La Liga Round 7 : El Clasico

Hola everyone!!

I really hope you are all keeping well and welcome back to another update in yet another terrific week of Spanish football. The talking point was always going to be between Spain’s two most successful clubs so that will be a bigger report as it was a terrific game between the two old rivals.

However there were plenty of other games to talk about including high flying Malaga met my outside hopes for the title Atletico Madrid and a Valencian derby to look back through. Can Espanyol win there first game of the season and which Bilbao side will will see!

So lets go back through starting with a little game between Barcelona and Real Madrid. ;)

(1st) Barcelona 2 — 2 Real Madrid (5th) — El Clasico

Sorry but as a Barca fan and one of the biggest games in the world it made sense to report on that first! Hard for me to remain neutral when writing a report like this so forgive anyone sided comments you may read am trying to be as impartial as possible!

The Barca team had been weakened with the losses of first choice defensive pairing of Puyol and Pique and another year of not signing a proper central defender looks like it could cost Barcelona again as Adriano was drafted in to play alongside Mascherano as the back.  Madrid had no such problems fielding a full strength team and the stage was set for a terrific battle between two teams, Barca were already eight points clear of their Madrid rivals so was this already make or break for Jose Mourinho?

Barca’s make shift back line struggled at first as Angel di Maria forced an early chance but his shot went high and wide, Ronaldo fired wide next before a corner was also headed wide after a free header as Real started the better. Iniesta with Barca’s best early chance but his shot also went high and wide until the goal arrived from Ronaldo. More poor defending allowed Benzema to find Ronaldo who fired low into the near post past Victor Valdes a deserved lead you would have to say.

They should have doubled the lead but Benzema could only hit the post when it looked easier to score and were made to pay when Pedro’s cross was badly dealt with allowing Lionel Messi to finish and as such level the scores. The second half began and it was all Barcelona as the game turned completely around and a sublime free kick from Messi put the home side into the lead with just over an hour gone. But Barca’s make shift defence were caught just five minutes later when Ozil found Ronaldo to square the game.

Both teams had chances to win it, the best falling to full back Martin Montoya as the Barca player saw his terrific strike come back off against the bar so the scoreline ended a draw but the real winner was football, Barca remain eight points clear and both teams will feel a point each was a pretty fair reflection.

Goals : Messi 31′, 61′ — Ronaldo 23′, 66′

Ana’s Man of the Match (Not biased so took the easy way out!) : Lionel Messi & Cristiano Ronaldo, two goals each from the two best players in the world.

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(12th) Celta Vigo 2 — 0 Sevilla (7th)

Dont leave just yet! Still a few more games to go starting with Celta and a terrific victory over Sevilla and it was a poor away display as Celta claimed all three points. They opened the scoring from the penalty spot when Iago Aspas held his nerve to score following a handball offense and Enrique de Lucas glanced a header with only five minutes remaining a fine victory for Celta.

Goals : Aspas 60′, de Lucas 85′

Ana’s Man of the Match : Augusto Fernandez (Celta Vigo)

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(10th) Rayo Vallecano 2 — 1 Deportivo (18th)

Depor’s fine start has turned into a poor run after losing away at Rayo, the home side deservedly took the lead on 18 minutes when Depor failed to deal with a cross and the ball fell for Piti to finish from close range. The home side doubled their advantage with a slight deflection allowing Jose Carlos to put Rayo into a commanding lead, Deportivo were given a way back into the match through a penalty that was scored but they couldn’t find another as Rayo held on for the three points.

Goals : Piti 18′, Jose Carlos 29′ — Pizzi 41′

Ana’s Man of the Match : Piti (Rayo)

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(17th) Real Zaragoza 0 -1 Getafe (9th)

Red cards a plenty as  total of three players were sent off in a bad tempered clash, Romaric the first to go after only nine minutes but the home side survived well enough until half time. On the stroke of 62 minutes and Zaragoza were down to nine men when Gonzalez was also sent off and worse still as Getafe were awarded  penalty allowing Castro to score the winner. Getafe themselves finished with ten players when Barrada was also red carded in a feisty affair but a good result for an improving Getafe.

Goals : Romaric S/O 9, Gonzalez S/O 62 — Castro 64, Barrada S/O 84

Ana’s Man of the match : Angel Lafita (Getafe)

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(8th) Real Valladolid 1 — 1 Espanyol (20th)

Espanyol remain win less after an away draw at Valladolid, they didn’t help themselves when Alvarez was sent off but they did take the lead when a generous penalty was awarded allowing Verdu to score. But they lost that lead ten minutes later when Oscar bundled the ball in form a corner which was poorly dealt with as Valladoid continue their fine start and Espanyol remain at the foot of the table.

Goals : Oscar 81′ — Verdu 70′, Alvarez S/O 45

Ana’s Man of the match : Oscar ( Valladolid)

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(4th) Real Betis 2 — 0 Real Sociedad (13th)

Betis are another surprise team who have started really well, and that good run continued with a comfortable home victory over Sociedad. Paulao opened the scoring from a header following a corner kick and that lead was doubled thanks to another set piece this time a free kick out wide was headed in by Ruben Castro as Betis looked quite comfortable. They did have Mario sent off late on but that win pushed them into fourth place and so far well deserved.

Goals : Palao 18′, Castro 81′, Mario S/O 88

Ana’s Man of the Match : Benat (Real Betis)

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(11th) Levante 1 — 0 Valencia (14th)

Valencia’s in different start continued as they lost the Valencian derby to a hard working Levante. Obafemi Martins struck the only goal when he was played clear through and showed good pace and power to smash in the only goal of the game the win took Levante the bragging rights if you will over their neighbors Valencia.

Goals : Martins 22′

Ana’s Man of the Match : Munua (Levante)

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(6th) Real Mallorca 1 — 2 Granada (15th)

Mallorca lost again losing two one at home to Granada, the home side and the away side were both reduced to ten me as Nsue and Brahimi were red carded before a penalty fell the way of Granada allowing el Arabi to convert and give the away side the lead. Johnny had highlighted the next player as one to watch as the Romanian Torje scored again after a fine pass from el Arabi. Mallorca did pull one back late on through Tomer Hemed but it was too late as Granada held on to claim the vital three points.

Goals : Hemed 86′, Nsue S/O 64 — el Arabi 66′, Torje 76′, Brahimi S/O 68

Ana’s Man of the Match : Youssef el Arabi (Granada)

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(16th) Athletic Bilbao 1 — 0 Osasuna (19th)

Bilbao’s inconsistent start contained after a a narrow win over fellow early struggles Osasuna, the game was won by a single goal scored by new signing Aduriz on twelve minutes in a fairly poor game. It was a much needed victory for the Basque side as Osasuna continue to struggle.

Goals : Aduriz 12′

Ana’s Man of the Match : Andres Fernandez (Osasuna)

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(2nd) Atletico Madrid 2 — 1 Malaga (3rd)

Atletico overcame their first real test of the season with a hard fought victory over high flying Malaga, the outstanding Falcao put in yet another terrific display putting the home side into the lead when he headed in from close range from an Emre cross. Malaga equalised just before half time when Santa Cruz headed in slightly against the run of play, but Malaga did improve and created a few more chances as did Atletico but a winner was found right at the end with the unfortunate Weligton turning the ball into his own net as Atletico continue to show promise this season.

Goals : Falcao 6′, Weligton O/G 90′ — Santa Cruz 36′

Ana’s Man of the Match : Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid)

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 Phew! So thats that as they say, Barca continue to lead the way but have been joined on points by Atletico Madrid with Malaga and Real Betis completing the top four. You can see the whole table here  along with all my other reports here as the first El Clasico has ended. I guess a good point each but probably better for Barcelona having an eight point lead over Real Madrid.

As always thanks so much for reading! Any comments, reactions or questions just post a comment and I will respond to it.

Am sure you are aware of the upcoming international break so its a two week rest before round eight of La Liga, cant wait! :)