FIVE
MAJOR THINGS BARCELONA LEARNED FROM LA LIGA
RECENT
SPORT NEWS: Barcelona opened up with
four-point gap on title rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid with 5-0
thrashing of local rivals, while the sides from the capital were held by
Levante and Valencia .
THIS ARE THE FIVE
MAJOR THINGS WE LEARNED FROM THE LA LIGA WEEKEND
1-REAL MADRID MISS MORATA
Facing an early Saturday kick-off
after an international break, Real boss Zinedine Zidane utilised his side's
strength in depth that played such a huge part in delivering a La Liga and
Champions League double last season.
Despite the continued absence of
Cristiano Ronaldo through suspension, Gareth Bale, Isco and Luka Modric were
just three of those left out of Zidane's starting line-up for the visit of
Levante.
However, one key difference between
Madrid's squad this season and last is the lack of back-up to Karim Benzema
since Alvaro Morata's £70 million switch to Chelsea.
Morata was never properly replaced
in the transfer window, and after Benzema limped off injured in the first half,
Real lacked firepower as they toiled in the search for a winner with Bale
forced to deputise as an auxiliary striker.
2-SOCIEDAD A REAL THREAT
Things could get even worse for Real
with a trip to high-flying Real Sociedad next weekend.
Sociedad joined Barca at the top of
the table as the only sides with three wins from three by scoring twice early
and late to beat Deportivo la Coruna 4-2 on Sunday.
Without the injured Benzema and
suspended Ronaldo and Marcelo, another slip-up would leave Madrid with serious
ground to make up just four games into the campaign.
3-BARCA PAPER OVER OFF-FIELD CRACKS
Lionel Messi was once again Barca's
inspiration with a hat-trick as Espanyol were swept aside at the Camp Nou.
However, even after Luis Suarez
completed the rout in stoppage time from debutant Ousmane Dembele's cross,
cries for under-fire Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu to resign rang around
the Camp Nou.
Outside the stadium supporters
queued before and after the game to sign a vote of no confidence motion in
Bartomeu put forward by former presidential candidate Agusti Benedito.
Having lost Neymar and the
confidence of the fanbase, only the sight of Messi and captain Andres Iniesta
signing new contracts as promised by Bartomeu will ease calls for his head.
4-AGELESS ADURIZ
Athletic Bilbao moved into the top
four by inflicting Girona's first ever top-flight defeat at San Mames.
Aritz Aduriz was again on the
scoresheet as Spanish football's own Benjamin Button continues to only get
better with age.
The 36-year-old striker already has
five goals in seven games this season as he looks set for another prolific
campaign.
5-BERIZZO'S SEVILLA PROMISE
Spain's fourth Champions League
representatives were overshadowed by Real's struggles, Barca's brilliance and
Atletico's intense 0-0 draw at Valencia on Saturday.
However, another new-look Sevilla
are only two points off the top after a 3-0 dismantling of Eibar that could
have been far more.
As almost every year, there has been
a huge turnover in playing personnel at the Sanchez Pizjuan and another change
of coach with Eduardo Berizzo charged with recreating his success and style of
football from three years at Celta Vigo.
The early signs are promising as
Berizzo seems to have rejuvenated Paulo Henrique Ganso and Manchester City
rejects Jesus Navas and Nolito……. more
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