Real Madrid Favorites for LaLiga Despite Performance Slump; Atlético and Barça Battle for Second 🇪🇸

May 2, 2026 · MM · 2 min read

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Original source: Mundo Maldini

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If LaLiga is decided below 85 points, Atlético de Madrid has a real opportunity that their second-half schedule only enhances. The season-closing Clasico could be the match that decides everything.

Real Madrid Favorites for LaLiga Despite Performance Slump; Atlético and Barça Battle for Second

Despite an evident dip in performance, Real Madrid emerges as the favorite to win LaLiga precisely because this inconsistency hasn't prevented them from securing crucial points in decisive moments. The squad's depth—considered the best in Europe player for player—and a slight recent improvement bolster this prediction. Barça, on the other hand, has played more away matches than home games in the first half of the season and shows structural vulnerability against teams that defend deep and exploit space behind their center-backs, which redirects their true ambition towards the Champions League. Atlético de Madrid, with a favorable second-half schedule that only requires them to visit Real Madrid and Girona among the top ten teams, could contend for the title if the league concludes around 80 points.

The fundamental question here is whether LaLiga is entering a phase of tighter point tallies that redistributes the real title possibilities. Historically, Atlético tends to falter when they reach the final five matchdays with title aspirations, as Cope reminded, citing their recent precedents. However, the structural logic of this season—a Barça with weaknesses under pressure, an inconsistent but resilient Madrid, and an Athletic Club that has entered the discussion for third place—suggests that the league could be decided with an unusually low final points total, keeping more contenders in the race for longer than usual.

"Madrid has gone through an obvious performance crisis and they're right there, not leading but almost. Even being as bad as they've been in terms of play, it's been enough for them to win league matches."

▶ Watch this segment — 33:09