La Liga: 5 things we have learnt so far this season

The year couldn't have ended in a better way in La Liga as it finished with a nerve-wracking El Clasico, with Barcelona thumping Real Madrid in a dominant 3-0 win. It didn't just widen the gap between the sides, but also signalled a tectonic shift of power in Spanish football since the Whites were crowned champions in May.

Some big names have faltered dramatically this season as Celta Vigo, Athletic Bilbao and Malaga find themselves at the wrong end of the table, whereas Girona are off to a flyer on their return to the top tier.

The 17 round of fixtures played so far has averaged 2.65 goals a game - as many as the Premier League - and has already witnessed six hat-tricks. But more interestingly, there has been seven managerial changes since the season kicked-off.

As football in Spain enters a holiday period till the first week of January, we look at the important talking points from the league, so far.

#5 Barcelona have the title in their bag, well, almost

FC Barcelona have looked unstoppable this term

With Atletico Madrid's recent defeat to Espanyol, the Catalans remain the only side still to be on the losing end of a game. Their prolific run in the league this season sees them open up a 9-point lead at the top after 17 matches, and are racing towards an unprecedented 25th La Liga crown.

Their title aspirations were handed a major boost following the emphatic win over Real Madrid last week, sending an ominous warning across the division. Having conceded the title to their eternal rivals last term, the Blaugrana have roared back to action this time to turn the tide against the holders, who're struggling this campaign, big time.

Ernesto Valverde may not emulate the success that his predecessor Pep Guardiola brought to the club, but he certainly is restoring the fallen giants back to their dizzying heights. This Barcelona side can exercise as entertaining a brand of football as it is gritty when the need be, and there's literally no one who can challenge them on the domestic front right now.

#4 It's going to be a long and tiring second half for Real Madrid

Ronaldo and co. are under real pressure after the Clasico loss

With La Liga hopes all but extinguished after the Clasico humiliation, Los Blancos are staring at a real possibility of a title-less season. That's because they are paired with the blistering PSG in the Champions League whilst the road to Copa Del Rey would certainly get murkier with the forthcoming rounds.

This certainly doesn't paint a pretty picture for the two-time European champions.

With four draws and three defeats already in the league at this juncture, Madrid are left with a mountain to climb post the break. And given the travails they're enduring, it's unlikely for them to bridge the massive gap. Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema are yet to find their shooting boots, whereas the defence has become more prone to errors than ever.

As the pressure piles on ahead of the festive period, the heat is really on Zidane to devise a plan and lift the visibly exhausted team out of the lurch. Else, who knows, he will become the next victim of Florentino's Damoclean sword.

#3 Cristhian Stuani is the signing of the season

Stuani in the match against Real Madrid

Amid all the glamorous acquisitions by the mightier sides in the division, newly-promoted Girona roped in a player of their own in Cristhian Stuani from the now relegated Middlesbrough.

Whilst the news of the signing fell through the cracks, his performances for the Catalan outfit has not gone unnoticed as the Uruguayan international has bagged 9 goals in 14 matches, helping the minnows to finish at the mid-table ahead of the winter break.

Girona were expected to be mired in the relegation battle in their maiden La Liga appearance, but against all the odds, the Blanquivermell find themselves 10th in the standings, and ahead of the likes of Celta Vigo, Athletic Bilbao and Malaga. Thanks in no small part to their talented striker.

The 31-year old hit the ground running with a brace against Atletico Madrid on the opening matchday, whilst also igniting the comeback win over Real Madrid. He alone has accounted for 43% of his side's goal count so far, further accentuating his impact on the team.

The fee for which Girona signed him remains undisclosed, but Stuani is certainly repaying every penny with prolific performances.

#2 Malaga are at an all-time low

Malaise in Malaga: Can they survive the drop?

Ever since gaining promotion to the Spanish top-flight in 1999, the Andalusian outfit has consistently maintained that status, even achieving their greatest result in the division by finishing second in 2008. Although the recent seasons have seen them getting reduced to mid-table minnows, the season of 2017/18 represents their worst in 18 years.

With just three victories and a staggering 12 defeats from 17 games, the Boquerones are 19th in the standings courtesy of only a better goal-difference to bottom-side Las Palmas. Such is the grim state of affairs in La Rosaleda right now.

Yet, Michel finds himself on the hot seat, calling the shots in spite of coming across as nothing but a sitting duck whilst Malaga continues to burn. Even the management is to shoulder their share of the blame, for they have been unresponsive to the crisis too.

Just over four years on from reaching the last 8 of the Champions League, Malaga face a very real prospect of a drop, signifying the end of an era.

#1 Celta Vigo's feud with the fans show no sings of watering down

Celta Vigo continue to garner abysmally low attendance for their home games

Whilst it's normal to see lesser number of fans travelling to see their sides play away from home, it is quite bewildering when even less of them turn up for home games. That's pretty much the case with Celta Vigo right now.

The Galicians were slapped with a fine at the start of the season for egregiously low attendance at the Balaidos, as the officials have enforced a new rule which demands a club to ensure at least 70% occupancy at the stadium for the home games. But despite all this, the club sees no light of the day as the attendance remain negligible.

In fact, they have gone further down as they average 15,800 fans this season compared to 16,500 last term, despite slashing the ticket prices. These off-field issues may be seeping through on to the field as well, as Celta sit 11th in the table with a paltry return of just 21 points.

But what's more agonizing is that the fans look least concerned about it.