No, it’s not the cup of kings. It’s the cup of May. May is when the kings are separated from the men.
It is the month that decides titles. It is the month that defines legends. It is the month that changes the course of fate. May is all that and more in La Liga.
For a country where football fanatic youths are on their knees with an unemployment rate exceeding 25%, no one bats an eyelid about the astonishing sums spent on transfer fees, wages and sackings that are mostly decided in the money month, May.
To borrow a term from American sports, Spain, or more specifically, management at Barcelona and Real Madrid, have become increasingly focused on ‘clutch’ time. Performing in ‘clutch’ time is now considered highly valuable by club executives as if it was a badge of honour received from service to the profession. Coaches and players in the know understand; deliver results when the time comes.
Well it is May. Time to deliver.
Last year was one of the rare occasions where the title was decided on the last day. In a dream scenario for the neutral, it was Barca who had to win at home against Atletico Madrid to clinch back-to-back titles. They drew 0-0 and the title went to the neutral’s choice, Atletico.
Barca topped the league for all but one week from August 2014 till late February 2015. Real were on top for a month. Atletico then topped the ladder throughout April and May.
Diego Simeone sured up his position as the next big thing in coaching and Diego Costa solidified a big money move to a Chelsea team crying out for a proven goal scorer. And then there is poor Monaco, who realised a €60 million transfer fee and a €280,000 weekly wage is far too much for an Atletico striker. Talk about collateral damage.
It is not just about winning every game in May. In the 2010-11 season, Barca had enjoyed an amazing 33-game unbeaten run before it stumbled 2-1 away at Real Sociedad on April 30. In May, they went unbeaten to stave off a brave finish from Real Madrid.
While having players like Messi, Iniesta and Xavi have made things much easier for Barca over the past seven years, it must be said that those players established their reputations not for unrivalled consistency. They play well, score and create moments of magic, when it matters most.
Messi and Iniesta have scored countless last minute, late season and tournament goals in World Cups, La Liga games and the Champions League. Xavi’s presence guarantees Barca and Spain have at least 65% possession, ensuring chances will come against tired defences late in games and the season. Who were their stars before then?
In the 2004-05 season where Barcelona played an astonishing 84 games, it went undefeated in May. Granted, it drew its last three games but we need to look at this with a glass half-full view rather than empty. Importantly, Barca’s two first games in May were 2-0 victories. The latter was a ‘clutch’ away win against big-time rivals Valencia.
In contrast, Madrid drew with longtime rivals Sevilla and Atletico in game 36 and 37 of the league calendar. Scoreless at home to Atletico and unable to punish Sevilla, this Madrid team was nearing the end of its Galactico era, and its focus on May was usually on the Champions League under the orders of Florentino Perez.
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The greatest finish to a La Liga season is without doubt the 2006-07 season.
Fresh off the back-to-back titles for the first time since 1997-99 and boasting the world’s best player in Ronaldinho, Barca was expected to repeat as champions and condemn Fabio Capello’s return to Real to misery.
Despite a great season, late April and early May saw losses to the Diego Milito led Zaragoza and a Robert Pires inspired Villareal, with an uninspiring 1-0 home win over Mallorca sandwiched in between. However, Barca still controlled its fate going into the final months of the season (yes! La liga finished on June 17th that year).
Throughout May and June, Madrid did not keep a single clean sheet. They scored 18 goals and conceded 14. Over the same period, Barca scored 16 and conceded just seven. Madrid dropped just one point over this period (and went flawless in May) while Barca dropped five points.
When you think about Rafael Sobis scoring the 90th minute equaliser at the Camp Nou, it makes you shiver as a Barca fan. To know that the nail in the coffin came from long-time rivals Espanyol, with legendary Espanyol striker Raul Tamudo scoring a 90th minute equaliser to make it 2-2, the pain is too great to bare.
Conversely, Madrid was 3-1 down at half time on May 12 to none other than Espanyol. They won that game 4-3.
Barcelona finished even on points with Madrid that year but lost on a head-to-head basis. The 2006-07 season may have finished in June, but the Copa Del May had already been decided.
Twists and turns are aplenty, and you get the feeling that this May will be no exception – enjoy the ride.
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