FC Barcelona is the leader of the leaders of LaLiga 24/25

The FC Barcelona delivered a true show of authority last Sunday with their resounding victory over Rayo Vallecano. The blaugrana team secured three points in a high-tension duel against the franjirrojos and, 8 matchdays later, regained the lead in LaLiga EA Sports 2024/25, which they had lost after their defeat against Las Palmas (1-2) on matchday 15 of the championship.

The blaugranas capitalized on the missteps of Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid against Osasuna (1-1) and Celta de Vigo (1-1) and, thanks to the goal difference (+40) and the direct confrontation against the vikings (4-0), they returned to the top position in the standings, a place they have occupied for more than half of the tournament.

In total, the Catalans have remained at the top of the championship for 13 matchdays, while the merengues were leaders for 8 matchdays. The celestes were at the top during the first 2 matchdays of the tournament and the colchoneros did so on 1 occasion, after their victory against Hansi Flick's team in Montjuïc on matchday 19 (1-2).

After being in second place in the first two matchdays of the competition, behind the then-surprising Celta de Vigo, Barça took the lead in the table on the third matchday after their victory in Vallecas against Rayo (1-2). From there, the blaugranas settled at the top of the standings for 11 more matchdays, during which they recorded 8 victories, 1 draw, and 2 defeats.

Real Madrid took advantage of Barça's slump

However, the fall in Anoeta (1-0) against Real Sociedad on matchday 13 initiated a slump for the blaugrana team that extended until matchday 20, with a record of 1 victory, 3 draws, and 4 defeats, ceding the LaLiga lead to Real Madrid after being defeated in Montjuïc by Las Palmas on matchday 15 (1-2).

The merengues and Atlético de Madrid took advantage of the poor form of Hansi Flick's team to distance themselves in the standings, with the whites leading LaLiga from matchday 15 to 18 and then dropping to second place after the colchoneros' victory over Barça in the last match of 2024 (1-2).

Despite this, Carlo Ancelotti's team climbed back to the top of the table in the first match of 2025 against Valencia (1-2), maintaining a 7-point lead over the Catalans, who were third behind the madridistas and Atleti, second with a 5-point difference. However, between matchdays 22 and 24, Barça managed to reverse the disadvantage with an incredible comeback.

Barça achieves the comeback in LaLiga in record time

At the end of matchday 20, on January 20, Real Madrid had 46 points, Atlético 45, and Barça 39. The draw of the 'colchoneros' against Villarreal (1-1) allowed the Catalans to close the gap to three points from second place on matchday 21, while Madrid still had a 7-point advantage after their thrashing of Valladolid (0-3). 22 days later, the 'merengue' advantage vanished in just 3 matchdays.

The Madrid collapse began with the defeat in Cornellà against Espanyol (1-0). Barça defeated Alavés on matchday 22 (1-0) and, a week later, Sevilla (1-4), while the 'Casa Blanca' stumbled again in the derby against Atlético (1-1). With the victory in Montjuïc against Rayo and the results on Saturday in El Sadar and the Metropolitano, the blaugrana 'sorpasso' became a reality on matchday 24.

⚽LaLiga Standings at the end of matchday 21 (January 27, 2025)

1. Real Madrid: 49 points
2. Atlético de Madrid: 45 points
3. FC Barcelona: 42 points

⚽LaLiga Standings at the end of matchday 24 (February 17, 2025)

1. FC Barcelona: 51 points
2. Real Madrid: 51 points
3. Atlético de Madrid: 50 points