Everything felt pretty predictable in Spain until about two weeks ago. You check the BBC Sport football Spanish La Liga table, you see Barcelona and Real Madrid trading blows at the top, and you figure the script is already written.
Then January 2026 decided to get messy.
Honestly, if you haven’t looked at the standings since the New Year’s grapes were eaten, you’ve missed a total vibe shift. Hansi Flick’s Barcelona is currently sitting at the summit with 49 points from 19 games. They’ve been an absolute juggernaut, racking up 53 goals already. But here’s the kicker: Real Madrid is breathing down their necks with 45 points, and they have a massive game against Levante this weekend that could change everything.
Why the table doesn't tell the whole story
The raw numbers on the BBC Sport football Spanish La Liga table show a four-point gap, but the momentum is shifting in weird ways.
Just a few days ago, Barcelona edged out Madrid 3-2 in a chaotic Super Cup final in Jeddah. Raphinha is playing like a man possessed, and Robert Lewandowski is still defying the laws of aging by finding the back of the net when it matters most. But Madrid just underwent a massive internal shakeup. Xabi Alonso, who many expected to lead this era, is out of the picture for the moment, and Álvaro Arbeloa has stepped in.
It started badly. Like, "losing to second-division Albacete in the Copa del Rey" badly.
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You can’t just look at the "W" column and assume Madrid is fine. There is genuine tension at the Bernabéu. Fans are looking at that second-place spot on the table and wondering if the transition from Carlo Ancelotti’s era is hitting a permanent snag or just a temporary speed bump.
The "Yellow Submarine" is actually a shark
Villarreal is the team nobody is talking about enough, but they are currently 3rd with 41 points. They’ve played one less game than the big two, meaning they could theoretically be right in the mix for a title charge.
They aren't just "parking the bus" anymore. Marcelino has them playing this high-octane, vertical football that is catching the "traditional" giants off guard.
- Barcelona: 49 pts (19 games)
- Real Madrid: 45 pts (19 games)
- Villarreal: 41 pts (18 games)
- Atlético Madrid: 38 pts (19 games)
Look at that spread. It’s tight. If Villarreal wins their game in hand, the gap between 1st and 3rd is just five points. In a league where Barcelona just dropped points recently, that is nothing.
The relegation scrap is a total nightmare
At the bottom of the BBC Sport football Spanish La Liga table, things are getting desperate. Real Oviedo is rooted to the bottom with only 13 points. It’s tough to watch. Santi Cazorla is out there doing his best, but the magic isn’t translating into wins.
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Valencia is the real shocker. They are currently 18th.
Valencia!
A club that size being in the relegation zone in mid-January is a disaster. They’ve only managed three wins all season. The Mestalla is basically a tinderbox right now. Every time they play, you can feel the anxiety through the screen.
What to watch for in the next three weeks
The table is going to look completely different by February. Madrid has a gauntlet of fixtures, including a trip to the Estadio de la Cerámica to face Villarreal on January 25th. That game is basically a title eliminator. If Madrid loses that, and Barcelona wins their trip to Real Sociedad, the league might be over by Valentine’s Day.
But football is rarely that clean.
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Barcelona has to deal with the "post-Super Cup" hangover. They’ve been flying high, but injuries to key midfield rotators are starting to pile up. Pedri is carrying a massive load, and while Lamine Yamal is a literal wizard, he's still a teenager who can't play 90 minutes every three days without some wear and tear.
Actionable insights for following La Liga right now
If you're tracking the race, don't just look at the points. Watch the "Goals Against" column. Barcelona has conceded 20, while Madrid has only let in 17. Usually, the team with the better defense wins out in the final ten weeks.
- Check the "Games Played" column religiously. Villarreal's game in hand is the most important stat in the league right now.
- Keep an eye on the January transfer window. Rumors are swirling that Sevilla (currently 14th) is looking to offload salary, which could trigger a fire sale that impacts the mid-table.
- Watch the goalscorer charts. Kylian Mbappé is leading the race with 18 goals, but Ferran Torres and Vedat Muriqi are surprisingly close behind with 11 each.
The race for the Champions League spots is also getting crowded. Espanyol is sitting in 5th place, which absolutely nobody predicted at the start of the season. They are only four points behind Atlético Madrid. If Simeone’s men keep drawing games they should win—like that recent 1-1 with Real Sociedad—we could see a massive upset in the top four.
Keep your eyes on the BBC Sport football Spanish La Liga table every Monday morning. This season is moving fast, and with the managerial chaos at Madrid and the resurgence of the "Yellow Submarine," the old hierarchy is under serious threat.
The best move now is to watch the Villarreal vs. Madrid clash on the 25th. That is the pivot point for the entire season. If you want to see if the title race stays alive or turns into a Barcelona procession, that's your window. Check the injury reports for Gavi and Frenkie de Jong before placing any bets on the Catalan side's consistency, as their depth is thinner than it looks on paper.