Week 3 wrap: Simeone is king but Espanyol look troubled
So here we are just three weeks into the La Liga season and already Real and Atletico Madrid step up to contest ‘El Derbi'.
It’s the third time the two heavyweights had met this season having already done battle in the Spanish Supercup.
Barcelona had the chance to extend their 100 percent home record at home to Athletic Bilbao in one of La Liga’s classic match-ups and another notable fixture took place at the Mestalla as Valencia took on Espanyol.
Let’s take a look at the winners and losers from Jornada 3.
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WINNERS
1. Gaspar Panadero, just 16 years and 277 days old, made his La Liga bow on Friday night for Almeria during their 1-1 draw with Cordoba.
What a thrill for the youngster who acquitted himself well throughout. A name for the future.
2. Neymar returned to action with a sublime 30 minute cameo for Barcelona. His brace earned the Catalans all three points and kept them atop La Liga with the only 100 percent record in the league. Sharp, alert and clinical, his performance was in contrast to the player he replaced, Munir El-Haddadi, who tried just a little too hard against Athletic Bilbao.
3. For the first time EVER, Atletico Madrid have walked away from the Santiago Bernabeu stadium with wins in consecutive seasons. Diego Simeone once again masterminded a win over a stuttering Real side who already find themselves six points off of the pace.
Arda Turan put the gloss on a famous Rojiblancos win with a glorious finish to send the 100 or so away fans home happy.
4. The Los Che bandwagon rolls on. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are playing some sparkling football at present and they dispatched a disappointing Espanyol side with ease at the Mestalla.
For fans of Spanish football, it’s good to see one of La Liga’s biggest clubs back where they belong, second only to Barcelona in the table after week three.
5. Unai Emery is continuing to work his magic down in Andalusia. Or is it the lucky elbow patches?!
Sevilla have quietly eased themselves into fourth position, but their blood and thunder game against Getafe wasn’t for the feint hearted with eight yellow cards brandished.
The home side prevailed with a combination of tenacity, skill and hard work to the fore. Standard Emery fare.
The result leaves them in third, on goal difference only, and just two behind leaders Barcelona.
After the loss of their best player Ivan Rakitic to the Catalans many expected Sevilla to struggle, but Emery has hit the ground running again and on this form, few would bet against a decent campaign for his side.
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1. Are Iker Casillas’ days as Real Madrid No 1 over? Whilst he could do nothing about Atletico Madrid’s opening goal, his every touch was greeted with boos and whistles from the Bernabeu faithful.
Turning on a player who is the embodiment of the club would be a sad way for Casillas to end his tenure at the club he has served so well since the age of nine.
2. Levante are struggling badly. Without a win this season, the bottom-placed club in La Liga are still yet to score a goal after a 0-0 draw at Malaga. The stalemate at least gave them their first point of the season.
The last thing they need however is to be playing a Barcelona side sat at the top of the table with a 100 percent record and no goals conceded in their next match.
It looks like an ominous task already to stop Jose Luis Mendilibar’s side from plumbing the depths throughout the campaign.
3. Celta Vigo’s right back Jonny will be kicking himself this morning. Although opponents Real Sociedad had clawed a goal back to leave them with a chance of a point after Vigo raced into a two-goal lead, in essence all the home side had to do was see the game out.
Unable to get out of the way from what was a hopeful ball into the box, the defender only succeeded in diverting the ball past his own keeper Sergio Alvarez. 91 minutes on the clock, game over, two points dropped.
4. Espanyol are not a bad side in general terms but the table doesn’t lie.
Victor Sanchez, Christian Stuani and Kiko Casilla et al are far too good to be rooted to the bottom of the table, but that’s exactly where the Periquitos find themselves.
With only a Sergio Garcia penalty in the 90th minute to show for their efforts in Valencia, manager Sergio Gonzalez needs to arrest the slide immediately.
They were dismal on the day and that’s not a word usually associated with Barcelona’s other team.
5. Pedro is a long-term Barcelona servant and some of the criticism he has come in for has been harsh, but it’s hard to see a place for him in the side when everyone is available.
Luis Suarez returns in October and along with Neymar and Lionel Messi will form the front three. But although Pedro should be fourth in the chain, this season both Sandro and Munir El Haddadi have shined brighter than the Canarian.
