It’s over. La Liga is done. Barcelona are champions. Wait, what? You mean the title isn’t decided yet? Welcome to another edition of the Liga roundup. Let’s recap the show.
Real Soceidad 4 – Real Madrid 2: Carlo Ancelotti is finding out that you can’t win games without a proper defensive midfielder (unless you’re Liverpool and are playing Spurs). After taking the lead 5 minutes into the game with a Sergio Ramos header off the Kroos corner, Gareth Bale doubled Los Blancos’ lead 10 minutes into the game. No Ronaldo, no problem, right?
Well, not quite. While Real’s first thirty minutes were fantastic, they imploded spectacularly in the remaining hour. Goals from Inigo Martinez, Zurutuza, and Carlos Vela made Real Madrid really miss Alonso and Di Maria. “We had a negative approach in every aspect of our game. We can’t continue to play like this,” said Iker Casillas.
Valencia 3 – Malaga 0: Malaga were doing great until midfielder Sergio Darder was sent off in the 27th minute for doing something Xabi Alonso got away with for years. Valencia took full advantage of that, scoring in the 31st minute.Dani Parejo doubled the lead for the home team when he converted the rebound off his missed penalty, and then Pablo Piatti did this:
Barcelona 1 – Villareal 0: Luis Enrique’s men went to the Madrigal in their first test of the new season. Barcelona created plenty but couldn’t score until the 82nd minute, when Barca B’s Sandro Ramirez slotted in a Leo Messi pass. Barcelona also attempted 40 crosses, presumably because Dani Alves thinks Messi grew over the summer.
Atletico Madrid 2 – Eibar 1: The champions ruined Eibar’s perfect record in the top division of Spanish football. Brazilian defender Miranda scored in the 11th minute, while Diego Costa replacement Mario Mandzukic also got his first La Liga goal for Atletico. Minero Fernandes pulled one back in the 33rd minute and Eibar could have snatched a point in the dying minutes but for a timely intervention from goalkeeper Miguel Moya to deny Angel Rodriguez.
Other Scores: Getafe 1 – Almeria 0; Athletic Bilbao 3 – Levante 0; Cordoba 1 – Celta Vigo 1; Sevilla 2 – Espanyol 1; Deportivo 2 – Rayo Vallecano 2; Elche 1 – Grenada 1.
Now here’s Iker Casillas, disgusted with life and everything in general.