Real Madrid find their feet, Barcelona lose their heads.
This is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable La Liga seasons in years as the big three struggle to get regular wins on the board. But Madrid's hard-fought win in Sevilla was the eye-catching result of the round, alongside Barca's humbling away in Granada.
| LAL | Sep 22, 2019 | W | |
Sevilla has been a harrowing place to visit for Madrid in the past few years, and given their 3-0 humbling against PSG in midweek, the home side were expected to make things much worse for Zinedine Zidane. But they ground out a superb 1-0 win, Carvajal providing Karim Benzema with a superb cross which he duly nodded home. At the other end his defensive work was exemplary too, winning 3/3 tackles, as well as four clearances, four interceptions and six recoveries.
Budimir's two superb finishes didn't deserve to count for nothing as Mallorca went down 4-2 at Getafe. His team were already 3-0 down before he stepped up, glancing home an intelligent header before an impudent back-heel had the Islanders right back in the game. It proved to be not enough, but Mallorca's problems won't be in attack if Budimir keeps finishing like this.
| LAL | Sep 22, 2019 | W | |
Real Sociedad are a team to watch this season. With Martin Odegaard in midfield and the exciting Alexander Isak in attack, the only thing they have been lacking is clinical finishing, and Willian Jose provided that at Espanyol. His first goal was a really intelligent dink over the goalkeeper, while the second was a poacher's finish. With the league a touch disjointed at the moment, la Real could make a real play for the top four this year.
| LAL | Sep 21, 2019 | D | |
Why did Spurs let him go, again? Trippier has been a revelation since arriving at Atletico, the fans really taking to him, and he has definitely embraced Diego Simeone's approach. As well as constantly getting into the opposition final third, he was also diligent defensively, winning 3/4 tackles, five recoveries, two interceptions and five clearances.
| LAL | Sep 20, 2019 | D | |
In the Friday night game Joel Robles produced a superb goalkeeping display to deny hosts Osasuna. He made a wonderful point-blank range save from Adrian Lopez before going onto deny Chimy Avila with an astonishing diving save to divert his effort with his leg. Betis have one man alone to thank for escaping Pamplona with a point.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Karim Benzema (7.9) continues to be indispensable for Real Madrid, his clever header sealing the points for his team in Sevilla, while Celta Vigo's Ruben Blanco (8.1) single-handedly denied Atletico Madrid, producing three wonderful saves, particularly from Koke in the second half, to earn a clean sheet.
ROUND TO FORGET
Mallorca duo of Juan Sastre (4.6) and keeper Manolo Reina (5) won't want to have the Getafe defeat living for too long in the memory.
