Atlético Madrid, four points clear and with two games in hand
Taking every games as it comes, Atleti continue to rack up the points and are now four ahead of Real Madrid, 7 ahead of Barça have two games in hand over their rivals. The win over Sevilla was played in freezing conditions with the temperature hitting -7º as the match finished. It was a fine game with Correa scoring early as Simeone set out to protect the lead with En Nesyri looking threatening for the visitors. In the 76th minute, a cross from Llorente found Saúl to secure the victory. Sevilla pressed but Atlético were able to withstand the pressure and have now only conceded 6 goals in 16 matchdays. Simeone's men still have two games in hand where they will face Levante and Athletic.
Ernesto Valverde's final hour
The Spanish Super Cup gets underway this evening with Barça set to face Real Sociedad. Just a year ago, the Catalan side lost to Atlético in a Super Cup game staged in Saudi Arabia that they truly deserved to win and the defeat ultimately led to the dismissal of Ernesto Valverde. Their managerial quest saw them try to lure Xavi from Al Saad in Qatar and ended up with Quique Setién and his prickly assistant Sarabia. From there on in, things went downhill at the Camp Nou outfit, culminating with Leo Messi's summer burofax which the institution has yet to formally to respond to. Barcelona are now involved in the process of finding a successor to Bartomeu with the club heavily hit by the pandemic.
Front line fire power
It finally does appear that Messi is a happier soul these days and is rediscovering his goal scoring touch having come to terms with the events of the cummer and in Pedri seems to have found an ally. After a rocky start, Koeman seems to have found his ideal starting XI with Dembélé and Griezmann playing alongside Messi and Pedri with Ansu Fati still out from long term injury. For many, Barça have the best front line in LaLiga but question marks do exist about the side defensively. Tonight they will be tested by Real Sociedad, with the Basque side struggling results-wise after an excellent start to the 2020/21 campaign.