Leading Spanish football clubs Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid maintain their top positions heading into the mid-season break.
**Headline:** Overperformers and Underperformers in La Liga (2024/2025 Season): A Mid-Season Analysis
In the heart of the 2024/2025 La Liga season, several teams are defying expectations, with some shining brighter than anticipated while others are struggling to find their footing. Here's an analysis of the teams currently overachieving and underachieving in Spain's top division.
## Overperforming Teams
Girona, currently third in the league with 81 points from 38 matches, has been a standout success story. Their high position, along with a strong possession style (third-highest possession percentage in the league), marks a significant overperformance compared to their historical status and pre-season expectations.
If verified, Alavés' current first position on FC Barcelona’s official standings would represent an unprecedented overperformance for a team typically fighting against relegation. However, other credible tables confirm Real Madrid as league leaders with 95 points, so this may be a mislabel or placeholder.
## Underperforming Teams
Sevilla, a club consistently competing for European qualification, is in 10th place in the possession ranking—an indirect but telling sign of a weakened performance—but the latest points table does not have them in the lower reaches (Granada is last). Their position—whether just outside the European places or further down—would be disappointing if below their usual standards.
Espanyol, with the lowest possession percentage (39.61%) in the league, likely reflects both a pragmatic approach and a struggle to command games, hinting at potential underperformance compared to past seasons.
Granada, according to the FC Barcelona site, is at the bottom of the table with just 21 points, which is extremely poor for a club that, while not a giant, has more top-flight experience than such a low tally suggests.
## Summary Table
| Team | Expected Level | Current Standing / Performance | Notable Trait | |--------------|-----------------------|--------------------------------------------|----------------------------------| | Girona | Mid-table/Euro hopeful| 3rd (81 pts), high possession | Dramatic overperformance[2] | | Alavés (?) | Relegation battler | Listed as 1st (possibly error)[2] | Unconfirmed, needs verification | | Sevilla | European contender | ~10th in possession, not bottom in table | Underperformance (contextual) | | Espanyol | Lower-mid table | Lowest possession, likely in lower half | Underperformance[1] | | Granada | Survival/relegation | 20th (21 pts)[2] | Major underperformance |
## Key Notes
- Real Madrid and Barcelona are at the top as expected; their performance is not surprising[2]. - Atlético Madrid and Athletic Bilbao are also close to their usual positions. - Girona stands out as the clearest unexpected overperformer of the season[2]. - Granada is the clearest underperformer, and Espanyol is showing signs of struggle[1][2].
Additional data such as transfer news or squad changes could help explain these trends further. For instance, Espanyol has lost all home games scoring a goal and conceding ten, contrasting with their Europa League performances. Barcelona put out their best version in their game against Sevilla, with Suarez, Vidal, Dembele, and Messi scoring. Celta of Vigo won their game with Iago Aspas scoring for the first time this year. Realists and nazaries (Real Sociedad and Granada) have had a better start than expected, despite losing this weekend. Alavés lost 2-1 to Valencia, despite a strong performance against Real Sociedad. Eibar drew against Betis, adding to Betis's pressure to perform. Real Sociedad and Granada are 'surprise guests' in the privilege zone of the table. Getafe has only won one game out of eight, with a poor defensive record of twelve goals conceded. Mallorca beat Espanyol at home, but have lost all three away games with a balance of two goals scored and eight conceded. Leganés' president requested the game to be replayed from a questionable penalty decision.
- Girona's impressive third place in the La Liga standings, amassing 81 points from 38 matches, signifies a remarkable overperformance compared to their historical standing and pre-season expectations, particularly in light of their third-highest possession percentage in the league.
- On the flip side, Granada's current last place with just 21 points, despite having more top-flight experience, indicates a significant underperformance compared to pre-season expectations, highlighting one of the most notable cases of underperformance in the 2024/2025 La Liga season.
