Madrid are 10 points clean of Atletico heading into the derby at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the hazard to increase the distance to thirteen points, weeks before Christmas.
Atletico will play a recreation in hand away at Granada on December 22, that could allow them to lessen the deficit, despite the fact that a experience to Sevilla in between method the space can also widen.
Sevilla and Real Betis are nearer, with Sevilla 8 factors in the back of Madrid, also with a recreation in hand, to be performed at home to Barcelona on December 21.
But maximum consider Atletico have the fine chance of reeling Real Madrid in, the reigning champions who confirmed remaining season they have the resilience, mainly in the huge video games, that Sevilla have lacked.
Sevilla nevertheless leave out some reducing aspect up front and they may additionally have the Europa League to barter in the 2d half of of the season, a opposition the membership has made its very own in recent years and is probably to go a ways in once more.
Betis are flying and deservedly take a seat 0.33 at the lower back in their win over Barcelona at Camp Nou final weekend but a top-four finish might be a triumph for Manuel Pellegrini's side. Few anticipate them to closing the gap within the identify race.
Real Sociedad have dropped off, without a victory now in three, at the same time as Barcelona in seventh are sixteen points off the tempo. Even having performed a sport fewer than Real Madrid, it might take a revival of epic proportions for Barca to overhaul Ancelotti's group from here.
"We have an advantage but the league remains open," stated Ancelotti on Saturday. "We can not assume now approximately winning La Liga, I do not want each person to assume like this."
When Madrid observed up a goalless draw in opposition to Villarreal with a 2-1 defeat with the aid of Espanyol on the start of October, the name race appeared thrillingly open, with the pinnacle 5 separated via 3 factors and all the leader candidates apparently fallible.
- Ancelotti sticks to triumphing method -
