The top of La Liga is tight, with just one point separating reigning champions Barcelona at the top and Alaves in fourth spot. Yes, that’s right Alaves.
The minnows have been La Liga’s surprise package this season and could even go to the top of the Spanish top-flight at least temporarily with a victory over Leganes on Friday night.
For Alaves to be fourth and in with a chance going top of the table at this stage of the campaign seems like a fairytale. However, former Barcelona centre-back Abelardo has guided the relative minnows to the improbable position.
Alaves are in fact above their more illustrious league counterparts such as European champions Real Madrid in La Liga.
The big question is can they maintain their current good form in the Spanish top-flight? Alaves have won four of their last five league games, including beating both Real Madrid and Villarreal.
However, it would be a big ask of Abelardo’s side to stay in the race for the Champions League spots, never mind challenge for the Spanish top-flight title. They do not have the same quality of player in their squad as their top four rivals, so keeping pace with the top teams in La Liga will be very difficult.
However, what they do have at the minute is a positive momentum because of their recent good run of form. If they can maintain some of that momentum for the next few months, then they will have a chance of grabbing a European spot at least.
For a team who arguably started the campaign hoping to avoid relegation to the Segunda, Alaves are performing well above expectations this season so far in La Liga.
Even if their challenge for a top-four position stalls this season, at least they are now more likely to achieve their goal at the beginning of the campaign of maintaining their La Liga status.