Although Ronaldo's numbers can't be questioned and he has netted 18 league goals this season, the fact is that of the 12 games he has missed this season, Real Madrid have won 11 and drawn 1. All of their defeats have come when the Portuguese ace has been in the starting 11.

Of course Ronaldo will play in the big games, but given the numbers and the fact that his replacements, Asensio and Lucas Vazquez are more mobile and pressure their rivals higher up the field, the question of how vital Ronaldo actually is for Madrid to play well has to be raised.

3) Sporting look doomed

Sunday's game in the El Molinon Stadium between Sporting Gijon and Deportivo la Coruna was a six-point clash between two candidates for relegation with Deportivo la Coruna travelling across the north without an away win all season. In the end a Pedro Mosquera gave Deportivo all three points against a Sporting side that worked hard, but seem almost totally incapable of creating clear cut chances.

The defeat leaves Sporting with 17 points from 26 games with seven of those points coming in the first four matches of the season, but it is not just the lack of points which points to their almost certain relegation, it is their lack of football. They need a miracle to survive.

4) "Complete player" Griezmann is on fire

Antoine Griezmann celebrated his 100th appearance for Atletico Madrid in fine style on Sunday afternoon with a brace of goals to take his total to 12 for the season in the Liga Santander.

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