Valladolid hosted Malaga FC on Friday night & both gave fans a very entertaining game of Football. The final result ended in a 2 - 2 draw which was deserved, as both had the chance to take the three points. A match full of "mini comebacks" as one team got ahead & then the other equalized to later get ahead & draw the other.
Malaga FC scored first with a 23rd min Santa Cruz goal, that was answered by Valladolid forward Javi Guerra in the 56th min. Valladolid then went ahead in the 64th min with a Osorio goal that was equalized y Malaga by Pawlowski in the 76th min.
Shared points.
Valencia CF managed another victory 1 - 0 over Madrid Club Rayo Vallecano & in doing so won more oxygen calming the existing "explosive" atmosphere at the Club. However the Football given by Valencia was not good & the 37th min goal by Jonas finally managed to get them through. Rayo Vallecano played better & had numerous opportunities to draw in the latter part of the match but failed to convert. Valencia still need plenty of work, as Rayo which plays well but is last on the table.
Almeria went down 0 - 2 to FC Barcelona which gained another Historical Club record for Liga winning 7 games straight for a start of a Spanish Football season. The price however was the injury of star Lionel Messi taken off in the 26th min with a muscle problem, the same injury that he has been carrying from last season.
Almeria were relatively better in the first half & more so after Messi was substituted for Xavi which messed up somewhat the "tactical order" on the field. Before going off Messi scored his 8th Liga goal with a fabulous one-two with Pedro & curved shot for goal in the 21st min.
Almeria missed their many chances, with Barça goalie Victor Valdes showing his good form, right up to the second Barcelona goal in the 56th min after Adriano knocked in a combination play from Xavi & Fabregas. From here Almeria dropped in intensity & spirit while Barcelona controlled the situation to take the three points.
Classification wise, cannot ask nothing better from Barça.
Real Sociedad cameback to draw 1 - 1 with visiting Sevilla FC which got ahead first in the 17th min when Jairo put his team ahead. The home team went on to gradually get better & began finding its "lost" Football culminating in the 56th min equalizer by Griezmann who headed a Carlos Vela pass. Sevilla then lost defender Cala to a red card which put Sevilla on the back foot as both sides later settled for the shared points.
Sevilla FC will be disappointed, along with Coach Emery who is feeling the pressure back at Seville which is not "taking off" as the local fans expected or desire.
Real Madrid was firmly beaten at home by an intense & aggressive Atletico de Madrid 0 - 1 while Atletico keeps pace with FC Barcelona as the only two teams unbeaten in Liga , & breaks the 14 year "curse" of losses to their city rival. Real Madrid fall behind Barça & Atletico by 5 points in the classification table, & as last season showed that's half the Liga title down the drain.
Atletico de Madrid could have won by three more goals had Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez not done his magic ( definitely ahead of Casillas ), Costa not missed some easy chances or not hit the cross bar as Koke did in the 80th min.
Real Madrid may be remembering there ex-Coach Mourinho as this team looks "soft" & "lost" in their tactical set-up. Current Coach Ancelotti has not made up his mind yet to what he wishes to play & he is paying dearly for it as the squad is not settling down to a regular pattern of play. Even Ancelotti looks lost as tonight he took off Isco to bring on another forward in Morata instead of taking off Benzema who was none existent. It is obvious that Benzema has failed in his attempt to secure his position & may be sentenced to the sideline after tonight's disappearing act . European Football agents around Europe may be working right now to find a forward for January & its Winter Market for Real Madrid. Some Football observers & fans may even be remembering Higuain & Ozil tonight. In a nutshell, Real Madrid will have a heated Sunday & week as the media will pour down all sorts of criticisms & the "enemies" will have their field day. Alarm bells folks at Real Madrid.
Atletico are "flying" with an outstanding Diego Costa which takes his aggression to the limits but is contagious for his team & scores goals. Tonight he scored in the 10th min his 8th for the season joining Messi as current Top goalscorer in Spanish Liga & his goal turned out the winner. Thiago put in a "blinder", in for the injured Mario Suarez, & gave the midfield stability & made it solid for his team. The Atletico defence was unbreakable with Miranda & Godin acting as pillars with Juanfran & Luis Felipe alongside. Lastly Arda Turan was majestic & Koke outstanding once again giving the goal pass to Costa & hitting the crossbar in the 80th min.
Atletico de Madrid gave their rivals a Football lesson, worth the 14 year wait tonight as in the Spanish Cup Final last season. As for Real Madrid, doubts, lots of doubts. There is plenty of individual stars but no team. Apart Ancelotti not taking off Benzema & instead "resting" Isco tonight will be a nail hammered into one hand palm . The Italian has just one more other hand & his heart left before avoiding crucifixion. Needs to turn water into wine REAL soon.
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