SOCCER
La Liga’s First Three Rounds: Two Perfect Starts, Few Verdicts
Barcelona and Real Madrid have set the pace. Atlético and Alavés are close enough to keep the opening table interesting.
League snapshot · September 3. Three matches in, La Liga’s table has Barcelona and Real Madrid on nine points. Barcelona lead on goal difference, +10 to Madrid’s +8; Atlético Madrid and Alavés have seven points apiece.
| Club | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | 3 | 9 |
| Real Madrid | 3 | 9 |
| Atlético Madrid | 3 | 7 |
| Alavés | 3 | 7 |
Barcelona’s 12 goals and Madrid’s 10 make the early pace emphatic. Both have conceded twice. Those are encouraging opening returns, not evidence that the title race has already reduced itself to two clubs.
For Madrid, the next question is whether Mourinho’s side can reproduce its control when the fixtures become less forgiving. Bellingham’s evolving role is part of that story. Atlético’s unbeaten start keeps the immediate pressure close; Alavés’ seven points deserve attention without an inflated season-long prediction.
Three rounds tell us who began well. They tell us much less about depth, recovery from setbacks or performance through a congested schedule. The leaders have earned praise. A definitive hierarchy can wait.
