MADRID, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid won the last Liga Santander they will play before meeting FC Barcelona on December 23rd, while Valencia and Atletico Madrid kept the pressure on FC Barcelona at the top of the Spanish League table at the weekend.
Here are some things we learned in matchday 15 of the Liga Santander in Spain.
1. The 'Classico' could be decisive
FC Barcelona's win away to Villarreal means they maintain their eight-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of the league table. With Madrid flying away for the World Club Championships and not playing next weekend, Barca now have the chance to increase that to 11 points (all be it with an extra game played) if they win their home match against Deportivo la Coruna next Sunday.
If they do that, it would set up the 'Classico' between Madrid and Barca on December 23rd to be decisive for Madrid's title chances. If Barca win in the Bernabeu surely Madrid would never close a 14-point lead, but a home win would leave them just 8 points behind and with a game in hand.
Of course Barca have to do the job against an improving Deportivo next week, but the Classico is squaring up to be the key game of the season.
2. Real Madrid can fly away on a high note
Most observers were expecting a Real Madrid side with key absences in defense and struggling for goals in the league to struggle against a Sevilla side that kicked the weekend off level on points with them.
It needed just 45 minutes for both sides to prove the pundits wrong as Madrid coupled one of their best displays of the season with Sevilla's most decaffeinated football of the year.
The 25th defensive combination Zinedine Zidane has fielded this campaign was hardly put under pressure by the timid visitors, while Cristiano Ronaldo and company were able to cut through the Sevilla back line with ease.
Madrid can now jet off to the World Club Championships with their morale improved and knowing their next league game is at home again...against Barca.
3. Valencia able to dig deep
Valencia's 2-1 win at home to Celta on Saturday night came despite injuries to defenders Ezequiel Garay and Jeison Murillo and to winger Goncalo Guedes. Last weekend the team suffered their first defeat away to Getafe with the same players out and on Saturday they suffered for long periods against a Celta team that is improving week after week.
However, Valencia were able to dig deep and Nacho Gil, who was the victim of the foul which earned Dani Parejo the chance to score the winning penalty, showed that coach Marcelino Garcia can call on younger members of the squad to fill in when needed.
Marcelino said after the game that he didn't want a big squad, but nevertheless, Valencia probably need to make a couple of signings in January if they are to continue battling it out with Barca, Atletico and Real Madrid.
4. Deportivo showing fight
Deportivo la Coruna may have only won 1-0 at home to Leganes on Saturday, but they deserved a bigger win, both for the chances they created and the work they put in during their game.
The victory lifted Deportivo three points clear of the relegation zone, but was also a reward for the improvement they have shown since Cristobal Parralo replaced Pepe Mel in the dugout.
Deportivo have turned into a side with spirit, which looks to pressure their rivals high up the pitch and in strikers Lucas Perez, Adrian Lopez and Florin Andone has the firepower to start climbing the table.
