So, cards on the table time.
This SBOTOP writer was quite clear in his pre-season prediction that all the teams in La Liga should beware a wounded Real Madrid.
Runners-up in La Liga, beaten finalists in the Copa del Rey and knocked out of the Champions League as holders at the quarter-final stage, they went from top dogs in Spain, Europe and the world to being the nearly boys in 2024-25.
I expected them to bounce back under the new manager Xabi Alonso and a host of summer signings.
That remained my view going into the New Year, even though they trailed reigning champions Barcelona at the summit.
It was a view that changed quickly, almost overnight, in January when I thought the decision to sack Alonso and replace him with a rookie in the shape of Alvaro Arbeloa would prove a grave mistake.
That is a viewpoint I hold more than ever, even if Real managed to grab a late winner at spirited Celta Vigo on Friday night.
It was so important as anything other than three points would have probably led to the word ‘crisis’ in the Spanish capital following successive league defeats.
Ninety four minutes were on the clock when Federico Valverde’s shot took a deflection and ended up in the back of the net to secure a slightly fortuitous win – this after Borja Iglesias had cancelled out Aurelien Tchouameni’s opener.
It closed the gap at the top to one point, although Barca pushed that back out to four with a hard fought victory at Athletic Bilbao 24 hours later.
That was where teenage sensation Lamine Yamal scored the only goal.
Just like Vigo, Bilbao would also have felt they were worthy of a point but the Spanish international curled a stunning effort beyond his international compatriot Unai Simon after latching onto a pass from Pedri at the Estadio de San Mames.
It was the 18 year-old’s 19th goal of the season and continued his hot streak in La Liga after netting a first career hat-trick against Villarreal last weekend.
If that covered the action at the top of the table, what other La Liga 2026 highlights did the weekend provide?
Well, Osasuna produced one of the fightbacks of the season as they scored a minute from time and then in the fourth minute of stoppage time to earn a point against basement battlers Mallorca.
Vedat Muriqi’s double had the visitors, under new boss Martin Demichelis, hopeful of moving out of the bottom three.
Even when Jan Virgili was sent off with 17 minutes remaining, it seemed Mallorca would have enough in the tank after the hosts were also reduced to 10 shortly afterwards when Raul Garcia saw red.
Yet, just like in their meeting earlier in the campaign, Osasuna fought back from two goals down to earn a point.
Kike Barja pulled one back and then, former Mallorca striker, Ante Budimir, levelled matters to leave the Palma-based club in the bottom three – even after the goal they had a chance to win it.
Levante had an opportunity to close the gap on Mallorca but they were also left cursing a late goal when, after opening the scoring through Carlos Espi, they saw Jon Olasagasto dismissed on the hour, and then conceded a 94th minute leveller to Girona’s Joel Roca in a 1-1 draw.
At the other end, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal keep well clear in third and fourth place after home wins against Real Sociedad and Elche – who are one point clear of Mallorca – respectively.
Atletico controlled the game for long periods but could not pull away, twice taking the lead through Alexander Sorloth and González, only for Carlos Soler and Mikel Oyarzabal to provide quick-fire replies before González grabbed the winner in a preview of next month’s Copa del Rey final.
First half goals from Tajon Buchanan and Santiago Mourino did the damage for the ‘yellow submarine’ – whose position is more impressive given they sold two of their best attackers last summer – before Andre Silva netted Elche’s consolation.
Real Betis remain in fifth position but their progress was checked by a first defeat in six as first half goals from Kiko Femenia and Martin Satriano earned Getafe a fine 2-0 win.
With Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano sharing the midtable spoils on Sunday teatime – Akor Adams and Alfonso Espino traded goals – our La Liga 2026 betting odds were focused on two teams desperately trying to pull away from a relegation dogfight, Valencia and Alaves, who met on Sunday night.
As was the theme of the weekend, it was a late goal central and Valencia, who trailed 2-1 going into the final minute, had the final word.
Eray Comert’s 90th minute strike looked to have rescued a point for the hosts just as the fourth official announced there would be eight minutes of stoppage time.
But there was more to come as Ander Guevara was shown a second yellow card and was followed quickly by Jon Pacheco for a foul on Hugo Duro in the penalty area.
Duro dusted himself and scored the spot-kick and Valencia had all three points and were up to 12th at the expense of nine man Alaves.
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