The great fact about Madrid that already gives FC Barcelona the 'virtual champion' of LaLiga

Real Madrid has started the 2024/25 LaLiga EA Sports season quite weakly. Despite having a fearsome attack following the addition of Kylian Mbappé, Carlo Ancelotti's team has struggled to effectively utilize their stellar squad. They have kicked off the domestic tournament with a total of five points out of nine possible, after recording two draws (against RCD Mallorca and UD Las Palmas) and a win (against Real Valladolid).

The start of the Merengues this season has been so slow that they are having one of the weakest beginnings of the league editions played in the 21st century. According to statistics, this first phase of LaLiga for the Chamartín team ranks as the seventh most hesitant in recent times, after three matchdays. What were the previous ones? Here are the details:

• They earned 1 point in the 2001/02 season (A loss against Valencia CF and another against Real Betis. Drew against Málaga)
• They earned three points in the 2005/06 season (Win against Cádiz. Losses against Celta de Vigo and Espanyol)
• They earned four points in the 2012/13 season (Draw against Valencia CF. Loss against Getafe CF and win against Granada CF)
• They earned three points in the 2014/15 season (Win against Córdoba CF. Losses against Real Sociedad and Atlético de Madrid)
• They earned five points in the 2017/18 season (Win against Deportivo La Coruña. Draws against Valencia CF and Levante UD)
• They earned five points in the 2019/20 season (Win against Celta de Vigo. Draws against Real Valladolid and Villarreal CF)

What is special about this data and why does it boost FC Barcelona as a possible 'virtual champion'?

Out of these six previous uncertain starts of Real Madrid, in 83.3% of them (five out of six), the white team did not become champion. They finished third on two occasions (2001/02 and 2017/18), second on three occasions (2005/06, 2012/13, and 2014/15), and only managed to be champions in the 2019/20 season.

Furthermore, in four of these six editions (2005/06, 2012/13, 2014/15, and 2017/18), FC Barcelona ended up being crowned champions. However, statistics do not usually determine with certainty the future of a team, especially considering that the Merengue team is not the only contender for the LaLiga title. Teams like Atlético de Madrid also have a significant favoritism. Additionally, other options like Villarreal CF and Celta de Vigo cannot be ruled out at this stage, as they are already engaged in the fight for the top spot after three matchdays, having a start as unusual as promising.

Despite this, the current situation, combined with Barcelona's impressive start to the league where they have taken the lead with nine points out of nine possible, after defeating Valencia CF (1-2), Athletic Club (2-1), and Rayo Vallecano (1-2), showcasing an exciting style of play, suggests that there is at least the possibility for the Barcelona team to lift the championship trophy. The question is: will they achieve it? Only time will tell.