Round Eight in LaLiga is now complete so let’s look back at all the action from the weekend.
By Ben Hayward, LaLiga expert
Real Madrid finally keep a clean sheet
Prior to Saturday’s game against Getafe, Real Madrid had conceded a goal in every one of their seven LaLiga matches this season. But at the eighth time of asking, Los Blancos were finally able to keep a clean sheet and that meant a return to winning ways following the 1-1 draw at home to Osasuna the previous weekend. Éder Militão’s towering near-post header from a Luka Modrić corner inside three minutes proved to be the winner for the champions at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez and saw Carlo Ancelotti’s side move provisionally top of the table on Saturday night, before being overtaken by Barcelona on Sunday.
“I think the team played well and we saw many good things in the match,” Ancelotti said. “We could have scored more goals and we kept a clean sheet. Last season we lost here and this year we were much more solid, especially in the aerial duels.”
It was also a first clean sheet as a Madrid player for goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who is standing in for the injured Thibaut Courtois, and the Ukrainian made a good save from Getafe midfielder Carles Aleñá.
Madrid face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday before turning their attentions to the Clásico clash at home to Barcelona next Sunday.
Ancelotti said El Clásico was “still some way off”, but hinted at more rotations in midweek after resting Karim Benzema and Ferland Mendy against Getafe and leaving Toni Kroos on the bench for the entire 90 minutes.
“On Tuesday, the players who are tired won’t play,” he said.
Courtois, meanwhile, is considered a big doubt for the game against Barça.
Seven in a row for Barcelona
Barcelona were not at their best either, but Xavi’s side overcame Celta Vigo by the same scoreline at Camp Nou to make it seven wins in a row in LaLiga since their 0-0 draw at home to Rayo Vallecano on the opening weekend of the season. Pedri scored the only goal of the game, slotting in from close range after Unai Núñez blocked Gavi’s cross into his path in the first half. The Blaugrana missed further chances to extend their lead and had goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to thank for a superb save late on from Iago Aspas.
Ter Stegen has conceded only one goal in LaLiga this season, saving an impressive 19 out of 20 shots faced. “He’s at an extraordinary level,” Xavi said.
Barça, though, are not. “A few weeks ago we were flying and now we aren’t,” the coach added. “We have to improve.”
While it may not have been their most polished performance, the win sees Barcelona head into El Clásico on top of LaLiga thanks to their superior goal difference over rivals Real Madrid.
“El Clásico is unpredictable,” Xavi said. “Last year we [had recently] arrived and it finished 4-0 [to Barça]… you never know, but we will go there to compete and to show our personality.”
Before that, Barcelona host Inter in a crunch Champions League clash on Wednesday. “I’m preparing for that match [first],” Xavi said.
And it is an important one too, following back-to-back defeats in Europe. El Clásico can wait, for now at least.
Atlético back in the top four
Atlético Madrid returned to the top four following a 2-1 win at home to Girona at the Metropolitano. Ángel Correa scored both goals for the Rojiblancos, poking home the first at the far post following an Antoine Griezmann cross and later pouncing on a calamitous error from Girona goalkeeper Juan Carlos to make it 2-0. A deflected strike from Rodrigo Riquleme, who came through the youth system at Atleti, brought the Catalans back into it and Aleix García’s long-range effort was pushed against the post by Jan Oblak in a nervy finale.
The win moves Atlético back into the top four and with Griezmann’s return from Barcelona now negotiated and confirmed, there is no need to keep the French forward on the bench until the final half an hour any more.
“There are moments when you have to win and today we had to win,” Simeone said. “We played the first 60 to 70 minutes as we wanted, but the end wasn’t as we had hoped. The boys want to do well and are giving everything. We need the fans and all of the players.”
Correa is one of those. The Argentine was making only his second start in LaLiga this season and added two goals to the one he netted in the 4-1 win over Celta Vigo in early September. “We are happy for him because he is all heart,” Simeone said. “He doesn’t always start, but he plays regularly. He can get angry for not playing, but he has to show his quality on the pitch.”
He did that and will be in Simeone’s thoughts for the coming games, the first of which is against Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Athletic stay third as Sevilla start a new era
Following the dismissal of Julen Lopetegui, Sevilla started a new era under the returning Jorge Sampaoli on Saturday and the Argentine’s second spell in charge got off to the perfect start at the Sánchez Pizjuán as Oliver Torres opened the scoring after just four minutes. But Mikel Vesga’s long-range effort levelled the scores after 73 minutes and there was controversy at the end as Ander Herrera prevented an almost certain goal in added time by fouling Erik Lamela as the Argentine prepared to shoot from the edge of the box, with the net at his mercy and goalkeeper Unai Simón out of position.
Athletic’s fans applauded Herrera, back on loan from PSG, as he was shown the red card. The midfielder saved his side from defeat and the Basques stay third in the table after a game they could have won and then nearly lost. “It was an intense match,” Valverde said. “When the coach has the feeling that his team should have won the three points, it means you have played a good game.”
Sevilla, meanwhile, remain a work in progress. “We suffered in the second half,” Sampaoli said. “This team runs a lot and that’s a sign that we need to play better with the ball.” His team are down in 18th, but should start climbing the table soon.
Elsewhere, Real Betis drop to fifth after a disappointing draw at Real Valladolid, Real Sociedad are up to fifth thanks to a 1-0 win at home to Villarreal (now down to ninth) and Valencia continue their improvement under Gennaro Gattuso. They are seventh after beating Osasuna 2-1 and Justin Kluivert (son of Patrick) scored his first goal for the club since signing on loan from Roma.
(Images from IMAGO)
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