LaLiga 24/25: Matches and rivals of Barça, Real Madrid and Atlético in the fight for the title

LaLiga EA Sports 2024/25 has entered its decisive phase, with FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid as the main candidates for the title. With seven matchdays remaining, the fight for the championship is marked by Barcelona's advantage, who leads the table with a significant difference over their pursuers.

However, in addition to the importance of the final schedule and the rivals they will have to face, there are other factors that could also be key to defining the title: direct confrontations, goal difference, playing at home or away, rivals playing for objectives (Europe, relegation), influence by the dispute of other competitions, accumulated fatigue, injuries, sanctions, refereeing, pressure, luck...

Next, we review the updated standings of LaLiga on (04/18/2025) and compare the schedule of matches of the three teams in the last seven matchdays of the championship.

LaLiga 24/25 Standings

After the dispute of all the matches of Matchday 31, Barça is the leader of LaLiga 24/25 with 70 points, maintaining a 4-point advantage over Real Madrid and 7 points over Atlético de Madrid, second and third respectively.

LaLiga Final Stretch: Who has the most difficult rivals? Analysis for Madrid, Barça and Atlético

Detailed analysis of the schedule of the last matchdays of LaLiga 2024/25 for Real Madrid, Barça and Atlético. Discover the decisive rivals in the fight for the title.

Comparison and key points: Who seems to have it, a priori, more difficult or more affordable to be champion?

LaLiga 24/25 Clásico - FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid

Direct confrontations: Barcelona has won its direct duels against Real Madrid (in the first leg) and Atlético (in the second leg), and lost at home against Atlético. Atlético beat Real Madrid in the first leg and drew in the second leg.

Barcelona has an advantage over Real Madrid thanks to its resounding 4-0 victory in the first round of the tournament. The second round Clásico is scheduled for matchday 35, on May 11 at Montjuïc, and will be key to deciding the Liga title:

• First Clásico (first leg, Bernabéu): Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona
  Resounding victory for Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu.

• Second Clásico (second leg, Montjuïc):
  Not yet played. The second round Clásico is scheduled for matchday 35, on May 11 at Montjuïc, and will be key to deciding the title

And also over Atlético de Madrid by a global of 5-4:

• First leg (Montjuïc): Barcelona 1-2 Atlético de Madrid
  Atlético took the victory as a visitor.

• Second leg (Metropolitano): Atlético de Madrid 2-4 Barcelona
  Barcelona won at the Metropolitano, achieving three key points.

Goal difference between Barça, Madrid and Atlético

With a higher differential (+55), Barcelona also leads this criterion against its two rivals. Hansi Flick's team has 84 goals in favor and 29 goals against.

Real Madrid has a differential of (+33), with 64 goals in favor and 31 goals against. Simeone's Atlético, for its part, has a differential of (+27), with 53 goals in favor and 26 goals against.

The judges of LaLiga: The rivals of Barça, Madrid and Atleti in the key matchdays for the 24/25 title

With seven matchdays remaining, the schedule of the three contenders presents relevant differences in terms of difficulty and competitive context. We identify the "Judges" of the League: teams that the three greats face in this final stretch and whose results can be decisive.

Barcelona and Real Madrid have demanding schedules, with direct confrontations and rivals fighting for Europe or permanence. The Clásico on May 11 will probably be decisive.

Atlético de Madrid faces a somewhat more affordable schedule and without European distractions, but its disadvantage in points forces it not to fail and wait for stumbles from the leaders.

FC Barcelona

• Upcoming rivals:

  • Celta (home)

  • Mallorca (home)

  • Valladolid (away)

  • Real Madrid (home, Clásico, matchday 35)

  • Espanyol (away)

  • Villarreal (home)

  • Athletic Club (away)

Level of difficulty: Barça has several matches at home against rivals from the mid-table or who are fighting for Europe (Celta, Mallorca, Villarreal). The Clásico against Real Madrid at Montjuïc will be decisive. The closing at San Mamés against Athletic can be demanding if the Basques continue fighting for Champions. In general, the schedule is demanding but balanced, and depends on itself to be champion.

Real Madrid

• Upcoming rivals:

  • Athletic Club (home)

  • Getafe (away)

  • Celta (home)

  • Barcelona (away, Clásico)

  • Mallorca (home)

  • Sevilla (away)

  • Real Sociedad (home)

Level of difficulty: Madrid faces tough matches at home (Athletic, Real Sociedad) and complicated outings (Getafe, Sevilla). The Clásico at Montjuïc is its great opportunity to cut points. In the last matchdays, the difficulty increases with rivals who may be playing for Europe or permanence, so the margin for error is minimal.

Atlético de Madrid

• Upcoming rivals:

  • Las Palmas (away)

  • Rayo Vallecano (home)

  • Alavés (away)

  • Real Sociedad (home)

  • Osasuna (away)

  • Betis (home)

  • Girona (away)

Level of difficulty: Atlético has a schedule, in theory, more affordable: it faces several teams from the mid-low zone (Las Palmas, Alavés, Osasuna) and closes against Girona, which could be without clear objectives in the last matchday. In addition, it is already out of Champions and Copa, which allows it to focus only on LaLiga. However, it is further away in the table and depends on stumbles from its direct rivals.

Analysis of the final stretch of LaLiga 24/25. The obstacles of Barça, Real Madrid and Atlético towards the title

With seven matchdays remaining, the distribution of matches at home and away can be decisive in the fight for the title. This is how the local/visitor schedule of the three main contenders is:

Local vs visitor factor

• 1. Barcelona has a majority of matches at home, including the Clásico and duels against rivals from the mid-table. It closes the season at San Mamés, one of the most difficult outings.

• 2. Madrid has more matches at home than away, but two of its three outings are especially demanding: the Clásico at Montjuïc and the visit to the Sánchez-Pizjuán. In addition, it receives strong rivals such as Athletic and Real Sociedad at the Bernabéu.

• 3. Atlético is the only one of the three that has more matches away than at home in this final stretch. Its visits are mostly against teams from the mid-low zone, although it closes in Girona, which could be playing for Europe.

Barcelona and Real Madrid have a majority of matches at home, which gives them a slight logistical and emotional advantage in the decisive stretch. Atlético de Madrid faces more trips, which increases the difficulty of its schedule compared to its direct rivals.

Influence of other competitions

Copa del Rey final 2025 | Barcelona vs Real Madrid

The influence of other competitions is a key factor: the "triple fight" of Barça and Madrid can open opportunities for Atlético if the leaders drop points due to accumulated fatigue.

Barcelona and Real Madrid face a compressed and demanding schedule, with decisive matches on three fronts, which can affect their league performance due to physical and mental wear and tear. Atlético de Madrid has the advantage of focusing solely on LaLiga, which allows it to better prepare each match and arrive fresher at the final stretch.

FC Barcelona

• Current situation:
  Barcelona is still alive in the three major competitions: LaLiga, the Copa del Rey final (vs. Real Madrid on April 26) and the Champions League semi-finals (vs. Inter de Milan, April 30 and May 6).

• Impact on the schedule:
  The accumulation of key matches has caused changes in the league schedule, such as the advance of their match against Valladolid to give more rest before the Champions. The team faces weeks with matches every three or four days, which increases the physical demand and the need for rotations.

• Risks:
  The wear and tear and the possible accumulation of injuries or sanctions can affect their performance in LaLiga, especially in decisive matches such as the Clásico and the closing against Athletic

Real Madrid

• Current situation:
  Real Madrid is also in the Copa del Rey final, but eliminated from the Champions League.

• Impact on the schedule:
  Its schedule is clean after the European elimination except for the Copa final. The demand is medium, with decisive matches in the two competitions in just four weeks.

• Risks:
  The "double competition" forces Ancelotti to manage efforts and squad, with the risk of losing points in LaLiga due to fatigue or prioritization of matches, especially after the debacle of the white team in the Champions.

Atlético de Madrid

• Current situation:
  Atlético is eliminated from Copa and Champions, only competes in LaLiga.

• Impact on the schedule:
  Unlike its rivals, Atlético has clean weeks to prepare each matchday of Liga, without distractions or additional wear and tear.

• Advantage:
  It can focus all its efforts on LaLiga, prepare matches thoroughly and minimize risks of injuries or sanctions due to overload.

In FCBN we make a special follow-up of all the confrontations and determining data in the fight for the championship between the three greats of Spanish football. Don't miss a detail! LaLiga 24/25: The final schedule that will decide the title between Barça, Madrid and Atleti.