As nice as it is to see a tight title race in La Liga, there’s no question it’s been a strange season. Defending champ and current leader Barcelona has consistently failed to kill off teams despite dominating most of its games, while second-place Sevilla – now just a single point behind – has managed to hover without ever looking like a legitimate title contender. Meanwhile, third-place Real Madrid, a side that’s been chastised for lacking cohesion and consistency, has somehow managed to claw to within two points of Barcelona.
Only a few months ago, Fabio Cappello’s men nearly staged a mutiny when President Ramon Calderon insulted members of the team. Capello’s reaction to David Beckham’s decision to sign with MLS also heaped pressure on the Real Madrid manager. However, since the players were allowed to vent their feelings, Los Merengues have gone unbeaten in eight consecutive games.
Coach Cappello was particularly pleased with Sunday’s 2-0 win over Osasuna, because the team went into the game knowing the top two had dropped points. “We’re still behind the leaders, but we made up ground and played with great spirit,” he said after the game. “We’re beginning to find ourselves, and you can tell. The players are full of confidence.” Players are also returning from injury: Jose Reyes returned on Sunday to play a small part in the win and Beckham is expected to be available for next week’s match against Racing Santander.