La Liga has reached the christmas break, albeit a shorter than normal break as we'll have a round of games on December 30th and 31st. Although technically not half way through the campaign but it's as good a time as any to have a look and see how the teams are doing so far and what is to come. So here we go. We'll go alphabetically.
Athletic Bilbao
The season started brilliantly with the Super Copa victory over Barcelona however their league form wasn't as good. One win from the opening five games put them on the backfoot in the European race and although they have recently crept back into contention there is still much work ahead. Aritz Aduriz has of course been his usual goal scoring self but they seem to have found another player to share the goalscoring burden in Iñaki Williams. The 21 year-old has five goals so far including the marvelous strike against Espanyol. Currently 7th they will have designs on that 4th spot and play 4th placed Celta next.
Atlético Madrid
A summer of change bought optimism about that Atléti could challenge for the title once more. While the signings have been hit and miss, the team do find themselves joint top. The standout performer has been Antoine Griezmann with his 8 goals so far but the defense has been rock solid conceding only 8 goals this season. The season-ending injury to Tiago has hurt the solidity in midfield but one gets the feeling they'll be alright in midfield with players such as Gabi, Koke, Saúl, Thomas and Óliver Torres ready to step in. The aim is to challenge and they have given themselves a good platform so far.
Barcelona
The fixture list handing Barcelona a tricky opening half of the season by having to visit all the traditionally tough away grounds but they have come through them all in joint 1st place. With the theoratically easier 2nd half of the season to come they are overwhelming favorites. They will win the league but the question is can they repeat last seasons' success on the other fronts they are fighting for. The introductions of Aleix Vidal and Arda Turan give them more depth which will certainly help.
Celta de Vigo
A strong start to the season hasn't fully let up and currently Celta find themselves in 4th. The Galicians have been making huge strides in their quest to secure champions league football for the first time since 2003/04. The standout has of course been Nolito, the former Granada winger has hit 8 goals while Iago Aspas has also hit 8 in his homecoming season. The aim is certainly European football but with the season they have had so far it could very well by the champions league that Celta will be playing in next season. Not a particularly deep squad but much of their aims depend on if they can hold onto the likes of Nolito in January.
Deportivo La Coruna
Both Galician sides have been doing very well so far this season. Deportivo are currently 6th and have only been beaten twice. Few would've predicted this considering they only stayed up last season on the final day. Lucas Pérez has been a revelation with 12 goals so far. However they do seem to rely heavily on him as their next top scorers Arribas and Luís Alberto have two goals each. Depor would certainly take European football and while I can't see them getting into the top 6 they certainly are top 10 material on the show so far.
Eibar
A strong start to the season has recently tettered off with no win since the start of November but the Basques are still residing in the top 10. Only in the league this season after Elche's financial demotion, the tiny club are exceeding expectations so far. Many peoples favorites to go down again this season they have given themselves a good cushion to work from however they did the same last season before a disasterous 2nd half of the season saw them slip into the bottom 3. I can still see them slipping into trouble.
Espanyol
What can Espanyol achieve? well they find themselves in the all to familiar position of mid-table. They don't look like going down but they don't look like challenging for a European place either. Loan signing Marcos Ascensio has impressed at times as has Felipe Caicedo with his goals. Nothing much to expect really except maintaining their current position.
Getafe
Hovering just above the drop zone by two points, Getafe are in around where you would expect them to be. Pablo Sarabía has continued his development into a handy player for the club while youngster Buendía has impressed whenever I have seen him play. Goal scoring isn't in plenty of supply with Lafita, Vázquez and Šćepović their top scorers with three each. Expect them to remain in the battle to avoid the drop, but should just have enough about them to stay up.
Granada
Similar position for Granada. It took a mighty last month of the season to save them last campaign and expect them to be involved in the battle this season. Haven't been an impressive side but the goals of Yousef El-Arabi and Isaac Success are going to be the key to them staying up. I have to say that they are one of my bottom three sides and so far I haven't seen much to think otherwise. Summer signings Doria and Thievy haven't been impressive. The loss of Alain Nyom has hurt them down the right. Their 2-0 win over Bilbao however is something to work towards.
Las Palmas
Personally it's great to have a team from the Canary islands back in the league. However it looks so far like it'll only be for one season. Las Palmas find themselves in 19th and are struggling to score goals. With only 12 scored they are the 2nd joint worst scorers in the league and that simply has to improve if they are to stay up. Their top scorer Johnathan Viera has 3 and their prized asset up front Sergio Araujo has 2 goals. Their three wins so far have come against further up the table which shows they do have potential. it's getting goals and the wins that follow that will be the challenge. I can see them just about doing it.
Levante
Bottom of the table isn't good at any stage of the season but Levante have it all to do if they are to stay up. Simply put they just haven't been good enough so far. Two wins all season and only 12 goals scored highlights the problem area. Brazilian Deyverson is their top scorer with 4 goals and much was expected of summer signing Nabil Ghilas who was Códoba's top scorer last season. Ghilas could well be facing a similar fate this season as that Córdoba side did last season, in relegation.
Málaga
Last night's victory over Atlético showed the Costa del Sol side can win ugly and they will need to do that more often if they are to remain free of trouble. However they are the worst goal scorers in the league with just 10 goals so far. Striker Charles, who scored last night's winner has six of those goals. Last season Moroccan Nordin Amrabat was leading the front line but he has yet to score this season which is hurting the team. A decent player to have but he needs to get scoring again otherwise the team won't have enough goals to stay up. I do expect them to stay up though as I can see Charles continuing his good form and the likes of Amrabat and Čop getting the goals required.
Rayo Vallecano
For the past few season's they have stayed up which has been the stuff of miracles considering the high turnover of players each summer. This season though they are in for a battle. Yesterday's trashing by Real Madrid won't do confidence any good and they have been winless since the start of November. They now have the leakiest defense in the league and with just 18 goals from 16 games they won't be staying up on this form. They can take heart though from the fact that with 11 players yesterday they were giving Real Madrid a run for their money. In discipline has cost them however as yesterday's two red cards bought them up to seven red cards for the season. I fear for them.
Real Betis
Promoted as champions last season, Betis are not surprisingly doing the best of the newly promoted teams. Evergreen forward Rubén Castro has continued his goalscoring path while they have struggled to score goals as a team they haven't been leaking too many at the other end. Overall they should be alright in terms of any relegation fears but European football might be out of reach. I expect a mid-table finish and they'll take that. Joaquín has been good since re-joining, giving them pace and power out wide and Antonio Adán has been solid in goal as the derby with Sevilla showed.
Real Madrid
Safe to say Rafa Benítez wasn't the most popular managerial appointment last summer. The criticism his way has overshadowed what was a decent start to the league season. Up until the November break they were unbeaten. Now since then they have lost three times and are currently two points off Barcelona and Atlético in the title race. I can't see them winning the league and they don't look a solid outfit with an unbalanced look to them overall.
Real Sociedad
David Moyes wasn't able to improve the team and so far his successor Enrique Sacristán hasn't been able to either. Currently in mid-table the Basques need to watch out as the slump in form continues. While the should have enough about them to stay up I don't think they'll do much better than mid-table this season. Asier Illarramendi hasn't been inspired since returning, Jonathas the summer signing hasn't clicked and Bruma the loan signing has been hit and miss.
Sevilla
A disastrous start has seen them play catch up in the race for the champions league. They have a very good squad that should be higher than 8th currently. Of the new signings Yevhen Konoplyanka has been very impressive so far. The Ukrainian ran rings around Real Madrid's Danilo in a recent encounter and so far has been living up to the well, free transfer he was signed for this summer. Kevin Gameiro is a massive player for this side as well as his 7 goals so far will testify. In Éver Banega they do have one of the best midfielders in the league on his day. Outside bet for 4th spot.
Sporting Gijón
Newly promoted but under a transfer embargo the Asturians were many including me, favorites to go down. They have impressed so far. Obviously the main standout player has been on loan Allen Halilović. The Croat has been the playmaking force behind this team. Another loan signing in Paraguayan Arnaldo Sanabria has been equally as impressive with 5 goals making him the top scorer. Coach Aberlardo still has his work cut out to keep them up as despite a bright start they are currently a point above the drop zone. For me its between them and Rayo in who goes down.
Valencia
Last season Valencia impressed, this season they have not. 9th and nine points off 4th place, Los Che have also changed coach this season. Out went Nuno Espirito Santo and in came Gary Neville to surprise many. Neville is yet to win in the league since being appointed but with the squad he has a win will surely come sooner rather than later. Apart from Paco Alcácer and Shkodran Mustafi not many have impressed. Álvaro Negredo simply hasn't and new signing Santi Mina is very much still blending into the team. If Neville can get this team firing once more they will be a force to be contended with in the race for the champions league place but it's not looking good at the moment.
Villarreal
The only Valencian side to have impressed this season has been Villarreal. They lead the table for two rounds earlier in the season but hit a bad run but seem to be on the way back now. Currently 5th but a point behind Celta, the Yellow submarine would be many people's favorites to nip that 4th place. Defensively they aren't too bad but it up front that they have impressed. Roberto Soldado joined in the summer from Tottenham and has been quiet decent. Cédric Bakambu arrived from Turkish football and has hit 6 goals so far. Denis Suárez hit two yesterday and has three overall. The return of defender Matteo Musacchio from injury will give the defense a real lift, as he was one of the league's best defenders last season. In goal Alphonse Aréola on loan from PSG has impressed.
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