The 2025/26 La Liga title race already feels different from recent seasons. When you look at the table, the tension is obvious. After 25 matches, Barcelona lead with 61 points, and Real Madrid are right behind with 60. Just one point between them. One mistake, one bad result, and the entire La Liga title race can change.
But this season is not just about those two. Villarreal have 51 points, and Atlético Madrid follows with 48. They are still close enough to stay involved, still close enough to put pressure on the teams above them. This is what makes the La Liga title race feel open.
In previous years, things felt decided much earlier. Now it feels different. There are still 13 matches left. Thirty-nine points still available. Nothing is finished.
That is why the La Liga title race feels alive right now. Every match matters. Every point matters. And no team, not even Barcelona, can feel comfortable yet.
A Table That Doesn’t Forgive Mistakes
In previous seasons, things were calmer. For example, in the 2023/24 season, Real Madrid finished with 95 points, while Barcelona had 85. Ten-point difference. The title race was decided weeks before the season ended. There was no real pressure in the final matches.
Even last season, in 2024/25, the gap between first and second place was four points. Real Madrid stayed in control. Barcelona could not fully close the distance.
But the 2025/26 La Liga season feels different now. You can already see how small moments are changing everything. Real Madrid’s 1-0 loss to Espanyol earlier this season was one of those matches. They were favourites, but one goal changed everything. Barcelona also dropped points in the 2-2 draw against Real Betis, a game they were expected to win. These matches matter more now because the points gap is so small.
Unexpected Results Changed Everything
This season also gave us results nobody expected. Real Madrid losing 1-0 to RCD Espanyol was one of those moments. The match was played on 1 February 2026. Madrid had more possession. More shots. But they didn’t score. Espanyol waited. One moment. One counterattack. One goal from Javi Puado decided everything. Three points lost. And suddenly, the La Liga title race became even tighter.
Barcelona also dropped points when nobody expected it. The 2-2 draw against Real Betis was one of those matches. Barcelona were leading, but they couldn’t finish the game. Betis stayed in the match, punished mistakes, Barcelona lost control, and those two dropped points now feel huge in the La Liga title race.
There were other surprises, too. Atlético Madrid’s 2-0 loss against Valencia shocked many people. Atletico usually controls these games. But Valencia played with energy and punished them. That loss is one of the reasons Atletico is now behind Villarreal.
Villarreal is another example nobody expected. Right now they have 51 points after 25 matches. They are above Atletico Madrid. They didn’t get there by accident. They won difficult matches, including an important victory against Real Sociedad. Not always beautiful football. Sometimes slow. Sometimes defensive. But effective. And in a season like this, effective is enough.
This is exactly why the 2025/26 La Liga season feels different. Because nothing is guaranteed anymore.
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Mbappé and the Battle of the Top Scorers
Another important story inside the La Liga title race is the top scorer battle. Kylian Mbappé, in his first season with Real Madrid, is already leading the scoring charts with 18 goals after 25 matches. His arrival changed many things. Not just for Madrid, but for the whole league.
He scored important goals when Madrid needed him the most. His goal against Sevilla in a 2-1 win gave Madrid three crucial points. He also scored in the victory against Villarreal, showing again that he can decide games alone.
But even Mbappé cannot create a comfortable gap. Real Madrid is still only one point behind Barcelona. That shows how tight the La Liga title race really is.
There are also surprises behind him. Vedat Muriqi from Mallorca, with 16 goals, is second. Nobody expected that at the start of the season. This proves again that this season is not predictable. Goals are coming from everywhere. Not only from the biggest stars.
And this makes everything more dangerous for the teams fighting for the title.
Why This Season Feels More Competitive Than Ever
Maybe the biggest difference in the 2025/26 La Liga campaign is not tactical. It is mental. In previous years, when Barcelona or Real Madrid played against smaller teams, the result felt almost decided before kick-off. Now it doesn’t feel like that anymore.
For example, Girona held Barcelona to a draw earlier this season. Valencia defeated Atletico Madrid. Espanyol defeated Real Madrid. These results changed everything. Now every away match feels risky. Every stadium feels alive. Every opponent believes they can take points.
You can see it in the players. Sometimes they play slower. More careful. Because they know one mistake can cost the title. This is why the La Liga title race stays tight. Nobody feels safe.
Thirteen matches remain. A maxiumum of thirty-nine points are still up for grabs. Barcelona lead with 61 points, Real Madrid follow with 60, Villarreal have 51, while Atletico Madrid have 48. This means everything can still change.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Marca
Recording Date: 24.01.2026
