La Liga Lowdown - Round 19

Due to other commitments I wasn’t able to watch any live La Liga games last week, and only saw scattered highlights. What did I miss? Nothing much. Again Villarreal tried to scare one of the big boys but was undone in the second half; FCB rolled; Atletico completely collapsed against Hercules; Valencia squeezed out a win to stay in the Champion League spots.

The real drama has been in the Copa del Rey, with the Special One raising the intensity. The competition has been highly competitive, with several tension filled ties (Depor scoring late to force extra time and winning; Villarreal coming from 2-0 down to win 4-2; FCB going through on away goals) and lots of goals (Sevilla winning 8-3 on aggregate against Malaga and Almeria winning 8-6 on aggregate against Mallorca).

This past week saw an amazing game between Villarreal and Sevilla, with the Rojiblancos coming back from 3-1 to equalize late and go back to Seville with 3 away goals. FCB cruised to a 5-0 victory, with Messi celebrating his Ballon D’Or with a hat trick. Almeria will go to Depor with a 1-0 lead and could yet make the semis. Atletico, true to form, caved against Real and lost 3-1. After going up 1-0, it was one way traffic and Los Merengues inch closer to an epic Final against the Blaugrana.

Saturday’s Games

Getafe 0 - 4 Real Sociedad

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/getafe-real-sociedad-8182913/

I don’t claim to be a Spanish football expert or historian, but how can the Sociedad’s away kit be green? Moving on . . .

Getafe were absolutely overrun at home in this mid-table clash. A PK after only 10’ was converted by Priesto, and after that it was one way traffic. Sociedad’s finishes were of real quality and they are now 11^th, only two points away from their hosts who sit in 9^th. Getafe’s season might be slipping away from them. Knocked out of the cup by Betis, they have Espanyol at home next week, in which they won’t be favored. Laudrup’s men will need to regroup to stay in European contention.

Real Zaragoza 1 - 0 Levante

Zaragoza came away with three vital points in this relegation battle. A goal from Gabi on the stroke of half time got them off the foot of the table for at least a week and continued Levante’s shame spiral (getting crushed by Real in the cup, losing away to FCB, and losing last week to Valencia at the death).

Sporting Gijon 2 - 0 Hercules

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/sporting-hercules-8183475/

Hercules were not able to follow up on their emphatic victory on Monday against Atletico Madrid. Barral burst their bubble after only 24 seconds and sent the hosts on their way to three points in their fight to avoid relegation. Cases added a second on the half hour mark with a well placed, swerving shot.

On a side note, Drenthe made it back on the field for about 30 minutes. I am still unsure of his payment/strike status, but hopefully he can come back and make an impact.

Villarreal 4 - 2 Osasuna

http://jogabonito.co/video/villarreal-vs-osasuna-42

The Yellow Submarine continued to hold on to third (aka first place for the rest of Spanish football). Valero set up Reuben who continued his rich vein of form in the place of the injured Nilmar. Osasuna equalized right after the restart through Vadocz but were stunned by a goal from Cani a la Beckham v Wimbledon: http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/dirty-tackle/post/Villarreal-s-Cani-scores-a-fantastic-goal-from-t?urn=sow-308055. From there Villarreal took it home with goals off corner kicks from Capdevila and Gonzalo with only a reply from Calleja.

Looks like Villarreal got some quality minutes from their squad players (Mario and Matilla), so we’ll see how they get on against Sevilla in midweek. I checked in at villarrealusa.org and Allen had this to say

Matilla: played on the B team (I believe originally signed from Albacete), had some limited playing time last year. Typically he’s played more on the wing than in the center of midfield I think. In general people here have been thinking he deserves more playing time–it seems as though he didn’t work as hard in training as Garrido thought he should but Garrido made a statement recently that indicated he thought that problem had been addressed.

Martinez-you mean Mario, the right back? He’s another guy who played for Garrido in the B squad and has made the jump this year. Has good speed,offers some attacking support and I thought he did pretty well today though Calleja ran past him for their second goal

Obligatory Jozy Update: on the substitutes bench; DNP

Athletic Bilbao 2 - 1 Racing Santander

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/athletic-bilbao-racing-santander-8184490/

Bilbao’s home form continued with a win over Racing. An early header from Javi Martinez sent them on their way. Muniain doubled the lead just minutes later with a thunderous finish after great service from Toquero. Racing slowly got into the game and Los Leones hit the woodwork several times trying to put the game away. Racing finally scored with 16’ to go but were unable to find the equalizer, plus Munitis got sent off at the death.

Sevilla FC 1 - 2 Espanyol

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/sevilla-espanyol-8187345/

Espanyol stopped the bleeding for at least one match and tightened their grip on fifth place with an away win. Kameni was called into action several times in the first half, but it was Espanyol who scored first with a goal that looked offside from Callejon. He struck again in the second half, finishing off a pass from Luis Garcia with 10’ to go. Negredo pulled one back at the death but Sevilla’s league campaign continues to underwhelm.

Sunday’s Games

Valencia 2 - 0 Deportivo La Coruña

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/valencia-deportivo-8194365/

Los Che kept up their challenge on Villarreal with a two late goals against Super Depor. Mathieu scored from a sharp angle and then Pablo sealed the points in stoppage time.

Almeria 1 - 1 Real Madrid

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/almeria-real-madrid-la-liga-jan-2011-8193685/

As Sid Lowe says, “Draws are the new losses for Real Madrid and Barcelona.” Almeria, the team that lost 8-0 to FCB, struck on the hour through Leonardo Ulloa to take a shock lead. Granero grabbed the equalizer on 77’ and CR7 hit the crossbar at the death to almost save Real’s blushes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0bc5A4IBK4).

Benzema didn’t start and came on for Kaka 10’ into the second half. Say what you want about Benzema’s goal return, but he sure sets up a lot of goals. Also Pepe and Carvalho did not start.

The highlight package also includes the Special One in a snood and a fat kid in a Real Madrid jersey giving it to the home fans.

Barcelona 4 - 1 Málaga

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/barcelona-malaga-la-liga-jan-2011-8194438/

On Sunday I went to my local pub to watch FCB versus Malaga. I wanted to see how the revamped Malaga team looked. In case you hadn’t heard, the side, fueled by Qatarian money (Abdullah ben Nasser Al Thani) has splashed the cash in this transfer window, signing Julio Baptista, Ignacio Camacho, Sergio Asenjo, Enzo Maresca and Martin Demichelis.

Recently, Malaga have been average, getting two wins, two draws and one draw in last five games. But these points are critical as they try to push clear of the relegation zone.

Barcelona have been cruising and, with a victory, they would finish with the most points in the first half of a season. Also, if they avoided a loss, they would beat the club record of 27 matches unbeaten set during the 1973-74 campaign, which Guardiola's men equalled during the Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg tie against Real Betis.

Team news. The Blaugrana are all clear. As for Malaga, Julio Baptista plans to make his debut joining the other recent signings. Jose Galatto, Helder, Eliseu, Sandro Silva and Baha are questionable.

Malaga opened the match with a very low pressure formation, deploying five in the back with a bank of three or four in front of them. FCB started with their best side and quickly took the match to the visitors.

The opening goal came from Iniesta on eight minutes. With Malaga retreating inside their box, the World Cup hero was able to bang one home off the post as no on closed him down.

This was followed later by a horrible turnover from Camacho on 18’. Messi sliced open the defense helped by a great dummy from Xavi and Villa put it away.

Alves went down with what looked like a hamstring pull. Early reports have him out from 10 to 20 days. He will surely miss the return leg in the cup and next weekend’s match against Racing. Hopefully Adriano can find some sort of form and dynamism.

Messi was the again the creator for the third on 35’. His pass from about 25’ out ripped open the visitors and although Iniesta’s attempt was blocked, Pedro was their to knock it in. The third goal really knocked stuffing out of Malaga as they lost their shape and discipline.

The second half was played at a walking pace as the hosts took the proverbial foot off the pedal. They really could have punished the visitors as their defensive line was higher up the pitch, and their center backs were miles apart in transition. Malaga sent in two substitutes on the hour mark (Eliseu for Enzo Maresca and Rondon for Quincy Owusu-Abeyie). The substitutes at least had a little more pace and directness, but were never going to trouble the FCB rearguard.

Duda curled in a nice free kick on 67’ to cap off a solid performance for the evening. He was by far their best player, running his socks off on the wings, composed on the ball and looking for any opening in the attacking third. On the other hand, Camacho was their worst player. Only 20 years old, he has lot of work to do. As for the rest of the signings, the goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo did well, Demeichlis was his usual terrible self, and Maresca was invisible.

The goal woke up the Catalan giants who turned the heat up and were rewarded with a goal from Villa. Xavi shrugged off a challenge and curled a pass through the defense, which Villa took and dribbled the keeper.

Pep used his lost two subs with only ten minutes to go, with Afelly and Bojan coming in for Pedro and Iniesta. Afellay slipped into the midfield and fit nicely. He really should have gotten more time, especially considering the circumstances. My guess is that he will have a substantial role in the cup match.

Another mesmerizing performance from the champions. They are just unstoppable at the moment and Real Madrid’s draw really motivated them for the evening. They go to Betis on Wednesday for a 90 minute training session and then have Racing on the weekend. That’s followed by a cup match against the winner of the Depor/Almeria and then the revenge match against Hercules, the only team to beat Barcelona this season.

Monday’s game

Atletico Madrid 4 - 1 Mallorca

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/atletico-madrid-mallorca-8205624/

Atletico rebounded from two poor results last week to beat Mallorca. Valera opening the scoring when he met Reyes’ corner kick after 13’. Mallorca had a chance to reply but were unable to convert. Forlan added a second on 34’ as the Mallorca rearguard stood and waited for an offside flag. Mallorca’s hopes were dashed when De Gea saved a penalty attempt from Webo with 20’ to go. The kick was the result of a straight red on Antonio Lopez for bringing down Castro. Reyes wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time to give the capital’s other side three points and a push up to sixth place.

The table has definitely started to shake out. Obviously you have the big 2, and then the next three will fight it out for the Champions League spaces. After that, there is grouping from 6^th to 11^th trying to qualify for the Europa League. From Hercules on down, avoiding relegation is the aim.

Barcelona	19	17	1	1	50	52
Real Madrid	19	15	3	1	30	48
Villarreal	19	12	3	4	18	39
Valencia	19	11	4	4	9	37
Espanyol	19	11	1	7	0	34
Atlético	19	9	3	7	8	30
Athletic	19	9	2	8	-2	29
Getafe	19	8	3	8	-1	27
Mallorca	19	8	3	8	-1	27
Sevilla	19	8	2	9	-5	26
R Sociedad	19	8	1	10	-2	25
Hercules	19	6	4	9	-6	22
Deportivo	19	5	6	8	-11	21
Racing	19	5	5	9	-11	20
Osasuna	19	4	6	9	-8	18
Málaga	19	5	2	12	-17	17
Sporting	19	3	7	9	-10	16
R Zaragoza	19	3	7	9	-15	16
Levante	19	4	3	12	-11	15
Almeria	19	2	8	9	-15	14