As La Liga takes its Christmas break most of Spain’s top flight clubs have until the 10th January to recover from the festivities and recharge their batteries, apart from Real Madrid and Valencia who play on the 3rd.
Here at SBOTOP we’ll be all over that game as Carlo Ancelotti’s side aim to take top spot but, in the meantime, all eyes are on long time leaders Barcelona who have suffered a dip in form and now have more problems to solve. In one of the transfer moves of the summer Barcelona signed La Roja ace Dani Olmo from Red Bull Leipzig and he has been one of coach Hansi Flick’s first picks when fit but, due to the Blaugrana’s financial constraints Olmo looks like he may be unable to play in the New Year.
With just three days of 2024 remaining the Catalans are running out of options to keep Olmo and winger Pau Victor available. On Friday a Barcelona court ruled that the two players will not be allowed to play after the club appealed against a ruling that they had breached salary cap regulations. Barca have one more chance, and that is to appeal at a magistrates court and that will be scheduled for Monday 30th December, the day before registration for Primera Division squads must be submitted.
Olmo is a big player for club and country, starring for Spain in their Euro 2024 triumph, and Barcelona paid out over £50m for the player, but a ruling said he was only eligible to play for the first four months of the campaign as salary cap limits had been breached. The club did some creative accounting to move some player salaries around but they have run out of time and options with that particular strategy, and they have a nervous wait until the final court hearing on Monday.
Thanks to a smash and grab 2-1 win away to Barcelona, Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid went into the break at the top of the table and the latest La Liga 2024 betting odds have narrowed this season down to a three horse race. Simeone will be delighted his team has clawed its way into contention, and he is looking to strengthen in January, with Atalanta centre back Isak Hien in his sights. The 25 year old Swedish international was a key player in La Dea’s Europa League winning campaign and his powerful and assured displays have attracted interest from a number of Europe’s top clubs, with Atletico at the front of the queue.
Bellingham is December Player of the Month
While Barcelona sweat over the future of their attacking midfielder Olmo there is happier La Liga 2024 news for their El Clasico rivals who have seen England star Jude Bellingham return to form after a slow start to the season. Four goals in five outings have earned Bellingham the December La Liga Player of the Month award and his recent improvement in form has delighted Ancelotti. He started the month well with a strike in a 2-0 win over Getafe and Bellingham scored Los Blancos’ goal in the 2-1 defeat to Athletic Bilbao. He was on the mark again, scoring the first in Real Madrid’s 3-1 win over Girona and in a 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano. Los Blancos signed off for their festive break with a home game against Sevilla and while he drew a blank this time, Bellingham played a big part in his side’s 4-2 victory.
While Ancelotti’ side ready themselves to make an assault on the La Liga title there has been managerial movement at the other end of the table where struggling Valencia have appointed West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan as their new head coach. Los Ches are languishing in the relegation zone and have moved swiftly to replace Ruben Baraja, who was dismissed after a 2-2 draw with Deportivo Alaves last time out. Corboran has won admirers in England for his progress with the Baggies, under serious financial constraints, and club bosses hope his pragmatic approach should help Valencia get the points they need to survive. The Club has paid compensation in excess of £3m to the Championship side, which is pushing for a play-off place; and Corboran now returns to his home town team with a mission to restore some pride after they have slumped to 19th place after just two wins in 17 league games. The draw with Alaves lifted them off bottom place on goal difference but Los Ches are four points from safety.
Corboran is delighted to back home and he could be a good fit for the club in crisis, though he couldn’t have a tougher start, at home to Real Madrid next week; but the passionate fans at the Mestalla will give their new leader a noisy welcome.
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