There are still nine league matches remaining in La Liga this season.
That is just under a quarter of the programme in 2022-23 so there’s plenty to play for in many areas.
Yet that hasn’t stopped both transfer speculation and off the field controversy emerging on an almost daily basis.
So, while the remaining La Liga highlights are probably going to centre on the race for the final European spots and avoiding the drop – Barcelona are champions elect and Elche all but down – there will continue to be talking points all over the shop.
For example, no amount of SBOTOP La Liga betting odds could have anticipated the farcical scenes which Barcelona became involved in with last summer when president Joan Laporta was so determined to make his mark, all manner of regulations ended up being stretched to the limit and money borrowed against future television assets.
It was a saga that ran into the current campaign and even meant two of their new signings were not eligible for their opening league match.
Laporta may argue the risk has proved worthwhile with the Catalan club now on the verge of winning a first title in four years.
The controversy surrounding him continues though.
An investigation into claims that Barcelona paid referees for preferential treatment is part of a smear campaign to destabilise the club, he says, after prosecutors alleged the club paid Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, former vice-president of Spain’s referees’ committee, 8.4 million euros (£7.4m).
Barcelona added the money was for consultancy work as the president denied any wrongdoing and claimed there is a paper trail of the payments made between 2001 and 2018.
European football’s governing body UEFA has also said it is investigating the matter.
We wait and see.
Either way, it seems the big two are set for another busy transfer period this summer.
Barca will surely need to strengthen again if they are to do well at home and aboard, while the question will once more be asked, just how much longer can Real Madrid’s ageless midfield duo of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos go on for.
Will Carlo Ancelotti be in charge?
Surely, he will.
There had been suggestions that Kroos was considering retirement.
The German joined Real from Bayern Munich in 2014 and, along with Modric, have overseen one of the most successful periods of the club’s history, while operating as the beating heart of the team.
Yet it does appear that both will be remaining in the Spanish capital for at least one more year.
Even at 33 and 37 respectively, they are vitally important players and so far this season have helped Los Blancos win the European Super Cup and Club World Cup, while the Champions League and Copa del Rey could be added to their haul by the end of the campaign.
Naturally, their prominence has been winding down as Ancelotti rotates and the likes of Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Dani Ceballos and Aurelien Tchouameni are all in the squad.
As for the latter, the Spanish giants have no intention of letting him go to fund a transfer for Borussia Dortmund starlet Jude Bellingham.
Although the French international is yet to establish himself as a regular starter since arriving, the club believes in the player’s abilities and thinks he will improve and adapt.
Perhaps another midfielder with pedigree, Ceballos, will depart because there are rumours that Atletico Madrid have “made a second call” to his representative in hopes of signing him when his contract expires this summer.
Talking of across the city, could the Diego Simeone era be about to come to an end? If so, then what a period it has been for Los Rojiblancos.
The rumours of arrivals and departures will only intensify over the next six weeks but, as always, two clubs will lead the way.
One to watch is Canada and Lille star Jonathan David who is in fine form in Ligue 1, equalling Kylian Mbappe at the top of the goalscoring charts and linked to a move to La Liga.
David has 22 goals and four assists in 33 appearances so far this term, going stride for stride with Mbappe, despite the fact Lille are in fifth and have netted 17 goals fewer than the French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
The final word goes to someone who definitely won’t be in La Liga next season following a career devoted to one club.
Spain and Real Betis legend Joaquin has announced he will retire in June.
The 41 year-old winger is currently in his second spell with the club where he came through the academy more than two decades ago.
He helped them win the Copa del Rey in 2005, leaving to play for Valencia, Malaga and Fiorentina before returning to Betis in 2015.
Last year, he captained Betis to a second Copa del Rey title, beating Valencia in the final on penalties. In total, he has made 521 appearances in his two spells at the club, scoring 68 goals and, with nine league matches remaining, could surpass Andoni Zubizarreta’s record of most La Liga appearances (622) as he sits just seven off the landmark.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
