RADIO
The Spanish Primera Division never fails to offer up the scintillating and this weekend the marquee event was the derby in Madrid that saw Atletico host Real at the Vicente Calderon Stadium.
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Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid
Coming into the match Atletico had, disappointing, already lost two games in the campaign and were, undoubtedly, motivated against a Real team who were winless in their previous five games at the Vicente Calderon. Additionally, Los Bancos had failed to score against their cross town rivals in the previous four away games, a fact that a certain number seven, who was looking to surpass Raul as Madrid's all time top scorer, would have been cogniscant of.
However, whatever pep talk Rafa Benitez had given his charges before the game started, certainly worked, as the team in white dominated the early proceedings. They were justly rewarded in the ninth minute, when the culmination of a superb team goal saw Benzima smash home a powerful header for the 1-0 lead. Real had stroked the ball around for at least a minute and a half allowing Marcello to push up, swamping the midfield in white as the ball zipped hither and thither. It had eventually landed at the feet of Carvajal on the right and skipping past Filipe with a light-footed arrogance, flung in a super cross for his French colleague to bury home. A goal of superlative footballing craft.
The goal served to jolt Atletico and thereafter their style of play became more direct and fearless, personified by Correa who came close twice within the space of about five minutes. The home side's reawakening was rewarded with twenty minutes gone, after Fernando Torres made a mess of a chance that fell to him, allowing the ball to break to Tiago who was mugged by Sergio Ramos in the box. Griezmann's subsequent penalty wasn't a bad one, it must be said, but Navas' save was quite simply spectacular. Leaping to his left the Costa Rican managed to keep his side one up and try as he might Ronaldo, from free play and free kicks, couldn't find that elusive 502nd career goal and the half ended with Real 1-0 ahead.
The second stanza proved to be a more combative affair, especially in midfield, where the game became a bit more jagged and pierced with niggly fouls and pathetic dramatics, the ebb and flow and openness from the first half was replaced with defensive dominance. The game needed a fillip and the managers agreed as Simeone brought on Jackson Martinez and Vietto and Bale made, what would prove to be an ineffective appearance, for Real. Los Blancos seemed to be getting on top again but, in all reality, they never really panicked the stalwart defensive line of Atletico who looked to break on the counter at every opportunity.
With the game entering the last ten minutes, Arbeloa was pinched on the left wing and the sheer strength and atleticism of Jackson saw him open up in stride, send in a super cross that Griezmann flicked on, only for Vietto to poke home from close range. Inspired substitutions by Simeone and suddenly the game erupted into life as it heaved and pulsated back and forth once more. In the 91st minute Jackson got the ball to feet on the edge of the area, and trying to pass the ball into the right corner he surely saw the glory in his strike as it was headed for the back of the net but for yet another astounding save from Keylor Navas. The man-of-the-match performance by the Real Madrid goalkeeper ensured that his team would head across the city with a point in hand.
Ending 1-1, both teams probably felt like the draw was a win. An enthralling game of football that leaves Real in second place on 15 points and still unbeaten. Their next foray will be home to Levante on October 17th who got their first win of the season this weekend against, of all teams, Villarreal. Atletico remain in fifth spot on 13 points and will be away to Real Sociedad on the 18th and given the level of football that both teams offered in this derby, we would expect them to maintain their top portion of the table status after the next iteration of games.
Villareal Et Al.
In a weekend that saw not one of La Liga's top six clubs record a victory, Villareal's surprising defeat to Levante inflicted minimal damage as it leaves the club from the Castellon province still atop the league table. Seven minutes from time, Levante's Deyverson scored the winner and secured his club's first three points of the season. It was a win that few could begrudge given Levante's obstinate refusal to be over awed by the league leaders. They maintained possession for significant swaths of time, especially in Villareal's half, and were not afraid to shoot, registering 14 shots on goal to Villarreal's 3. As noted above, Levante travel to the Bernabau next whist Villarreal will host Celta Vigo in what promises to be a footballing fiesta. Although Celta were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Getafe the team from Galicia dominated the game and only for an inspired performance by Getafe's number 1, Vicente Guaita, who produced spellbinding saves from Nolito and Cabral and somehow parrying what looked like a certain goal in the 91st minute, Celta would have cantered to victory.
With Messi, Rafinha and Andres Iniesta out injured the Blaugrana had to dig very deep to beat Bayern Levekusen 2-1 in the Champion's League midweek but the Catalan behemoths were still only a point off the leaders, Villareal, coming into their league game against a beleaguered Sevilla side. The team from Seville had, thus far, simply been unable to build upon their Europa success from last season, had only won one of their opening league games and had lost 2-0 to Juventus midweek in the Champion's League. Munir, not surprisingly, got the nod in Messi's absence and started by playing on the right hand side of the front three.
It looked rosy for Barca after only nine minutes when Rakitic delivered a wonderful first time cross for Busquets to head it down for Munir who, on the volley, put it over the bar. However, It felt like Barca were in the mood. After fifteen minutes Suarez came close and in the twenty third minute Neymar came closer as his curling effort beat the diving Rico and smashed off the post. Incredibly the ball hit off the goalkeeper's back rolled across the line, Pique couldn't stuff it home and Suarez's effort was blocked again by Andreolli. Incredible. It made for a thrilling game, exacerbated by some dodgy defending and offenses looking to exploit those weaknesses. After 37 minutes another piece of brilliance from Suarez, who getting the ball on his left moved it onto his right and his curling effort kissed the top of the crossbar. Amazingly, the game was 0-0 at the break with Barca hitting the woodwork twice.
After 52 minutes Sevilla's Gameiro's run down the right flank flummoxed both Mathieu and Alba and a top drawer cross sat up perfectly for Krohn-Dehli to hammer home for the lead. Iborra made it 2-0, with Krohn Dehli again involved, as yet another superlative cross allowed Iborra to graze home with a glancing header. In minute 64 a world class save from Rico, as the ball was heading for the bottom right corner, maintained the lead and only two minutes later he made another spellbinding save, this time to his left, as Barcelona looked to turn the screw. A seventy third minute penalty for handball on Tremoulinas allowed Neymar to score what would ultimately amount to only a consolation goal although in the last ten minutes Barca hit the woodwork AGAIN. Neymar had set Suarez off down the left, and his cross to Sandro saw him hit the woodwork one more and meant that Sevilla would hang on for first for their first win over Barcelona since 2007.
Luis Enrique and his charges headed home after their second consecutive away defeat and could certainly feel that the fickleness of luck had certainly been Sevilla's twelfth man. Their next game against Rayo Vallecano, who are languishing in fifteenth spot, should provide the appropriate tonic whilst Sevilla meanwhile travel to take part in what continues to be the intriguing narrative that is Eibar who currently occupy seventh spot after their 2-0 victory away at las Palmas.
