With every other major trophy now assigned, or forsaken, the battle for LaLiga resumes this week with the top two -- Barcelona and Real Madrid -- refocusing through their tears, licking salt from their wounds and worrying about how to solve their deficiencies.
Each was eliminated last week at a humiliating and financially damaging stage of the UEFA Champions League. Each unforgivably lost the key home leg of their quarterfinal, and then knocked out after hauling themselves back into a position to win. Galling.
Perhaps, however, Atlético Madrid and Bayern Munich have actually handed big favors to Madrid and Barça; inflicting pain and embarrassment to leave forensically clear where their Achilles' heels are located and what needs to be solved.
- Messi bought a club in Barcelona! Get to know UE Cornellà - After Champions League defeat, can Madrid's project be salvaged? - Despite Yamal's form, Atleti dump Barça out of Champions League
There was a global chorus of praise and appreciation for Atlético's 3-2 aggregate win over Barcelona and then Bayern's thrilling 6-4 ousting of Madrid because the quality and spectacle of those matches gave rare levels of entertainment -- but you can't cash that at the bank or swap it for the trophy.
In case this recent break for Champions League and Copa del Rey football distracted you, the Spanish league restarts Tuesday with Madrid hosting Alavés and Barça facing Celta Vigo at Camp Nou the next night (stream all LaLiga matches on ESPN+ in the U.S.).