Madrid, Dec 22 (NationPress) The renowned Spanish club FC Barcelona secured a 2-0 victory against Villarreal on Sunday, heading into the New Year with a four-point advantage over a struggling Real Madrid team. Barcelona currently leads the league with 46 points from 15 wins in 18 matches, alongside one draw and two losses. Real Madrid occupies second place with 42 points from 13 wins, three draws, and two defeats, while Atletico Madrid sits in third with 37 points from 11 wins, four draws, and three losses.

Villarreal holds the fourth position with 35 points from 16 matches, and Espanyol is fifth with 30 points from their 16 games.

Here are some insights we gathered from La Liga's action this weekend.

Alonso's Future Looks Bleak

Despite Real Madrid's 2-0 home win against Sevilla, the atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu felt more like a loss than a victory, with fans expressing their dissatisfaction by booing players at critical moments, as reported by Xinhua. A goal from Jude Bellingham and a penalty from Kylian Mbappe secured the win, but Sevilla squandered several clear chances. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was pivotal for the home side, and the match could have taken a different turn had Rodrygo received a second yellow card while the score was still 1-0.

Alonso must have hoped a win would ease the mounting pressure, but the discontent from fans and journalists made it clear that his position is precarious. Unless he secures victory in the Spanish Supercup in early January, his survival looks doubtful.

Alonso Gets His Revenge

If Real Madrid decides to part ways with Xabi Alonso, it will be after he extracts a measure of revenge on Vinicius, who has reportedly been among the most critical of him within the squad. Fans recall Vinicius' furious reaction to being substituted during the Clasico against FC Barcelona in October, highlighting their strained relationship. During the match against Sevilla, Vinicius was booed multiple times, and when Alonso replaced him in the 83rd minute, he left the pitch to a chorus of jeers, prompting him to change his social media profile picture from one in a Real Madrid shirt to one in a Brazil shirt.

Villarreal Fails to Challenge Barcelona

Villarreal, starting the weekend in third place, was expected to pose a challenge for Barcelona at the Estadio de la Ceramica. However, mistakes in the first half effectively sealed their fate in the title race. A foul on Raphinha allowed Barcelona to take the lead from the penalty spot, calming their nerves. Subsequently, Renato Veiga's ill-timed challenge on Lamine Yamal resulted in Villarreal being reduced to 10 men, making it virtually impossible to compete against Barcelona.

Elche's Commitment Pays Off

Elche achieved an impressive 4-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano, concluding the year on a positive note and reinforcing their commitment to coach Eder Sarabia's passing style. Hector Fort netted a brilliant opener before being substituted due to injury, while the remaining three goals were the result of Elche's effective passing against an open Rayo defense. After enduring a seven-match winless streak, doubts about their style arose, but they maintained their faith, achieving two wins in three games to sit ninth with 22 points—a commendable tally for a newly promoted club.