The most memorable moments in La Liga in 2022

2022 was really the year of Real Madrid in Spain. They not only won the Champions League for a record 14th time, but they also won the league title, while their main rivals Barcelona are still dealing with the consequences of their various financial problems.

2021-2022 Season

Even though their longtime captain, Sergio Ramos, left, Real Madrid mostly did what they wanted in La Liga. They won the title by 13 points over Barcelona, with city rivals Atlético in third place. Sevilla claimed the one remaining Champions League place.

That made it a record 35 titles for Real.

With Carlo Ancelotti’s side also winning a record 14^th It was a very successful season for their fans, with Karim Benzema winning the Ballon d’Or for his continued excellence (he was the top scorer in La Liga with 27 goals).

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It was a lot less for Barcelona as the full extent of their financial problems became clearer.

Even though Xavi’s return to the club as manager helped repair some of the damage done by Ronald Koeman, he was still limited by the small amount of money he had during the transfer window, and even when they could sign players, they weren’t always able to register them.

And, for the first time since the 2003 – 2004 season, they had to do it without the services of Lionel Messi.

However, the board alleviated their problems to a certain extent by the use of activating certain “economic” levers – in effect, mortgaging the club’s future through the sale of assets and television rights. This enabled them to sign players like Robert Lewandowski on a free transfer.

The Pole is the current leading scorer in the league.

2022 – 2023 season

When the new season broke for the World Cup, Real Madrid were again leading the way, two points better off than the Catalans. Real Sociedad have been the surprise package of the campaign so far, and are currently third.

One club that has not fared so well in recent months is Atlético, who are currently only fifth in the table, and who crashed out of the Champions League after finishing bottom of their group.

Diego Simeone has been the manager at the club for eleven years now, but, for perhaps the first time in his tenure, his position is coming under serious question.

The European Super League (ESL)

Even though most of the original teams have dropped out of the project, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus are still committed to the idea of the European Super League.

But the recent ruling that UEFA and FIFA were within their rights to threaten clubs and players who played in such a league with harsh punishments was a big blow to any hopes they had that the idea would work.

It is difficult to see how the ESL can continue now, despite the bullish words of Florentino Pérez, Real president, and one of its main architects.

For Barcelona and Juventus, in particular, both of whom are cash-strapped, that is bad news.