Dermot Corrigan takes the time out of his job to answer some questions for VAVEL. As the title race heats up in La Liga, we ask him some questions on the Spanish League. Dermot Corrigan is a Madrid based journalist who writes Spanish football for ESPN, FOX Soccer and shares his views on football throughout the internet and social networks such as Twitter (@dermotmcorrigan).
As the title race heats up, who do you think as the edge mentally and physically to win La Liga?
Looks like Atletico are gonna win it now. We've all kept waiting for them to stumble, and they had a little wobble in February, but have been in outstanding form since the Madrid derbi, winning nine on the trot, clean sheets in last six... They're not playing too much pretty football, grinding out wins scoring from set-pieces or penalties, but dont think we should begrudge them that. It's just a phenomenal a chievement and I hope they go on to do it.
Who do you think has been the most outstanding player this season and why?
If I had to choose now off top of my head I would go for Thibaut Courtois... he has been just phenomenal, hardly ever makes a mistake, and makes top saves in key moments in games - like against Barca in CL. Clean sheets are the basis for Atletico's success this year, and their mini-wobble came when he was out. Calderon roars when he comes and takes a corner out of the air, team knows they can rely on him, and often just need one goal to win. Barca can win games without Messi, Madrid won the Copa final without Ronaldo, but dont think Atletico would win anything without Courtois.
The battle for Europe in La Liga is getting exciting, who you do you think can claim the final Champions League spot? Of course, Athletic have the edge with that win over Sevilla.
Possibly a bit late on this one - but Athletic's win over Sevilla last weekend means they've got fourth spot more or less sewn up. Fantastic achievement by Valverde, especially as the team / club was not left in a great state last summer when Bielsa and Llorente left. I'm really looking forward to Champs League football in new San Mames next autumn, hopefully they can do better than neighbours Real Sociedad this term.
It doesn't look good over at Real Betis at the moment, why do you think they have had so many problems?
Problems at Betis go very, very deep, back to previous owner / president Lopera. A judicial enquiry into Lopera's management of the club has been ongoing for five years or so now, and in the meantime nobody is really in control. Board members come and go, make decisions, but there's no structure / leadership from the top. That lead to poor transfer decisions [both in and out] last summer, and then the snap decision to fire Pepe Mel in autumn, which were both disastrous.
With Atletico and Real Madrid still in the Champions League, do you think this gives Barcelona an advantage or not?
That is the only glimmer of hope left for Barca, although I think it is probably too late now. It will be interesting to see how Atletico react, especially if they have gone out to Chelsea, at Levante on Sunday. But even a draw there, and a win against Malaga the following week, and Barca will be out of race / probably not fight too hard on final day to ensure Madrid dont sneak back in.
Ronaldo is currently leading the Pichichi standings with 30 and Messi and Costa with 27, who do you think can claim that prize by the end of the season?
It's a tight one alright... Costa's goals have dried up a bit, and they've got tougher fixtures so I think we can rule him out. Messi is still capable of turning it on now and then, and could easily score four in one game, but it depends on what mood he's in. Madrid have an extra game too... so reckon Ronaldo will hang on and win again.
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Now we move on to Ben Hayward's answers. We asked him the same questions to him in hope that it sparked a bit of a debate between the two. Ben Hayward is a Barcelona based footbal journalist currently writing for GOAL.com and is a host of LaLigaLounge, a Spanish football podcast. You can follow Ben at @bghayward.
As the title race heats up, who do you think as the edge mentally and physically to win La Liga?
I think Atletico are in control. They only need to win two games and they are champions, so if they manage that they can even afford to lose at Camp Nou on the last day of the season. Having said that, if they do need a result at Barcelona, they would be confident after going unbeaten in each of their five games against the Catalan club this season.
Failure to beat Levante on Sunday could change things, but Atletico are in pole position right now and I think they'll do it.
Who do you think has been the most outstanding player this season and why?
Each of the top three has an undoubted star. Cristiano Ronaldo has been on fine form again for Real Madrid, while Lionel Messi has impressed for Barcelona in what has been an injury-interrupted season, but the biggest star has to be Diego Costa. The Brazil-born striker has hit 27 league goals for Atletico this term and many of those have been match-winning strikes. Atleti look like winning La Liga and he has undoubtedly been their inspiration, taking over the mantle from Radamel Falcao in impressive fashion and increasing his goal ratio considerably in 2013-14.
The battle for Europe in La Liga is getting exciting, who you do you think can claim the final Champions League spot? Of course, Athletic have the edge with that win over Sevilla.
Athletic have the edge and beating Sevilla last weekend saw the Basques take a significant step towards a first Champions League appearance since 1998-99. Coach Ernesto Valverde is in his second spell at San Mames, has his team playing fantastic football and can count on a fine generation of homegrown talent. The club's re-emergence following the troublesome second season under Marcelo Bielsa and the departures of Javi Martinez and Fernando Llorente is great news for them and also for La Liga.
It doesn't look good over at Real Betis at the moment, why do you think they have had so many problems?
Changing coach isn't always the solution. Betis were in a difficult position under Pep Mel, but he had got them out of trouble before and was adored by both players and fans. His departure didn't help and the Seville-based side have been in a negative spiral ever since. Further changes have only brought more chaos and confidence is low, while even refereeing decisions have gone against them at key times. Unfortunately, it's one of those seasons where most things seem to have gone wrong. Could Mel have turned it around? Impossible to say, but his sacking wasn't the solution.
With Atletico and Real Madrid still in the Champions League, do you think this gives Barcelona an advantage or not?
Not really, because the semi-finals are out of the way now and Barcelona need both teams to slip up. There is this weekend to consider, obviously, and that's never easy after a Champions League game in midweek, so it could yet work in their favour, but I'd expect both Madrid teams to win on Sunday. The final, meanwhile, will have no bearing at all because La Liga will be over by then.
Ronaldo is currently leading the Pichichi standings with 30 and Messi and Costa with 27, who do you think can claim that prize by the end of the season?
Cristiano's two goals against Osasuna make him favourite and especially because Madrid still have an extra game left. Three goals will be a lot to make up for the other two, so I'd be very surprised if Ronaldo doesn't hang on to win it, while he is also in contention for the European Golden Shoe as well.