Round 21 of La Liga took place this past weekend. Though, there was nothing to worry about for Spain when their heart is on the sport of football, that being soccer, not American football, it was a great weekend to also watch football. Incredible games occurred this weekend with the Catalan team almost dropping three points, Atlético smashing on Eibar, Sevilla having competition and Real Madrid securing three points with out their star. Let us look ahead on what happened this weekend in Spain.
Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad
Without their star and latest winner of the Ballon D’or, Real Madrid did a great job against Real Sociedad, showing that they do not need Cristiano Ronaldo to win every match. Real Sociedad had a shocking 4-2 win against Real Madrid back in September, but this time it was Carlo Ancoletti’s side who had sweet revenge over Sociedad. It seemed in the beginning of the game like Real Sociedad had control of the game but possession was taken over by Real Madrid right away.
It wasn’t even a minute when the first goal came in by defender Aritz Elustondo. A corner taken by Ruben Pardo sailed over the head of Sergio Ramos’ leap and allowed Elustondo to convert the goal around the back post and get it past Iker Casillas.
But it took two minutes later to see Real Madrid in the scoreboard thanks to a beautiful header by James Rodriguez. Marcelo juked a defender and was able to find James inside the box. Marcelo crossed it to James, who was able to guide a wonderful header high into the net and equalize the match 1-1 within the first three minutes.
In the 17 minute, David Moyes’ side lost their striker Carlos Vela due to a knee injury and from here everything went downhill for Real Sociedad. It was Sergio Ramos who was able to give Real Madrid the lead in the 37 minute. Marcelo wrecked Sociedad from the flanks with another outstanding cross inside the box. Karim Benzema stopped the ball with his chest and had an opened shot that was quickly saved by the goalkeeper. But that didn’t stop Ramos to get the rebound and score from close range.
Two minutes later, Madrid had a chance to make it 3-1 but Gareth Bale became selfish in the play when clearly it was James that Benzema was looking for. Benzema raced down the left flank with the support of James and Bale. When Benzema crossed it to what seemed to be to James, Bale stole the ball from Rodriguez and tried to take the finish on himself, only to see him miss the target. James Rodriguez couldn’t believe what had just happened but the game continued from there.
In the 52 minute, it was the Frenchman who gave the 3-1 lead for Real Madrid. Marcelo was able to find Bale on the left flank, who then passed it to Benzema. Benzema passed it to the Welshman, who took of on the left and Bale passed it back to Benzema only to see Benzema tap it in nicely inside the net.
In the 76-minute we saw one of the greatest goals to ever be scored by Karim Benzema. Benzema started and finished a give and go with Isco just to see Benzema slash this ball from the corner of the left box with such force that it bends high into the opposite side of the goal to make it 4-1.
The game ended with Real Madrid winning 4-1 against Real Sociedad and seeing the Man of the match given to Karim Benzema who had two beautiful goals to get his team up 4-1 in the second half. Real Sociedad will face Celta Vigo on Saturday while Real Madrid will have to matches, one against Sevilla on Wednesday then facing their city rival Atlético Madrid on Saturday.
FC Barcelona vs Villarreal
FC Barcelona had an interesting match today in which they had to fight for the three points and continue on the run for La Liga title. Villarreal gave them a fight in which we had to see Barcelona come back up and tie the game twice to stay alive. With Lionel Messi’s goal they were able to take the lead for the first time and held Villarreal to a 3-2 defeat. The Dos Santos brothers, Giovani and Jonathan, were welcomed back to the Camp Nou with a standing ovation to thank them for their time at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona saw themselves down twice throughout the game, the first time being in the 30 minute of the first half. Denis Cheryshev, the on-loan Real Madrid player, was able to get Villarreal the lead. Mario Gaspar had a horrible shot fired across for goal but Cheryshev was in the right place, sticked out his boot out and his shot skewed inside Claudio Bravo’s near post.
It took 15 minutes later and just before the end of the first half for Barcelona to get on the scoreboard. Lionel Messi found Rafinha inside the box, getting the ball through three defenders. Rafinha placed himself for the finesse shot but goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo was quick to save. Neymar was there though to secure the rebound and drive the ball home to make it 1-1 before the first half. A stat was given to those watching the game live on television in which we saw Rafinha complete all of his passes he made in the first half.
Six minutes is all it took for Villarreal to see themselves in the lead once again in the second half. The former Barcelona man, Giovani Dos Santos, went against Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets on the right flank, got inside the box and went one on one with Bravo just to find Luciano Vietto to help him out. Dos Santos passed it to Vietto and Vietto was able to strike the ball home with Javier Mascherano making the effort to stop him, but it wasn’t enough.
Villarreal’s goal didn’t last long as Andres Iniesta became the man of the play. Two minutes after Vietto’s goal, Iniesta broke the defensive line with another great ball to Suarez, who turned and tried to square the ball across goal only find Messi in the middle of the box. Messi initial header was blocked by Victor Ruiz but Rafinha found the rebound and with the left side of his left foot, Rafinha equalized the game for Barcelona.
Two minutes later, Barcelona saw themselves in the lead for the first time in the match against Villarreal. Luis Suarez slid pass the ball to Messi just outside the ball, giving Messi time to curl the ball with his right foot and into the top corner and give Barcelona the 3-2 lead.
The rest of the match stayed the same with a controversial play happening on both sides, similar to the game Barca had against Atletico Madrid. Midfielder Tomas Pina tried to get the ball between Sergio Busquets and Mascherano, in which the ball hit Mascherano’s hand and the referee did not call the hand ball. On the counter-attack, Neymar went against goalkeeper Asenjo, in which Neymar tried to chip the ball over Asenjo. Asenjo slid and collided against Neymar, which should have been a penalty, but the ref did not call the penalty either.
The man of the match had to go to the Brazilian, Rafinha, in which we saw him assist Neymar for his 15 goal of the season and then score his first goal of his career with Barcelona. Villarreal faces Granada this saturday while FC Barcelona faces Athletic Bilbao on Sunday to continue on the run for the title.
Atletico Madrid vs Eibar
Atlético Madrid went against a very poor Eibar team at the Ipurua. Both teams played in a pitch that seemed to be drenched and muddy from rain Eibar had earlier before the game, but that didn’t stop Atleti from tearing the defense apart. Mario Mandžukić striked twice for his team and has 18 goals since his signing from Bayern Munich and also a goal from Antoine Griezmann, who has been in great form this past couple of months.
Seven minutes in the first half, Atleti was on the scoreboard thanks the great form he has been in. Raul Garcia was able to bring the ball down with his right leg, and found Griezmann on the left side just inside the box. Griezmann ghost past the defender and smashed one into the bottom right corner of goalkeeper Xabi Irureta.
In the 23 minute, Mario Mandžukić made it 2-0 for Atlético Madrid. This time it was Griezmann who turned out to be the provider, hooking a cross towards the back post. But after an ugly scramble for the ball, Mandžukić tapped the ball into the bottom right corner.
Three minutes later, it was a quick fire double for Mario Mandžukić. Abraham Minero and Raul Navas found themselves in a scramble as we saw a similar play occur here and they tried to clear a high ball. Guilherme Siqueira hooked it inside the box, looking for Mandžukić, and as the ball got scrambled, the Atleti center forward was able to nip the ball of their toes and fire in a beautiful shot to make it 3-0.
All three goals came within 25 minutes of the first half and the only action seen by Eibar was their goal in the 89 minute. Saul Berjon went against his man on the left and hanged a ball to the far post for Federico Piovaccari to convert the goal with a nice header.
The game ended two minutes later, seeing Atleti picking up the three points. The man of the match was none other than the Croatian, Mario Mandžukić, who netted to goals for his side and get them a huge 3-0 lead over Eibar. Eibar faces Deportivo La Coruna on Friday, while Atlético Madrid faces their city rivals, Real Madrid, who they have been undefeated to all season long so far.
Sevilla FC vs Espanyol
A beautiful game was played between these two teams on Sunday in which we saw Sevilla take revenge on their exit of the Copa del Rey by Espanyol. Five goals were conceded throughout the game, and saw a beautiful goal by Diogo Figueiras of Sevilla and Victor Sanchez of Espanyol both to equalize the match.
The first goal came from a penalty taken by Christian Stuani in the 15 minute. Goalkeeper Beto fouled Salva Sevilla inside the box as Sevilla tried to get on in the net. Beto was shown a yellow card and Stuani was able to convert the penalty to get the early 1-0 lead.
In the 26 minute, Diogo Figueiras made the goal of the match. Salva tried to clear the ball but Diogo got to it first and slammed the ball from over 30 yards to curl it past Kiko Casilla. Fans and players were stunned by the beautiful goal that Diogo made to get his team back into the game.
In the 34 minute, it was Sevilla that converted again and saw themselves in the lead. Jose Cañas made a mistake as he tried to clear the ball and Iago Aspas got to it first, passing the ball to Aleix Vidal. Vidal then crossed it to the middle of the box and Vitolo slid the ball home to make it 2-1.
In the 40 minute, Iago Aspas had a chance to make 3-1 as he tried to chip it over Casilla, but Casilla came out of the box and made an illegal block with his hands, with the ref showing him the red card and putting Espanyol down to 10 men.
Sevilla didn’t take much of the advantage of being one man up as Espanyol equalized the game in the 77 minute. Javi Lopez went down the right flank against Vicente Iborra. Lopez was able to beat Iborra down the flank, found Victor Sanchez and Sanchez tried to pass it back to Lopez. The ball was blocked and Sanchez got the ball back to curl it over and past goalkeeper Beto to make it 2-2 with only 13 minutes left in the match.
But it was in the 88 minute that Sevilla took advantage of being one man up. Carlos Bacca took on one defender then passed it to Iago Aspas through 2 defenders only for Aspas to shot the ball and curl it past goalkeeper Pau Lopez to make it 3-2 and get the game winning goal.
Both Sevilla and Espanyol came back from being down to equalize the match only to see Sevilla take the three points and pressure Atlético Madrid for third place in La Liga table. Iago Aspas gets the man of the match for not only assisting Vitolo with a goal but also getting the game winner. Espanyol will face fifth place Valencia on Sunday while Sevilla FC faces Real Madrid on Wednesday then Getafe on Sunday.
Other La Liga Fixtures:
Malaga 1-0 Valencia
Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Levante
Almeria 1-0 Getafe
Granada 1-0 Elche
Celta Vigo 1-0 Cordoba
Deprotivo La Coruna 2-1 Rayo Vallecano
Photo by: La Liga BBVA