Results in La Liga continued to raise a few eyebrows this last weekend, as the season took another surprising turn, much to the enjoyment of most non-Barca and Real fans...
It all began on Saturday, as newly promoted Real Sociedad enjoyed a narrow victory at home to Espanyol. Going into the game, Sociedad were unbeaten at home, whilst Espanyol’s away record read: played two, lost two. Yet despite this, the game remained goalless until five minutes from time, when Argentine defender Juan Forlin put the ball into his own net and gave Sociedad a 1-0 win.
Elsewhere, Real Zaragoza entertained Sporting Gijon at La Romareda. Going into the game, the home side had yet to win in the league and it looked set to stay that way, as Sporting Gijon took the lead on 33 minutes with yet another unfortunate own goal in Spain, this time from Serbian defender Ivan Obradovic. Things got even worse after half time, with former Chelsea midfielder Jiri Jarosik receiving a red card on 47 minutes for a challenge in the area which then saw Gijon’s Diego Castro step up to score the resultant penalty kick.
But then out of nowhere, two goals in four minutes from forgotten Liverpool man Sinama Pongolle rescued an unlikely point for the home side, which may have felt like a win for their loyal supporters in attendance.
Perhaps most pleasing, from a neutrals perspective, was the match between Valencia and Athletic Bilbao at the Mestalla.
Following their wasteful display in the defeat to Manchester United on Wednesday, questions were raised as to whether the loss could spell the end of the home side’s positive start to the campaign. Fortunately, new striker Aduriz was on hand to settle nerves early in the 11th minute, in what was a goal of some poignancy, with the striker having moved from his beloved Bilbao in the summer.
The game stayed this way until second half stoppage time after firstly a goal from Valencia’s talented yet injury prone Vicente and then a consolation from Bilbao’s Gabilondo.
This unusually meant that neither Barcelona nor Real Madrid would be top regardless of Sunday’s results. And by the close of the weekend's play they would not even command second place between them!
It was worse news for Barcelona who enjoyed another disappointing home result, this time with a 1-1 draw against Real Mallorca.
It was Barca who took the lead through Lionel Messi on 21 minutes. However, to their shock and everyone else’s at home, Mallorca showed just why they had held Madrid in week one, and equalised through Nsue just before half time.
The second half was quite literally a battle for the Mallorca team, with 5 yellow cards shown in the half. And worse for the Catalans, whilst Barcelona were toiling at home, Real were enjoying their most free flowing performance of the season yet.
It helped that they were up against a Deportivo La Coruna team currently lying bottom of the league. By half time Real were 3 – 0 up thanks to Ronaldo, Ozil and Di Maria. The second half saw Ronaldo complete a brace, as well as Higuain getting involved and another own goal which made it six, the away side meanwhile scored a consolation goal through Juan Rodriguez.
With Deportivo roundly criticised for their continuingly negative tactics, there could be trouble ahead for the once glorious club.
Meanwhile, it was Deportivo’s forgotten hero Sergio Gonzalez that came to the rescue for new club Levante. Two weeks ago, he had scored the winner against Almeria but on this occasion he provided an equaliser to cancel out Pandiani’s 72nd minute opener, as Osasuna drew 1-1 with Levante.
Malaga also continued to pick up points away from home, as they drew at Almeria. The away side even took the lead through former Arsenal player Quincy Owusu Abeyie in the 50th minute before African star Uche equalised for the home side.
The win meant that Malaga drew level with newly promoted Hercules, as the latter endured a difficult away defeat to the forgotten team of Madrid, Getafe. With the home side having played in the Europa League this week, there was reason for Hercules to be hopeful going into the game. After all, they had beaten Barcelona previously.
Yet by half time goals from Parejo and Manu put Getafe in charge and it never looked like changing. The final ten minutes saw Miku add a third before Hercules were reduced to ten men as Aguilar saw red in the final minute of the game.
The stand out game of the weekend saw two Champions league qualification hopefuls’ battle it out as Sevilla took on Athletico Madrid.
Up until Athletico’s defeat to Barcelona a few weeks ago, there had been a new sense of optimism at the club, following their success in Europe. However this looks to have taken a hit in recent times and Sunday proved no exception, as a dominant Sevilla team controlled the game.
Goals from Negredo and Perotti in the first half set them on their way, before veteran legend Fredi Kanoute added a third. By the time Diego Costa had pulled one back for the away side, the game was all but over. The coming weeks could be key for the Madrid side, if they are to reverse the kind of freefall that has accompanied Athletico through the last couple of seasons.
One team that is certainly in the ascendancy is Villarreal. Sunday’s 2-0 win at Racing Santander saw the Yellow submarines leap frog Barcelona and Real Madrid, to occupy second place in the table which is just one point behind Valencia. The home side were two goals up within fifteen minutes as the Brazilian Nilmar and then Giuseppe Rossi scored to make it nine goals in just six games for the strike duo.
It may still be early days for the likes of Valencia and Villarreal, but La Liga may just prove to be anything but a two horse race if it carries on like this.