Glory within reach
Barcelona are on the cusp, Real Sociedad are closing in, Elche are signing out.
“At least today my name will be in the news”. Take Kubo’s amusing statement in his flash interview with Movistar after his goal helped Real Sociedad defeat Real Madrid 2-0 on Tuesday evening.
It was a result which strengthened La Real’s grasp of the fourth and final Champions League spot. As loud as the cheers were inside the Reale Arena (or Anoeta to give it its proper name), the adulation was matched in Barcelona, too. Xavi’s side stuttered slightly in April, but are now just two points from the title after their narrow win over rotated Osasuna. It was Barça's dramatic late win at El Sadar before the World Cup which seemed to cement their position as favourites, so it was neat symmetry that the reverse fixture put them within touching distance of impending glory.
Kubo’s goal was his eighth of the season, his most productive by far; in fact, as Opta pointed out, he had only scored six goals in his LaLiga career before this campaign, in which he has improved that tally by 25% in far fewer games. The former Barça youngster – who came through Real Madrid, then Mallorca, Villarreal, Getafe and Mallorca again – has really found a home at La Real. The work Imanol has been doing with him has been a roaring success. No other coach has been able to finetune a better version of Kubo, nor have any really come that close, perhaps with the exception of Vicente Moreno at Mallorca.
Ander Barrenetxea’s glorious strike provided the icing on the cake for a side that now looks destined to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in a decade. Following their club record nine wins in a row, La Real appeared to be blowing up in their customary springtime style. They won only once in all competitions between the end of January and mid-March. But they have steadied the ship and appear to be on the rise again, winning five of the last eight including their last four at home.
Only Barcelona have conceded fewer goals at home than La Real (12). Defensive solidity, reliability and quality through midfield (David Silva was mesmeric at the heart of everything once more), and creating enough chances to win games means the Imanoleta is back on track. Villarreal now have to win away at Mestalla to keep the gap at five points. Should they falter, La Real are effectively home and hosed.
Real Madrid’s situation does provide useful caveats and contextualises another defeat. The Copa del Rey final is now just three days away, Manchester City in a week. Luka Modrić is injured, Karim Benzema did not travel, Vini Jr was suspended. It allowed Mariano Díaz to start his first game in a year, although it was apparent why such a duration had elapsed. There were more defensive mistakes, which will be the biggest concern for Carlo Ancelotti. Éder Militão made a serious error leading to a goal, his second in the space of the last week, losing possession in the build-up to Kubo’s opener right at the start of the second half.
The title is gone, that much we know, but Ancelotti now has a big decision to make with regards to his starting centre-backs in Seville and against City. It all means that Atlético can move above their rivals into second with a win against Cádiz on Wednesday night. This symbolic move would be a fair reflection of their form in 2023, the best team in Spain since the turn of the year. Real have only collected 13 points from a possible 33 available in their last 11 away games. If their title defence had withered away into nothing, it ebbed away predominantly on the road.
Barça won’t mind that, however, as they know one more win will seal their first title in four years. They huffed and puffed for an hour against ten defiant Rojillos, but eventually they made the breakthrough. A record-equalling 11th 1-0 victory in a league season, another clean sheet and more records in sight, Xavi is on the verge of his ultimate vindication.
Given the opportunity to win it in the backyard of neighbours Espanyol will make the prospect all the more appealing. Three years ago it was a defeat at Camp Nou which confirmed Espanyol’s first relegation for 26 years, so they will be desperate to avoid providing Barça with anything similarly celebratory.
Lastly, it seems callous to leave this as a mere footnote, but such was the inevitability of the outcome that it warranted little analysis. Elche may have earned themselves a stay of execution last Saturday with a stunning 4-0 win over Rayo, but on Tuesday night, they were read their last rites. Defeat at Almería confirmed their relegation with five games to spare, the earliest relegation since Málaga’s in 2018. Many noted how swiftly the club released a lengthy message of apology, gratitude and a promise of hope for the future. Some joked that it had been prepared and drafted since October. Nailed to the bottom, with more coaches than wins this season, their fate has now been officially sealed. Ánimo, franjiverdes.