Are Real Madrid starting to run out of steam?

La Liga giants Real Madrid have been in simply majestic form this season and at one point had a lead of ten points over bitter-rivals and champions Barcelona in the league table.

However in the last few weeks that lead has been cut to just six points.

Acceptance

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola is either being very honest or playing mind games when he admits that he thinks his team has very little chance of over hauling their capital rivals. Guardiola stating that he doesn’t think Barca can catch Real seems to have set the players free.

The team is playing like the Barcelona of last season again. They are playing without shackles and look like they are nearly back to their best. If its mind games from Guardiola it is a master stroke.

Stumble

Real Madrid have drawn their last two La Liga games 1-1 first at home to big-spending Malaga, then away at Villarreal. These were unexpected results considering that Real have dropped very few points this season.

This slight stumble in form has given Barcelona players and fans hope that they can still re-claim the Primera Division title this season. It’s only a glimmer of hope but its more hope than anyone in Catalonia seemed to have a few weeks back.

Form

Barcelona have suffered some unexpected results of their own this season and that’s why they are trailing Real by six points. Fortunately for the fans and boss Pep Guardiola the team seems to be hitting form at just the right time.

Whether that form has came a bit late remains to be seen but Barcelona are currently full of confidence and verve.

Record

One of the main men behind Barca’s recent good form has of course been Argentinian genius Lionel Messi. The little man from Rosario became Barcelona’s highest ever goalscorer with a midweek hat-trick in the 5-3 victory over Granada.

He has now scored an incredible 234 goals for the Catalan giants and has 54 goals in all-competitions for club and country this season. Breaking the club goalscoring record at just 24 years of age is simply incredible.

Clasico

Real’s recent slip-ups have given Barca hope of coming back to snatch the title. With a Clasico still to be played at the Nou Camp and Real slipping up slightly in recent weeks the title could still end up in Catalonia.

Real Madrid have struggled in La Liga Clasico’s in recent years and star players such as Cristiano Ronaldo have failed to shine. Whereas Barcelona’s main players have stepped up and produced star performances.

Real’s record against Barca has improved slightly in cup competitions, but in La Liga Real lost the last Clasico 3-1 at the Bernabeu, and deservedly so. The next months could be very tense for fans of Los Blancos.

Europe

Real have been handed what appears to be a straight forward draw in the Champions League, after being draw against Cypriot minnows Apoel in the quarter-finals. Los Blancos will be heavy favourites to beat the lowest ranked team in the competition.

Just like La Liga, Real have been fantastic the Champions League this season and I don’t think anybody expects them to slip up against Apoel. Real are second favourites with most bookmakers to win the Champions League, only rivals Barcelona are shorter odds.

Favourites

Jose Mourinho’s men still have to be regarded as favourites for La Liga. However the team isn’t looking as invincible as they have for most of the season. The fear factor surrounding Los Blancos is starting to crack a little.

Teams are starting to think they have a chance of getting a result against the team from the capital. With a six point lead Real Madrid should win the title and it’s currently theirs to lose. However if any team can catch them then its Barcelona, time is against the Catalans though.

As an outsider looking in on the Spanish game the title race has been wonderful to watch and I’m sure there will be a few twists and turns left before the season finishes.

Will Real Madrid win La Liga this season?