La Liga 2016/17: Leganes 2-4 Real Madrid: 5 Talking Points

2. This match highlighted Real Madrid’s main advantage over Barcelona: Strength in squad depth

Imagine Barcelona scoring 4 goals after having completely rested their front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar Jr... and their main midfielders in Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic, especially against such feisty opposition. It just won’t happen, as this season has shown plenty of times. When the trio are there, Barcelona are unbeatable... but at times, taking even one of them away has handicapped Los Blaugrana in a way it really shouldn’t.

And that is exactly where Real Madrid have been better – by leaps and bounds – than Barcelona this season. While Arda Turan and Paco Alcacer are arguably bigger names than Alvaro Morata, Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio, the latter three have been in much better form and have thus been infinitely more effective. Meanwhile. Matteo Kovacic, Isco, James Rodriguez vs Andre Gomes, Denis Suarez – it’s not even a fair fight.

With modern footballing seasons being such arduosly drawn out, taxing, affairs he who has the better squad wins – and that is the simple reason behind Real Madrid leading the table at this stage of the season, and why they are still strong favourites... despite their packed schedule, and despite the great head of momentum Barcelona are building as they ready the final assault.