Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético all won big over the weekend, while Sevilla lifted some of the pressure off coach Julen Lopetegui as they claimed their first three points of the campaign. We’ll discuss all that, and more, in their week’s round-up.
By Ben Hayward, LaLiga expert
Five on the bounce for Real Madrid
Real Madrid made it five wins out of five in LaLiga this season. Karim Benzema’s absence has so often been an issue in the past, but against Mallorca others stepped up. Fede Valverde did so spectacularly in added time at the end of the first half. The Uruguayan is an elite ball carrier, but this time rounded off his 52-metre run with a stunning strike into the top corner. It was out of nothing–and out of this world.
Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior combined to make it 2-1 to Madrid, before the former added a third with some fancy footwork in tight spaces. Antonio Rüdiger then rounded off the scoring following a set piece with his first Madrid goal in added time to complete an ultimately comprehensive victory.
In Benzema’s absence, Eden Hazard started centrally. The Belgian was replaced by Luka Modrić after 59 minutes and Madrid improved. Karim still does not have a replacement at Real, but at least others are chipping in with goals.
“The first three goals were all quality,” coach Carlo Ancelotti said afterwards. “We’re doing well. Very well. The team were able to cope with Karim’s absence. That has given us an important confidence boost. We hope he is back soon.”
He will be needed. But in the meantime, everyone is happy at Madrid. Well, almost everybody. Marco Asensio kicked a cool box and threw a bib when he was told he would not be coming on as a substitute in the second half. “I understand his anger,” Ancelotti said. “It’s fine.” It looks like the beginning of the end for Asensio, who is out of contract next summer, but Madrid are indeed looking just fine right now.
Four more for Barcelona
Another win for Barcelona and four more goals. Since their 0-0 draw at home to Rayo Vallecano on the opening weekend, Barça have scored four, four, three and four in LaLiga. This time, Cadíz were the victims and although it took a while, it was emphatic in the end. Frenkie de Jong gave Xavi’s side the lead after 55 minutes, before an exciting triple change saw Robert Lewandowski, Pedri and Ousmane Dembélé introduced. Lewandowski was soon on the scoresheet again, before setting up Ansu Fati for a third late on. And Dembélé added a fourth with the best of them all in added time.
However, there was drama at the Nuevo Mirandilla as the game was halted after 81 minutes to allow for a Cadíz fan to receive treatment for a suspected heart attack in the stands. Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo was seen praying for the supporter, while Cadíz goalkeeper Conan Ledesma brought on a defibrillator and his team-mates carried a stretcher onto the pitch. After the resumption and his goal, Ansu also put his hands together in an apologetic gesture.
“Luckily, they were able to resuscitate him,” Xavi said of the fan afterwards. “It was a very unpleasant situation. We hope he and his family are well.”
And on the win, he said: “It’s an important victory at a difficult ground. The three points mean we are up there. Everyone is doing well. We’re in a good dynamic. I’m happy with the result.”
Barça are just two points behind Madrid and have a superior goal difference. It’s close at the top.
Atlético face a fight for the top-four
Atlético Madrid’s results have been mixed so far this season, but Saturday’s 4-1 win over Celta Vigo– with Ángel Correa, Rodrigo de Paul and Yannick Carrasco on target, plus an own goal –was emphatic. As in every match this season, Antoine Griezmann was introduced after the hour mark as the Rojiblancos restrict his minutes in an attempt to avoid an obligatory payment of €40 million to Barcelona to sign the French forward. And in a dig at the press following recent criticism of his team, coach Diego Simeone said: “There are so many things we do really well, even if some people don’t see it.”
But Atlético have competition in their fight for a top-four spot. The Rojiblancos are in seventh with 10 points. Above them, Athletic Bilbao (also on 10 points) thrashed Elche 4-1 away from home and Real Betis (third, on 12 points) beat Villarreal 1-0. The goal scored by Rodri at the Benito Villamarín was the first Villarreal had conceded all season in LaLiga, but the Yellow Submarine remain fifth (also on 10 points).
For Betis, meanwhile, it was a fourth win in five fixtures and an excellent reaction after their 2-1 defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu last weekend. And it’s Osasuna who now occupy fourth following a 1-0 victory over Almería on Monday night.
Sevilla win at last
While Betis are flying, their city rivals Sevilla sealed their first win of the season– a 3-2 success away to Espanyol – and coach Julen Lopetegui will hope that result can kick-start their campaign after a miserable first few weeks. “I’m happy for the players,” Lopetegui said. “They deserved it. In football, you don’t win without suffering.” And suffer they did,as Martin Braithwaite closed the gap to a single goal after 62 minutes and Erik Lamela – who scored Sevilla’s opener – was sent off close to the end. But it was a win and Isco impressed for the Andalusians. Despite a few summer sales, plenty of quality remains and they are finally up and running.
(Images from IMAGO)
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