LaLiga wrapped up a few days earlier than most of the top leagues around Europe, completing a full mid-week round, in order to get the early stages of the Copa del Rey completed over the weekend. For all the results, click here. But for now, let’s review where we stand going in to the big midseason pause.
By Ben Hayward, LaLiga expert
Barcelona head in to the World Cup as league leaders
Barcelona head into the break for the World Cup as LaLiga leaders following an impressive comeback win with 10 men away to Osasuna last Tuesday night. Barça went behind to a David García goal from a corner inside six minutes at El Sadar and were left with a mountain to climb after Robert Lewandowski was sent off for a second bookable offence with just over half an hour gone. Gerard Piqué, on the bench for what was to be his last-ever game for the Catalan club, was then dismissed for dissent at half-time as he protested to referee Jesus Gil Manzano. But Xavi’s side secured a victory in Pamplona thanks to a Pedri goal early in the second half and a Raphinha header five minutes from time which was reminiscent of Robin van Persie’s famous goal for Netherlands against Spain at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
It was the first time Barça had ever come from a goal down at half-time away from home with 10 men to win in LaLiga and there were wild celebrations in the dressing room after the game. And at the end of the season, it could be hugely significant. “It’s a victory of courage, faith and family,” Xavi said afterwards. “We celebrated in the dressing room. I’m very proud of the team today. It’s a tremendous victory, but it’s early to say that it gives [us] a league [title].”
What it did do was send Barcelona provisionally five points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table and ensured the Blaugrana will stay there until the end of the year as LaLiga stops for the World Cup. So far, so good for Xavi’s side: 14 matches, 12 wins, one draw, one loss, 33 goals scored and five conceded. Statistically, it is the form of champions, but Real Madrid remain close and on December 31, a new league will start.
“We have improved,” Xavi said. “We came here a year ago and the team is growing. The fans want to win. We have got to the break as leaders.”
But Xavi was upset at the match officials for a number of calls which went against his side. “We feel persecuted,” he said. “The decisions were very unfair. It was all against us: the goal they scored, which was a foul, Lewandowski’s sending-off was questionable… but we have faith, character, personality. It’s a golden victory.”
Real Madrid bounce back from defeat at Rayo
Real Madrid bounced back from their 3-2 defeat at Rayo Vallecano last Monday night by beating Cadíz 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu just 72 hours later. Éder Militão’s header late in the first half and a beautiful volley by Toni Kroos with 20 minutes left looked to have wrapped up a straightforward win, but there were some nervy moments for Los Blancos towards the end as Luka Modrić missed an open goal from six yards out, Lucas Pérez levelled following a rare Thibaut Courtois mistake and Pacha Espino – who was all alone with only the Belgian to beat – headed over the top in added time.
The win was a welcome one for Madrid after the defeat at Vallecas and a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Girona prior to that. It closed the gap at the top to two points and coach Carlo Ancelotti was satisfied. “We have ended this first part of the league well and won three deserved points,” the Italian said.
And he added: “The break will be good for us. We were a bit tired towards the end and now we will have time to rest.” Madrid will also hope that Karim Benzema is back to full fitness when he returns, with the French forward having missed each of the champions’ last three LaLiga games. He has been missed too, with this game against Cadíz the only win of the three.
Benzema will be at the World Cup with France, but Kroos is sitting out Qatar 2022 and that could be a blessing for Madrid in a second half of the season sure to be conditioned by the fitness of international players following the tournament, which starts on November 20.
Vinícius Júnior, meanwhile, appeared to give an insight into his priorities – and probably those of many other players too – in making it to the World Cup without harm. “Thanks to God for another match without injury,” he tweeted after the game. “See you soon, Madridista!”
Atlético beaten again
The situation at Atlético Madrid is now worrying to say the least. After Champions League elimination and failure even to make the Europa League, plus a recent last-gasp loss to lowly Cadíz, the Rojiblancos were beaten by promoted club Mallorca on Wednesday and go into the break outside the top four positions in LaLiga.
Vedat Muriqi was left all alone after Jan Oblak had failed to deal with what looked like a fairly harmless long-range shot and the Kosovan’s strike turned out to be the winner on the island. Álvaro Morata saw an effort ruled out for a marginal offside a few minutes later and came close to a leveller right at the end, but things are just not falling for Atlético at the moment and even Diego Simeone’s position has been called into question following recent results.
“Let’s hope the players come back from the World Cup with the intention of reverting the situation,” Simeone said. “We will have more time to work now.”
Atlético have gone five games without a win in all competitions and the break is an opportunity to reset. “Great teams are the ones who can reload after bad runs,” left-back Sergio Reguilón said after finally making his Atlético debut. “We have to come back after the World Cup with our batteries charged.”
Basque clubs now third and fourth
Third and fourth are up for grabs in LaLiga this season as a number of clubs jostle for positions behind Barcelona and Real Madrid. And with Atlético dropping down to fifth, the two remaining Champions League spots are filled by the Basque clubs.
Real Sociedad climb to third following a 2-1 win at struggling Sevilla, although their case was helped considerably as both Ivan Rakitić and Tanguy Nianzou were sent off for the Andalusians in the first half. Imanol Alguacil’s side missed a number of good chances to win the game by a bigger margin and the coach said: “I’d like to have won 4-1, but we have 26 points from 14 games and we could have even more.”
Two points behind Real Sociedad are Athletic Club. Ernesto Valverde’s side cruised to a 3-0 win over Valladolid at San Mames as Gorka Guruzeta marked his first LaLiga start of the season with two goals. “We’re doing a lot of things well and we’re strong at San Mames,” Valverde said. “We have to be stronger away from home.” The victory saw Athletic leapfrog both Atletico and Real Betis, who went down to 10 men after an hour and subsequently lost 3-0 to Valencia at Mestalla.
The race for the European places is wide open, though, with only five points separating fourth (Athletic) and 11th (Mallorca) with 14 rounds of LaLiga completed. Valencia (10th) are in that group just behind Villarreal (ninth), with the Yellow Submarine finally able to secure a win under Quique Setien as they beat Espanyol 1-0 in Barcelona.
At the bottom, meanwhile, Elche look doomed already with just four points after defeat to Girona. Cadíz, with 11 points, are in 19th following their narrow loss in Madrid. Sevilla sit above them in 18th on goal difference alone and will need to make their quality count in the second part of the season.
(Images from IMAGO)
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