The World Cup in Qatar 2022 left a lasting mark on Spain’s First Division, reshaping how clubs balance their priorities once the curtains close on international football. People often say life happens between two World Cups, and in that space, the tournament sparked new conversations about form, fitness, and rhythms across LaLiga. The mid season, an unprecedented format in this sport, amplified the impact as clubs faced a sudden shift in tempo, injuries, and morale. Argentina’s third World Cup title resonated far beyond international pride, stirring changes at club level that are still being felt in 2023 and beyond.
With twenty teams in LaLiga, it is worth examining how each fared after the Qatar championship concluded. The idea is to imagine how a league table might look if the World Cup break altered the course of the season from matchday 15 onward, when the interruption began.
The Madrid club without the crown yet still in contention
Real Madrid, on track to likely finish runners-up in the 2022-23 campaign, would drop out of the Champions League spots if only the post-World Cup points were considered. In an imagined ranking that starts from the World Cup break, Carlo Ancelotti’s squad would sit fifth, tallying 21 points from a possible 36 since the restart. The thought highlights how the mid-season break can reshape momentum and expectations, even for a team accustomed to competing at the highest level.
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Atlético Madrid could push Barcelona closer to the title
Barcelona, which has appeared to navigate the season like a smooth run, would find Atlético de Madrid pressing from behind in this hypothetical table. The Catalans would hold 31 points, while Atlético would amass 27, narrowing the gap to four points rather than twelve. This scenario underscores how a single tournament break can compress the race for the title, inviting a broader debate about squad depth, fixture congestion, and recovery strategies.
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Celta Vigo and a Champions League berth in reach
It is a stretch to picture Celta Vigo in Europe’s elite competition next season, yet in the imagined post-World Cup standings they would occupy a spot just behind Barcelona and Atlético. The Galicians would accumulate 22 points, trailing Real Sociedad by a narrow margin, with the Basques occupying the same position in both the real and fictional rankings. The exercise illustrates how a few wins could lift teams into European contention after a global spectacle captures the attention of fans and players alike.
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Real Betis, meanwhile, would experience little disruption in their trajectory. Pellegrini’s squad remains in a strong position mid-table, sitting fifth and three points behind Real Sociedad in the original standings. In the post-Qatar scenario, Betis would settle in sixth, one point behind the Champions League places, reflecting a stable core that translates well across formats and calendars.
Relegation picture remains stubbornly consistent, with a twist
The relegation battlers in this hypothetical ranking mirror the actual danger zones. Almería, Elche and Valencia would still be the three teams most at risk of dropping to the second division after the World Cup, with Elche facing a precarious reality. In this imagined table, Elche would sit only two points behind Real Valladolid, the club that would determine survival for the drop zone. The scenario reinforces how fragile margins can be in a compressed schedule, where a few results can swing the entire campaign.
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Sevilla’s calm and Athletic’s struggle in the long run
When it comes to avoiding the drop, Sevilla would feel secure in this constructed table. The team led by José Luis Mendilibar would be seven points clear of relegation, finishing ninth and comfortably separated from the European spots. Athletic Club, by contrast, would fade in the later stages, collecting only 12 points from 36 after the World Cup and finishing two places from relegation in fifteenth. The contrast between the two Basque clubs highlights how different recovery paths can be after a global tournament, influenced by squad depth, injuries, and the toll of a demanding calendar.
Imaginary ranking after the World Cup
Real Classification of LaLiga 2022-23
Source: Goal