Championships are won by being consistent. Real can win any game with the team they have. Can they be consistent? I see Deportivo and Valencia more consistent in the long run. Real will be 2nd, especially with the Champions League distraction.
Real will be first. They may slip up from time to time, but so will the other teams. But the championship will be won in the big games between the contenders. Those games will be won by Mdarid.
Madrid's biggest problem is their depth. It's fine to have a philosphy of just having big stars but in this case it has hurt the depth of the team. Madrid is involved with three competitions and many of their players (most of their first team) are automatic selections of their respective national teams. This puts a lot of wear on those players. In some games you have to have some kind of rotation. Out of all the top teams in Europe I would say Real Madrid has the weakest bench. If you want a specific example of this look at the recent Sevilla game. Two starters from the defense were out and Madrid was made to look like a 2nd division team by a mediocre opponent (it pains me to say that but Sevilla is not a good team right now).
We will have the answer in few days. In the next 15 days Real Madrid play against Atletico de Madrid in Madrid, against Barcelona in Barcelona and against Depor in Madrid. About the question "Will Real Madrid make it to the end?" Yes, if RM don't have injuries and suspension in the key moments of the season. Is that possible? I think that it's very dificult. All will depend of how will play the subs. This year almost all the subs are youth team players, and they aren't playing very good, but ...
Injuries and suspensions in the 2nd half of the year are very likely. Madrid's bench lacks experience, especially in the back. Madrid will lose some crazy points like the Sevilla game. The head to head clashes with Valencia and Deportivo are six point games. I doubt Madrid will be the champ this year. Because of its bench, bu tmost importantly because both Valencia and Deportivo will keep up with their regularity and put extra pressure on RM.
How has Depor been consistent this year? They have not (8 goals against Monaco ring a bell?), their bench stinks as well. I see Madrid winning again, just like last year. Hard fought and right to the end. yuck AGGGHHH And MadridFoerver, the next 15 ays won't tell much, just like years past, I expect the derbies to be shared in points and nothing groundbrealking coming from there. Two years ago, Madrid lost La Liga in Pamplona, not in Barcelona or anywhere else.
True. That was one weird game. In domestic competition, Deportivo has received after, 12 games, only 9 goals. Their bench is closer to their first team level than RM. This is a team where the whole comes before the parts. Btw, Valencia is also solid in defense, 9 goals agianst, and has scored only 2 less than RM. IMO, it will come down to the final games just like last year.
About Valencia, I agree. Their defense is as solid as anyone elses. Especially due to their midfielders. Baraja and Albelda are like vacuum cleaners. I am not a big fan of the bench of Depor, other than upfront, and I think they have been lucky thus far to have gotten by with so few goals. But if Mauro Silva gets hurt, they are in trouble, he is the rock of the midfield and back. I would have to say that the favorites are Valencia and Madrid, with Depor farther behind and a handful of team for the 4th spot. Atletico, Athletic, Barcelona and throw in a few others (maybe)
Today Madrid was outplayed by Osasuna. Two shots on goal and a free kick was all Madrid did offensively. Unfair result. Osasuna desreved the 3 points, hands down.
I think league between Valencia and Deportivo.Although deportivo is going through a bad patch.And Valencia must be the team to beat.Real Madrid's squad is to small and inexperience without the Galacticos.