Just like Diego Simeone, the roundup is back after an extended break. Don’t blame us, though. Blame the wonky schedule. There were a lot of games played over the last two weeks. Here are some of the highlights:

Atletico Madrid 4 – Sevilla 0: Los Colchoneros welcomed their manager back in style with a 4-0 demolition of previously unbeaten Sevilla. The Rojiblancos were sharper than weeks past, their intensity no doubt invigorated by the presence of El Cholo on the sideline. Goals from Koke, Saul and Raul’s Garcia and Jiminez were more than enough to show exactly how good Atleti are with their manager in tow. Even more so, this destruction showed how much fun the reigning champions are when Simeone isn’t watching the game from the stands like a caged beast. Welcome back, Diego. We missed you. 

Real Madrid 5 – Elche 1: This wasn’t even Real Madrid’s best performance these last few weeks (more on that one later). However, it was Cristiano Ronaldo’s, who scored 4 of Madrid’s five goals. Ronaldo has now scored 10 in six games, which is the most impressive goal tally since 1954.

Real’s offensive onslaught is spearheaded by the much maligned Karim Benzema, who despite screams to the contrary is actually pretty good. How good? The Frenchman leads Real Madrid with 5 assists.

Barcelona 6 – Grenada 0: Fresh off dropping their first points last Wednesday against Malaga, Barcelona welcomed Grenada to the Camp Nou with Lionel Messi needing one goal to net his 400th in all competitions. So what does the talismanic playmaker proceed to do? Why assist, of course. Messi registered two assists before getting on the scoresheet himself with a gorgeous play that ended with him heading into the net. Lio wasn’t done, though, as he scored another and assisted Neymar on his hat trick. That makes it six goals for Neymar, with five assisted by Messi, while Lio has five goals and eight assists in all competitions. His assist total is the highest in Europe.

Valencia 1 – Real Soceidad 1: This was the best game in La Liga last week, from a neutral’s perspective. Both teams played great attacking football, with Soceidad especially frustrating in front of goal. Carlos Vela and Sergio Canales repeatedly broke through their markers only to be thwarted by a combination of Diego Alves (who is probably insane) and their own indecision. Valencia probably came into the Anoeta seeking a solitary point, and they got it early with a Carles Gil shot off a glorious Paco Alcacer headed assist (How long before Europe’s big clubs come calling?), while La Real equalized after Sergio Canales’s cross confused everyone in the area and reached the back of the net. Valencia is still without Alvaro Negredo, who is set to make his debut next week against Cholo Simeone and Atletico.

Deportivo La Curoña 0 – Almeria 1: Well, it looks like the Super Depor teams of old won’t be showing up this season. Fresh off of an 8-2 drubbing by Real Madrid last weekend and a loss to Celta Vigo in midweek, La Curoña dropped their third game in a row, falling in the last minute of injury time to Almeria. Adding to their misfortune, the team also lost striker Helder Postiga and winger Isaac Cuenca to extended injury breaks. It’s too early, admittedly, but it looks like Deportivo La Curoña won’t be in the top flight much longer.

After this week’s action, here’s how La Liga looks: