LaLiga is back! Can Real Madrid beat leaders Barcelona to title? - ESPN

After the winter break, LaLiga is back! All right, it was only an 11-day hibernation, but with Christmas and New Year's celebrations happening in between, we thought it would be good to catch you up on the 2025-26 season before it resumes.

Defending champions Barcelona were Spain's «Christmas champions,» heading into the break with a four-point lead at the top of the table despite losing the first Clásico of the season against their bitter rivals 2-1 back in October.

Despite turning their stadium into a winter wonderland over the festive period, the Bernabéu has not been a happy place for Real Madrid, with constant speculation over coach Xabi Alonso's job security due to a disappointing run of results and performances in the weeks following that win over Barça. But as long as they have star striker Kylian Mbappé in some of the best form of his career, they have hope of reviving their season.

— How Alonso's Real Madrid start compares to Mourinho, Ancelotti, Zidane
— Hunter's midseason verdicts: Barça lead the way, but is there a title race?
— Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappé, Haaland, Kane? Who was 2025's top goal scorer?

Atlético Madrid and Villarreal round out the top four as the season approaches the halfway point, and neither team should be discounted from making a push into the top two before the campaign is over.

So, what is there to look forward to for the rest of the season in LaLiga? Let ESPN correspondents Sam Marsden and Alex Kirkland get you up to speed. And remember, you can stream every single game LIVE on ESPN+ (U.S. only).

On current form, it's going to be very difficult. Barça have built up a four-point lead and, just as importantly, have seen important players such as Raphinha and Pedri return from injuries in