Every team in the Spanish League (La Liga) this year has to play Sevilla, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Villareal in succession. This phase of the league I call as "Tube of Hell" as these teams are the top ones in Spain and Europe/world. It can be devastating for lesser teams to play such hard games, all in a row. Also it is made more intriguing for the teams themselves from the above list, by including Valencia in the place of their own, when they pass through the "Tube of Hell".
While most teams have stuttered in this tube of hell, Barca has come out gloriously. 3-0 vs Sevilla, 4-0 vs Valencia, 2-0 vs Real Madrid and 2-1 vs Villareal.
A lot of critics were dismissing the notion that Barca is the team to beat this season, before December, citing that they haven't played any of the top teams. Now that Barca has come through the tube unscathed, no one is questioning as to who is going to lift the title.
10 points ahead at the table already, they are in for something big. Whether it will be a thing or things, May will tell. For now, the next question will be, will Real Madrid be forced to give Barca a "guard of honor" when they meet again in the Bernabeu in 2009. That will happen, if Barca goes to the capital 16 points clear. That will happen.
Forca Barca.
