In what is the most competitive LaLiga Santander in many years, this season's champions are currently projected to reach just 76 points.
In campaigns gone by, we are used to seeing three different sections in Spain's top flight: the two teams that normally fight for the title and try to break the 100-point mark, those that compete for the European places and the rest who battle to avoid the drop.
That has now changed.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are no longer coasting to easy victories in the majority of matches.
Now they have to suffer more to earn three points, irrespective of the opponent they face, if they even manage to get the points, that is.
This past weekend, Los Blancos were embarrassed by Eibar but Los Cules had also been humiliated earlier in the season at Leganes.
"It doesn't surprise me," Jordi Alba said on Saturday.
"All the teams at the top are dropping many points.
"It's noticeable that the other teams are working well and are improving.
"Any team can beat you."
The growth in the majority of Spain's top flight teams has meant a new found equality in LaLiga Santander.
After 13 fixtures, Sevilla are leading the way on 26 points.
Just six points separate the Andalusians and seventh-placed Girona.
Current forecasts predict that the league champions will achieve less than 80 points by May, something which hasn't happened since the 2006/07 campaign when Real Madrid emerged triumphant with 76 points, the same as Barcelona.
To find a league season when the leaders only had 26 points by this stage, you have to go back to 2001/02 when Deportivo La Coruna were at the summit of the table.
If teams continued to perform at the current rate, Sevilla would win the title with 76 points, Barcelona would reach 73 and Real Madrid would only get to 58, a tally only comparable with the years when a victory was worth just two points.
Alakiri
285
Sevilla don't annoy your king.
gentlesoulnw
279
I see Real Madrid fighting for EUROPA LEAGUE Spot with this guy in the starting lineup
Naimurrahmansiam
212
I gusse who analysed this thing forgot something.Messi has just came back from injury.Suarez is trying regain form.Dembele is being used abit fine by Valvade as a substitute.And I gusse Valvarde will learn and bring him on early now.Pique and the rest of the defense is suopporting Stegen well enough.All the things runing with Barcelona now has to be change.And it is changing well.So no worries as it is a long jorney and Sevilla s coach has alot on his shoulder alone and he may fall at a time.But for now his tactics are touchingthe sky.But I can see Barca surpassing them.So its all good.ViscaElBarca.
Jacob_Kip
201
Lebronking
160
The Spanish First Division was born in 1927-28 and until the beginning of the civil war in Real Madrid has only 2 leagues in all those years, the FCB some 3-5 leagues and other teams, after the appearance of Francisco Franco and the end of the war, in Real Madrid won until the death of Franco 19 almost consecutive leagues displacing the Atlético de Aviación, and FCB at the beginning of democracy the real society and Basque teams won the league for many years, but that difference of Real Madrid in the years of Franco to heavy enough in the difference of leagues, still the RM only takes a scant 6 leagues approx. To FCB .. without Franco the RM would not have won anything. THE HISTORY SPEAKS FOR YOU ONLY.
IndianUTuber
153
shubham2907
122
this is impossible for them, because Barca and Madrid are more capable, now they are just fallen down, because of manager problem or players are not stable yet or something else
Lordpain11
120