La Liga Weekend Round-Up: Zaragoza Back On Track, Espanyol Lose Out

Saturday 19 January 2008 (all times local)
20:00 Getafe 3 - 2 Sevilla (report)
22:00 Villarreal 3 - 0 Valencia (report)
Saturday 20 January
17:00 Osasuna 2 - 0 Athletic
17:00 Zaragoza 3 - 1 Murcia
17:00 Levante 2 - 2 Mallorca
17:00 Almeria 1 - 0 Deportivo
17:00 Valladolid 2 - 1 Espanyol
17:00 Betis 1 - 1 Recreativo
19:00 Atletico Madrid - Real Madrid
21:00 Barcelona - Racing

CA Osasuna 2 - 0 Athletic Club


A late onslaught arrested Osasuna's slide and goal drought in one fell swoop.

There was little for the derby-ready fans to cheer about in the first half, with Javi Martinez's low drive for the visitors being the best chance of the first half.

If anything, the beginning of the second was even duller, with the hope that substitutions might change things around.

That they did, for Osasuna quickly began to press forward.

And it paid off 68 minutes in when Dady made it 1-0, evading the defence to barrel home from range.

Just sixty seconds afterwards, young gun Carlos Vela doubled his side's advantage with a one-on-one effort past Aranzubia; the shot, as powerful as it was accurate, crashed home off the post.

That was enough to leave Athletic stumbling in a daze, and to seal three vital points in what was as much a relegation battle as a Basque-Navarre one.


Real Zaragoza 3 - 1 Real Murcia


Zaragoza registered a Liga win for the first time since October, giving new coach Ander Garitano a winning start (if one excludes the Copa.)

Diogo had a fine chance early on, but Alvaro Mejia almost opened for the visitors in what were rather even preliminary exchanges.

However, Ricardo Oliveira gave the home fans a chance to shout half an hour in when he swept through a directionless visiting defence to get on the end of Sergio Garcia's through ball and fire home.

Zaragoza fans have endured so many false dawns before that they would have greeted the half time interval with caution more than optimism. However, they were given a clear sight of victory on the hour mark when Diego Milito capped off a period of pressure with his side's second.

The prolific Argentine got on the end of a long ball to go face-to-face with Notario, winning the duel with ease.

Milito then struck again late on after an extraordinary team move to well and truly banish the demons of the blanquillos' hellish run, while bringing with it an end to Murcia's decent form of late. Even Ivan Alonso's late solo effort for the visitors would have been of little consolation.


Levante UD 2 - 2 RCD Mallorca



For the second week running, those remaining Levante fans were treated to some late heartbreak on their own patch, only this time they were able to turn the tables on their tormentors.

It had all started so well for them: Alex Geijo made it 1-0 early on with a simple finish after picking up a cross from the left. It had been coming for some time, too, as Mallorca struggled to follow up their recent Copa success in the Liga.

However, they did eventually find their feet, and Dani Guiza appeared on the half hour mark to tap home after a stupendous long pass from Ariel Ibagaza.

Both sides had their chances in the second period, but yet again the hosts began to tire towards the end; thus, Kujovic became the busier of the two 'keepers.

And eventually he was to pick the ball out of the net when Guiza struck his second thirteen minutes from time, Borja Valero's pass into the box proving sufficient for the ex-Getafe man to feast on.

But when Alvaro popped up two minutes from time to seal a point, those home fans could, if not cheer exactly, certainly crack a wry smile.


UD Almeria 1 - 0 Deportivo La Coruna


Depor and Almeria fought out a snooze-worthy 90 minutes before the hosts sealed their second late win in a week thanks to an injury-time goal.

Neither coach found themselves animated much in the first period, watching proceedings from the technical area with the curious detachment of an anthropologist.

Their subjects were giving them relatively little to be excited about, in fairness. Felipe Melo was perhaps the sole true source of inspiration as he attempted to give his side the impetus to break forward, but for the most part this was an even encounter.

The second half sawmmore of the same, but, perhaps mindful of goings-on in Pamplona, Depor began to press forward as their relegation woes deepened. Still, Alemria were still holding the bulk of possession.

It seemed set to end as a goalless draw, only for Ruben Martin Pulido to score from close range three minutes into stoppage time after a good combination between Juanito and Corona.



Real Valladolid 2 - 1 RCD Espanyol


A record-breaking strike from Valladolid set the hosts en route to a win over struggling, aimless Espanyol.

Valladolid were off to a flyer when on-form striker Joseba Llorente got on the end of a long ball from Victor, controlled it deftly, then shot past Lafuente - all virtually straight from kick-off.

That was the fastest goal ever scored in Liga football, clocking in at 7.42 seconds, a full .58 faster than Dario Silva's goal in Malaga vs. Valladolid in 2000.

Llorente managed to cap off a memorable afternoon with his second on the half hour mark, and it was a fully merited one at that. The Basque forward was once again put through masterfully by Victor, and wasted no time in converting from close range.

Espanyol were all at sea, and although they managed to pull one back through a far-post header from Marc Torrejon midway through the second half, Valladolid were the better side.

Indeed, Capdevila and Vivar Dorado each had chances to make it 3-1 before the end, but the three points were already in the bag.


Real Betis 1 - 1 Recreativo de Huelva


The hosts may feel that they should have won this game, but a moment of madness in defence cost them two points.

That said, it was even in the first half. Camunas and Javi Guerrero came close for the visitors, while Capi and Edu really should have netted for the verdiblancos.

Javi Guerrero had arguably the best chance of the game right after the break, but after that, it was almost all Betis.

Thus it was no surprise when Edu got on the end of Caffa's cross from the left to bundle home 57 minutes in.

But almost straight from the restart, Javi Guerrero's bobbling header beat Ricardo, who was perhaps shocked at the lack of marking on the Recre forward.

The Beticos pressed and pressed right at the end, but Recre were able to hold out to take a point back down to Huelva with them.

Spanish Debate: Sevilla's Improving Stars

As recently as this decade, Sevilla were considered the poor relations of Andalucia's biggest city. Until 2003, Real Betis had a larger average attendance than the rojiblancos, and in 2005 the verdiblancos finished two places above their city rivals in fourth.

Since then, though, Sevilla have eclipsed not only the Beticos, but even the likes of Valencia. By finishing above Los Che last season and reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League, they've certainly begun to look the part.

But we've seen short bursts of success before. Deportivo La Coruna, for example, were league champions in 2000, top-three finishers for the next four seasons, and regular knockout stage contenders in the Champions League. Now, they're flirting with relegation.

On the other hand, we've seen relatively unfashionable clubs establish themselves, if not as genuine challengers, then certainly top half fixtures. Villarreal, who are by most estimates a smaller club than Sevilla, have shown what prudent organisation and ambition can create as they rose from obscurity to Europe.

So which of these two paths are Sevilla more likely to take?

There is cause for thinking that it is the former. One glance at the Liga table suggests that all is not well. Eight defeats and 23 goals conceded in 18 games is hardly an enviable total for a side that lost only nine in total last season; at this stage in the 2006-07 campaign, indeed, Sevilla were top with two points to spare.

Now, they're mid-table, 18 points clear of the summit. The tragic death of Antonio Puerta, injury troubles and a managerial change - Manolo Jimenez in for Spurs-bound Juande Ramos - of course contributed to this total, but nonetheless it remains a disappointment.

Indeed, for all Sevilla's fine performances in Europe so far this season, they will do well to reach the Champions League spots, of which they are currently eight points short, before the season's end.

As such, there are worries about Nervion at the moment. However, there are, in my view, more reasons to be optimistic than there are problems.

For starters, things are actually getting better in the Liga. Sevilla have now gone five games unbeaten and have netted seven goals in their last two games, signalling a renaissance of sorts. A return from injury for most of the defensive line has helped in that regard, but so too, surely, did the confidence boost afforded by recent European successes.

The rojiblancos finished top of their Champions League group after defeating Arsenal, and now much be considered as not just UEFA Cup material but worthy guests at Europe's top table. A glance at the squad list would have suggested that anyway, but the proof is in the pudding, and Sevilla's players - after a 3-0 thrashing in their opening game - have shown their worth. Indeed, so much have they impressed that the IFFHS have once again - dubiously, say some - named Sevilla as Club of the Year for 2007.

Taking a longer view of the squad's prospects, it seems as if Sevilla have the kind of youth coming through that will help them adjust not only this season, but in years to come. The likes of Crespo and Fazio are just now breaking through to join the last big hit from the cantera, Jesus Navas, in the first eleven. These youngsters, combined with big-name veterans, are beginning to impress already, and as such there is a modest production line that will keep the side in talented players even if Sevilla can be outmatched in the transfer market by larger clubs.

On the subject of the transfer market, Sevilla actually have it quite good. Not all of the summer signings have worked out - Khalid Boulahrouz has been poor, Arouna Kone isn't quite operating at full potential and Tom De Mul has found little action - but there remain positive aspects to Sevilla's transfer activity.

Strangely, it relates to what they didn't do, rather than what they did. To wit, they refused to capitulate and sell star asset Daniel Alves.



Chelsea wanted Alves, and Alves wanted Chelsea, but despite a big-money bid from the Londoners, Sevilla told the player in no uncertain terms that he was going nowhere. Had a larger offer come in, he would probably have gone, but none was forthcoming, and the rojiblancos held their nerve.

Alves was visibly angry, and this showed in a series of less-than-perfect early season performances - and perhaps even in his deteriorating disciplinary record - but the old professional in him has resurfaced, culminating in a tremendous showing alongside Jesus Navas on the right flank against Betis in the Seville derby. He may have had his problems, but on his day he's one of the top right-sided players in the world, and this was abundantly clear on Sunday night.

Sevilla, for their part, can be proud at having managed to hold onto him. Combine his presence with that of the likes of Kanoute, and it's clear that the nucleus of an excellent side remains at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. They came through the summer relatively unscathed in that regard, with Ivica Dragutinovic turning down a lucrative move to Newcastle - "some things are more important than money" - and for this reason they must be taken seriously as a footballing force, rather than a selling club.

But as the cliche goes - well, almost - spend now, repent at leisure. Assembling such a side cannot have been cheap, and while Sevilla doubtless do not spend as much as Real Madrid, Barcelona, or perhaps even Atletico Madrid, their income is not as high, either. Deportivo are learning to their cost what even a few years of fiscal mismanagement can do to a club - bring it to the brink of relegation and ignominy - and the more pessimistic Sevillista may think that the same could happen to them.

In simple terms of fanbase, too, Sevilla have an advantage. Even during their Segunda seasons, they were frequently drawing 30,000 - more than title-winning Depor, and the likes of Real Zaragoza and Real Sociedad - and now average well over 40,000. Should they keep this level of support going, and work on their worldwide appeal, they can count on some loyal income in coming years.

The omens, then, are mostly good. Are they really the world's best team of 2007? Hardly. But they're certainly one of the better ones, and that doesn't look like changing anytime soon.