What do Real Madrid have to do to win La Liga?

Real Madrid have stopped checking their pulse in LaLiga Santander and have instead focussed their attention on Europe, winning as many Champions Leagues as they have league titles since the turn of the century: six.

The downturn domestically has been heightened since the emergence of Lionel Messi, having won just four titles since the Argentine made his Barcelona debut, and two of those came early in Messi's career. That is to say that Madrid have won just two during the 31-year-old's peak, whilst Messi himself is on course for his 10th LaLiga Santander title.

Once again, Madrid are out of the title race heading into the final weeks of the season, sitting 13 points behind Barcelona, so what do Madrid have to do to win LaLiga Santander?

Accumulate at least 90 points

Madrid have gone beyond this figure in the two titles they won (100 in 2011/12 and 93 in 2016/17), and in the four they have taken Barcelona the distance (96 in 2009/10, 92 in 2010/11 and 2014/15, and 90 in 2015/16). Los Blancos have been unable to reach 90 points in the 2012/13 campaign, along with last season and this year, too.

Win more than 27 games

They won the title with 32 (2011/12) and 29 (2016/17) wins, and in the other four they narrowly missed out on, they recorded 31 (2009/10), 29 (2010/11), 30 (2014/15) and 28 (2015/16). They will not win LaLiga Santander if they do not surpass this number.

Do not lose more than four games

To win their two league titles, Madrid have not lost more than three games, the amount of times they were defeated in the 2016/17 campaign. In 2011/12, they lost just twice. In the two seasons where it went down to the final day, though they did not achieve their goal, Madrid lost four times.

Win at least 15 games away from home

In their two title-winning campaigns, Los Blancos have been a machine away from the Santiago Bernabeu. In 2011/12, they won 16 away matches, drawing two and losing just once. In the second successful season, in 2016/17, Madrid were victorious in 15 games, drawing two and losing two.

Being 'winter champions'

Becoming 'winter champions' has not always guaranteed success for Madrid, having failed to go on and win LaLiga Santander in 2014/15, but what is certain is that - in this period we are looking at - when they have not finished 1st heading into the Christmas break, they have not won the title.