FC Barcelona back on top of the league
Almost two months have gone by since FC Barcelona were last top of the league, just before Christmas on 21 December 2024. That chilly night at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barça outplayed Atlético Madrid for almost the entire game but ended up losing, and the red-and-whites leapfrogged above them to claim first place.
58 days later
Barça had been runaway leaders at one point, but that third home defeat in a row meant that their privileged position was cut down to nothing. The two Madrid clubs capitalised on that mid-season slump (just five points out of a possible 24) and Barça dropped to third, as many as seven points off the top at one point.
But Barça’s form then came flying back. Four wins in a row, culminated by Monday’s 1-0 defeat of Rayo Vallecano, have been accompanied by various slips by Real and Atlético, and now it is Barça who are once again in pole position. But it’s an extraordinarily tight race. Barça only edge Real Madrid on goal difference, while Atlético are just one behind.
Bumpy roads
This strange season has seen all three of the top sides play some fabulous football but also drop points where it was least expected. Just these last few weeks, Real Madrid have lost to Espanyol and been held by Osasuna, while Atlético missed the chance to go top themselves when they lost at home to Celta Vigo on Saturday. And the week before that, the Madrid derby ended in a 1-1 draw, the perfect result from a blaugrana point of view.
Unbeaten in 2025
Barça are very much the form side now. After 2025 started with a draw at Getafe, they have gone on to beat each of Valencia, Alavés, Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano, while also sealing direct passage to the last 16 of the Champions League and winning the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
But there is still a lot of work to be done if Barça are to win La Liga for the 28th time. There are still 14 games to go in what is turning out to be one of the closest and most enthralling title races in living memory. Every point won or lost is going to matter between now and May.