La Liga Lowdown - Round 22

Boring, Boring Barcelona edition

How great is it that 20 years ago, you couldn’t see a soccer game on TV, and now you can’t keep up. Between ESPN3.com, golTV and FSC, plus all of the internet streams legal or otherwise, there are games on all the time. I am constantly figuring out which games I can watch live or on replay, trying to hit my biggies (FCB, Manchester United, and Juventus) while getting a smattering of other teams and leagues. Focusing on FCB, here are the results of the last couple of matches I’ve been able to watch live or on replay since November’s El Clasico:

Espanyol 5-1 2-0 at HT

Athletic Bilbao 0-0 0-0 at HT

Athletic Bilbao 1-1 0-0 at HT

Malaga 4-1 3-0 at HT

Almeria 5-0 4-0 at HT

Atletico Madrid 3-0 2-0 at HT

If you take away the cup tie against Bilbao, which was tense and physical, FCB have taken several opponents out to the woodshed. I actually turned the Almeria Copa del Rey game off at halftime because I had to get back to work. Well let's be honest here. I was bored. Can I say that? FCB are so good right now that watching them has become tedious. Yes, an effort. The Blaugrana possess the ball anywhere from 65 to 75 percent of the time, poking at and stretching out the opponent until they finally carve them up to create a scoring opportunity. Then they score and do it again and again. During Satruday’s game against Atletico Madrid, I found myself constantly checking the Juventus/Caligari game, and, when that was over, checking email and Facebook and twitter, all the while lamenting the fact that I missed the greatest day in EPL history.

How can I witness one of the great club sides in recent memory, quite possibly ever, and yet be more concerned with my Facebook status and twitter timeline? Several reasons. Xavi to Iniesta to Xavi to Alves to Messi to Xavi and so on is mesmerizing but, once the result is secured, can be a little repetitive. I have some form of ADD and need to be constantly entertained. The opponents. Most teams park the proverbial bus right away. BORING. Some teams are great on the counter so that can be exciting. Still others try to out Barcelona Barcelona with high pressure and these tend to be the best encounters. The last two categories account for about five clubs, so there are 14 barricades or white flags thrown up. Yawn. Finally, let's face it, barring injury, the league is all but over already. Real Madrid have gone seven points down, which is essentially eight due to head to head goal difference. Barcelona have now won 16 league games in a row which means the league is over in February. It's not even a two horse race anymore.

However, all is not lost. Here are the upcoming fixtures:

Sporting Gijon v Barcelona

Arsenal v Barcelona

Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao

Mallorca v Barcelona

Valencia v Barcelona

Barcelona v Real Zaragoza

Barcelona v Arsenal

Sevilla FC v Barcelona

My guess is that once the Champions League starts up again, the thrill of watching the Blaugrana will return. Playing Arsenal in games that mean something should install a spark of intensity that will get the fire going again. Plus Bilbao and Valencia usually give FCB a tough game. More games means more rotation, so different players will be used in the league fixtures, which means the gap between Barcelona and their opponents will close, providing a more competitive environment. All of this leads to mid-April and two Clasicos in four days. First at the Bernabeu in the league (4/17) and then the Copa del Rey final on 4/20 as FCB will go for their second domestic double in three years.

I should continue to broaden my horizons in La Liga anyway. I think I've seen every team at least once, but I need to focus more on the bottom end of the table, as there is very compelling relegation battle forming.

R Zaragoza	22	5	8	9	-13	23
Sporting	22	5	7	10	-8	22
Osasuna	22	5	7	10	-8	22
Hercules	22	6	4	12	-14	22
Racing	22	5	7	10	-14	22
Deportivo	22	5	7	10	-15	22
Levante	22	6	3	13	-11	21
Almeria	22	4	8	10	-15	20
Málaga	22	5	3	14	-19	18

Malaga may go down despite their Qatari money; Hercules may go down despite their great start; Deportivo was a big name just 5 years ago and will be fighting for their spot to the bitter end this season. A nine team Battle Royale is on the cards and should provide some wonderful entertainment, while, at the top, FCB tries to win everything again.