La Liga Review

Monday, 12/12/2011

by Ash Dye

Real Madrid 1 Barcelona 3
El Clasico was another entertaining encounter which provided more controversial talking points, as well as ensuring Barcelona remain the team to beat in all formats of the game. Madrid took the lead after just 23 seconds when Karim Benzema nodded home after Barca keeper Victor Valdes gave the ball away cheaply.

Cristiano Ronaldo suffered a poor day in front of goal, to top off another below par display for the Portugual superstar against the World’s best. His critics will be enjoying his display this week, as he fails to shrug off the claim that he cannot produce the goods on the biggest occasion on a regular basis.

On the flip side, Lionel Messi had another awesome display, but was deemed lucky to stay on the field following a rash challenge on Xabi Alonso after 44 minutes, but the referee decided aginst showing him a second yellow card.

That incident came after Barca had equalised through summer recruit Alexis Sanchez. Sanchez was given the nod over Pedro and David Villa and proved why Pep Guardiola paid out £23m for his services in July.

Messi’s stunning run from inside his own half, taking four Madrid players out of the game, opened up the space for the little Argentine to find Sanchez, who broke free and smashed home the equaliser from 18 yards.

Barca’s second came eight minutes into the second period. Catalan legend Xavi, making his 600th appearance for his boyhood team, struck beautifully from 30 yards and saw his effort deflect off Marcelo and bobbled past wrong footed Iker Casillas to give the reigning Champions a deserved lead.

Ronaldo fuelled his critics' words on 65 minutes when he failed to hit the target with a free header from just six yards. A superb inswinging cross from Xabi Alonso was met by the former World Player of the Year but the world were left open mouthed when he saw the ball bounce wide of the far post. This proved to be a devastating miss for Los Blancos.

Just 68 seconds later  Barca stretched their lead to 3-1 through former Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas. Fabregas, playing in his first league El Clasico, headed in at the back post after some brilliant build up play from Andres Iniesta and Messi. Mwessi found Dani Alves down the right flank and his cross was nodded home to send the 500 strong Barca away travelling into raptures.

Barca moved to top of the league, and despite Real Madrid having a game in hand against their fierce rivals, Barcelona now have the momentum and this defeat, Madrid’s fourth Clasico defeat in eight games under Mourinho, has shifted the power back into Barca’s favour.

Athletic Bilbao 1 Racing Santander 1
A 90th minute equaliser from Alvaro Gonzalez rescued a point for Racing after defender Jon Aurtenetxe had given Bilbao an 80th minute lead. The draw leaves Bilbao in ninth while Racing slipped one place to 19th. Spectators witnessed another impressive display from Ander Herrera in Athletic’s midfield. The 22-year-old, dubbed the new Xabi Alonso, has been linked with a move to Arsenal and Liverpool in recent weeks.

Espanyol 4 Atletico Madrid 2
With their major rivals playing out the more famous Madrid v Barcelona fixture, these two teams would of been excused had this not been the most entertaining game of the weekend in La Liga. But the ‘other’ teams from Spain’s major cities provided an excellent spectacle for the viewing public. Espanyol found themselves 3-0 up inside 19 minutes at the Estadi Cornella-El ****, with a brace from Joan Verdu and a super finish from Ivorian Romaric. Atletico pulled a goal back before the interval when £35m forward Falcao scored his tenth league goal of the season. Sergio Garcia made it 4-1 on 54 minutes before Arda Turan scored a late consolation.

Getafe 1 Granada 0
Getafe moved above their opponents following sub Javier Casquero’s strike from outside the box. His 78th minute strike was the least Getafe deserved after dominating the fixture.

Levante 1 Sevilla 0
Levante moved five points clear of Sevilla in their push for European football next season, and continued to show they are genuine contenders for Champions League football. Levante surprised the world when they topped La Liga in October but results such as Saturday’s win over European competition regulars Sevilla shows their true strength this season. Defender Nano, 31, scored the game’s only goal in the 57th minute, pushing Levante to within one point of third placed Valencia.

Malaga 1 Osasuna 1
Big spenders Malaga shared the spoils with Osasuna in front of 22,000 at La Rosaleda. Malaga had to come from one down following Ibrahima Balde’s 33rd minute opener. Substitute Juanmi scored the equaliser with his first of the season.

Real Betis 2 Valencia 1
Betis scored two injury time goals to snatch the points from third placed Valencia in a thrilling encounter at the Estadio Benito Villamarin. Valencia looked to be taking home the points after taking the lead in the 66 minute when Betis’ Chechu Dorado put the ball in his own net. But a late onslaught from Los VerdiBlancos saw the Betis faithful burst into excitement, and this played a huge role in the turnaround late on. Rubin Castro equalised in the 91st minute when he nodded home from close range, and Castro was booked for his excessive celebrating when he removed his shirt, but this was nothing compared to the scenes just four minutes later. Castro was put through brilliantly by Juanma, and the former Deportivo man scored his fifth goal of the season to spark wild scenes for the remaining VerdiBlancos fans.

Real Vallecano 1 Sporting Gijon 3
Sporting grabbed their second win in four matches with a comfortable victory at the Teresa Rivero, and dragged Vallecano deeper into the relegation battle. David Barral’s strike and a brace from former Rangers striker Nacho Novo ensured Gijon walked away victorious, with Michu scoring a 90th minute consolation.

Real Zaragoza 0 Mallorca 1
Mallorca moved three points and seven places clear of the drop zone with a hard fought victory against Blanquillos. Long serving striker Victor scored the game’s only goal six minutes before the interval following good work from Pablo Cendros.

Villarreal 1 Real Sociedad 1
Villarreal’s woes continued after their failure to defeat ten man Sociedad slipped them to just one place above the drop zone. The yellows are now out of the feared relegation places only on goal difference, and a change in form is needed as soon as possible if the club are to return to European football next season. Mikel Aranburu gave Sociedad the lead on 52 minutes, but ten minutes later Gorka Elustondo was sent off for two bookable offences. This should of seen Villareal push for the win, but they had only three attempts at goal for the remainder of the game. One of them, a Marco Ruben effort, found its way in but another below par performance has dragged Villarreal into an early season relegation battle.

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