Changes will only happen with the clubs on second and third positions exclusive the first position. Real Madrid was able to manage with their poor form initially in Laliga, and they're still first on the table. Compared to now that Real Madrid is getting more stonger, and you expect that Atletico Madrid or Barcelona will dethrone them from the first position, I doubt it.
Though there's a whole lot of improvement in the Real Madrid team no doubt but changes are bound to occur at anytime which I believe you can still agree with me on that, though Realmadrid are always very strong when the come to this kind of position and I won't be surprised if they continue being at the top till the end of the season, so to an extent i agree with you on what you've said already, Barcelona alowed things to be like this for them if not we would've been talking about next season, there inconsistency made them not to be at the top of the league again and surprisingly Real Madrid climbed up the podium, as it stands 7 points is not a joke, though in the game of soccer result can change in just a seconds but i don't think such will happen in this case though time will tell.
As you said, time will tell. I just want to be fair, not because I am a Barcelona supporter. 17 remaining matches are not a short time, anything can happen and it is no exception if Barcelona has to experience defeat again in the upcoming matches. that does not rule out the possibility, even for the team that is currently at the top of the standings. doubt is a natural thing, because after all it has not happened. Barcelona and Atletico can focus on their domestic league scene at this time, but Real Madrid must focus on the Champions League play-offs. their match schedule is slightly more than these two teams, it could have an impact on their fitness and performance to go through the next matches. but the fact is that for now Real Madrid is at the top of the La Liga standings, 7 points ahead of Barca and 4 points ahead of their city rivals. it is not easy to overtake them, especially if Real Madrid is getting better when playing every match with their best performance. but we'll just have to see, what will La Liga present with its excitement until the end of the season.