The 2025/26 La Liga season continues to serve up drama and unpredictability, with Matchday 10 adding yet another thrilling chapter to an already fascinating campaign.

Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid strengthened their grip at the top of the table with a statement win over Barcelona in El Clasico, bringing an end to the reigning champions’ dominance in the iconic fixture.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid seem to have finally found their rhythm under Diego Simeone, Villarreal continue to impress under Marcelino, and Athletic Club’s struggles show no signs of slowing down.

At the other end, Barcelona’s defensive vulnerabilities remain a major concern for Hansi Flick, whose side were exposed once again in a high-intensity contest. Villarreal, on the other hand, look like serious contenders for a UEFA Champions League spot, while Athletic Club are in desperate need of rediscovering the energy and intensity that defined their game last season.

With the 2025/26 La Liga title race heating up and several clubs finding themselves at a crossroads, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the key talking points from Matchday 10 of the ongoing season.

Xabi Alonso brings an end to Barcelona’s dominance

Barcelona won all four El Clasico meetings across competitions last season. Their tactics under Hansi Flick proved way too good for the team in white. Despite all the efforts of his team, Carlo Ancelotti did not have any answers for Barcelona’s aggressive pressing and high line.

However, Xabi Alonso was certainly prepared for the task at hand. Not only did Real Madrid counter Barcelona’s high line and aggressive pressing with quick passing and nicely timed balls in behind, but they also defended in a very compact structure. They did not allow the Barcelona players enough space to work their magic.

It was a dominant display from the team in white in all aspects, and they were deserved winners in the El Clasico (2-1). Following that win, Real Madrid now have a five-point lead at the top of the 2025/26 La Liga table.

Barcelona’s defence is their biggest concern

Barcelona were without some of their best attackers for the Clasico, and it certainly had a massive impact on the outcome of the game. If Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Dani Olmo had been available, things could have been different.

However, moving forward, their biggest concern is not the attack, it is the defence. While the scoreline read just 2-1, it could have easily been 3-1 or 4-1 if not for a few close offside calls and missed chances from Real Madrid’s attackers.

The reigning La Liga champions’ backline had no answers to Real Madrid’s star-studded frontline. They lacked decisiveness and were often caught in no man’s land. The partnership of Pau Cubarsi and Eric Garcia did not look comfortable defending in a high line.

Letting go of Inigo Martinez certainly was not the right call, and the defending La Liga champions might now be forced to look for a new centre-back when the transfer window reopens in January, as Flick is clearly short of both options and quality at the back.

Atletico Madrid are finally on a roll in La Liga

Diego Simeone’s team had a very disappointing start to the season as they had one win in their first five La Liga outings. However, the Colchoneros have since bounced back, and they have been unbeaten in their last five league outings, winning four of those fixtures, including a derby win over league leaders Real Madrid.

While the 4-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League mid-week was a massive blow, they bounced back with yet another win in the league. They eased past Real Betis 2-0. It was a surprise to see Atletico Madrid not have the majority of the ball, but they did get the job done.

The Colchoneros were clinical in the final third, and their defence was up to the task. While they are still eight points behind the leaders, Atletico Madrid are back in the top four in La Liga, which is certainly a boost for them, and they will be looking to build on it in the coming weeks.

Villarreal continue to rise in La Liga under Marcelino

Marcelino Garcia Toral was sacked by Valencia back in 2019 despite having led them to Copa del Rey glory. The owner, Peter Lim’s lack of ambition and backing was the major reason behind his departure at the time.

The 60-year-old, who returned to Villarreal towards the end of 2023, has since guided the club back into the UEFA Champions League. Despite competing in Europe, he has managed to keep his team competitive in La Liga as well.

The Yellow Submarine currently sit third in the standings with 20 points from their ten La Liga outings. The Yellow Submarine’s 2-0 win over Marcelino’s former club Valencia was their sixth league victory of the season. Not only did the Spaniard get his revenge, but the result also further strengthened Villarreal’s case for yet another top-four finish.

Athletic Club’s La Liga struggles continue

Athletic Club secured a fourth-placed finish last season, and they ended up adding more quality to their squad during the summer. While Ernesto Valverde’s team were expected to once again push for a top-four finish, they have not had the best of starts.

Villarreal seem to be doing well in La Liga despite having European commitment, but the same cannot be said about Athletic Club. The Basque outfit have only won one out of their last five league outings. Their defeat to Getafe on Sunday highlighted a few key issues in the team.

Athletic Club are struggling to create goalscoring opportunities and have only scored nine goals in their ten league outings. Meanwhile, nine out of the ten goals they have conceded have come in the second half and seven of those in the final 20 minutes. Valverde’s system depends on intensity, and that is exactly what is missing from Athletic Club’s game, especially in the final phase.