goal against: 24
Top scorer: Abdoul Yoda: 4
Top assists: Alvaro Vasquez: 2
Currently in the same position as they finished off last season, Getafe has not been a club that has impressed that much in La Liga in the current season. The club has only succeeded in winning just four matches so far this season. Their biggest margin of defeat was at the feet of Barcelona as they fell 6-0 earlier in the season. Getafe is currently fighting to stay out of the relegation zone.
Cordoba
Position: 15th
Goals scored: 14
Goals against: 27
Top scorer: Nabil Ghilas: 5
Top assists: Federico Cartabia: 4
Cordoba was the last of three teams to be promoted as they won the promotion play-off against UD Las Palmas and returned to the La Liga after 42 years. Cordoba has not been able to adapt to the first division as they have not had a successful season so far. Currently three points away from being in the bottom three, Cordoba faces the fear of dropping back down to the second division of Spain. They were a challenge to Real Madrid as they were only defeated 2-0 at the beginning of the season. However they were brutally defeated by Barcelona as they fell 5-0 against the Catalan giants.
Deportivo La Coruna
Position: 16th
Goals scored: 14
Goals against: 27
Top scorer: Isaac Cuenca: 2
Top assists: Juan Fran: 1
Deportiva La Coruna spent the past season at the second division after being relegated after the 2012-13 season, but have won back their place in the first division of Spain. However, the club is still in danger of being relegated as they sit only two points from being in the relegation zone. Deportivo La Coruna has rarely been a club that has impressed in La Liga.
Almeria
Position: 17th
Goals scored: 15
Goals against: 27
Top scorer: Tomar Hemed: 4
Top assists: Verza: 3
This is Almeria’s second season in the first division ever since their promotion last season. The only reason why Almeria is not in the relegation zone is because they have a better goal ratio than Levante. Any slipup from now on will result in the club dropping into the relegation zone. Their biggest loss had Almeria falling to newly promoted club, Eibar 5-2.
Levante
Position: 18th
Goals scored: 14
Goals against: 27
Top scorer: Nabil Ghilas: 4
Top assists: Federico Cartabia: 2
Levante has greatly disappointed so far this season as they are currently one of three clubs who will be relegated to the second division if they continue their terrible form. Having sold their star goalkeeper, Keylor Navas to current league leader, Real Madrid has greatly impacted the club this season. It is disappointing when a club who is expected to be higher on the leaderboard is one of the clubs in danger of being relegated.
Elche
Position: 19th
Goals scored: 19
Goals against: 35
Top scorer: Jonathas: 7
Top assists: Jonathas: 5
Elche is another club which is also in the relegation so far this season. Being one of the three clubs so far this season to have more than 30 goals scored against them. Elche is currently on their second season ever since their promotion into the first division after the 2012-13 season. Their largest margin of defeat so far this season came from Real Madrid, the current league leaders who defeated Elche 5-1. Elche has never been a club to have successful times in the first division of the Spanish league and currently faces seeing themselves dropping down to the second division for the next season.
Granada
Position: 20th
Goals scored: 11
Goals against: 29
Top scorer: Youssef El Arabi: 3
Top assists: Dimitri Foulguier: 2
Currently the lowest positioned team so far this season, Granada faces relegation into the second division next season if their current form continues. Even though being the last placed team so far this season, Granada has shown to be a challenging opponent to higher positioned clubs such as; Malaga, Espanyol, Valencia, and Eibar. Their biggest loss this season was when they fell 6-0 against Barcelona.
Featured Image Credit: La Liga
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