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EURO BITES: Double acts, a struggling Valencia and still no Vietto.

The winners

Double trouble

After a summer in which they sold Luciano Vietto, Giovanni Dos Santos and Gerard Moreno there was a worry that Villarreal would be caught short in the striking apartment. Fear not, however, because just two weeks before the season started the club moved to sign Roberto Soldado and shortly after Cedric Bakambu – and what a start they’ve both made!

Fresh after his debut goal last week, Soldado followed it up with a crucial equaliser and later produced two assists for Bakambu as Villarreal finished much stronger to blow away Espanyol who had taken the lead in just the 3rd minute of the game.

The chemistry between the two will be pleasing and with both getting off the mark early, it relieves a lot of pressure that strikers tend to feel at a new club. And while Soldado will rightly take most of the plaudits it was Bakambu’s introduction which really turned the game on its head. His first goal in particular showed wonderful composure as he rounded the keeper before calming slotting the ball home.

If those two continue to click, they could turn into one of the best attacking partnerships in the league.

While speculation in England continues to link Gareth Bale with an unlikely return to the Premier League, it’s always been a different story over here. The summer has been spent trying to find a way to get the maximum out of their record signing and there were signs on Saturday night – with a helping hand from the returning Benzema and James – that they might have just done that.

James came inside, looked up and spotted Bale’s run, whipping in a wonderful cross for the Welshman to nod home after just 94 seconds. His and Real Madrid’s final goal was something anyone who watched him play in the Premier League has come to expect. He was left with lots of space to run into and despite being at least 25 yards out decided to smash it goalwards, crashing in off the post for added effect.

His partner in crime was James, no doubt about it. He wasn’t fit enough to start against Sporting Gijon last weekend but was restored to the line up against Betis. As already mentioned, he produced the assist for Bale’s opener but his second was one of the best free kicks you’ll see this season. Stuck on the far side of the box you’d expect him to whip the ball in, hoping someone gets their head on it. Wrong. He produced a ferocious free kick that curled towards the top corner, flying in with the help of the post.

A Bale cross allowed Benzema to score the third before we were treated to yet more magic from the young Colombian. The ball was sent into him from the edge of the box by Kroos and his first touch knocked it into the air, he shifted his body and produced a delightful overhead kick to put the game beyond any doubt.

Nolito had a wonderful season last time out earning him the attention of first Valencia, later Barcelona, and has seemingly picked up from where he left off as he managed to grab two goals versus a Rayo Vallecano side that had to compete with 10 men after just eight minutes.

Last week’s hero against Valencia, Toño, became the villain as he came racing off his line to stop Wass but misjudged his dive to the right, clipping the winger’s leg as he rounded him. Nolito made no mistake from the spot.

His second goal has a huge slice of good fortune about it but as the saying goes: you can’t win the raffle if you don’t buy a ticket. He received the ball out wide from Pablo Hernandez before charging forward. He didn’t see much on so decided to shoot but his effort took a deflection off Llorente which wrong-footed Juan Carlos, Toño’s replacement, and put the game beyond Rayo.

Eibar

Poor old Eibar suffered heartbreak on the final day of last season only to be handed a late, late reprieve as Elche’s financial woes allowed them to remain in La Liga for a second year. And similar to last time around, they’ve started the season like a house on fire.

Fresh off a resounding win against Granada, they followed it up with a very impressive showing against Athletic Club in front of their home fans at Ipurua. They refused to be overawed by their Basque neighbours and dominated the majority of the game.

The speed of Eibar’s counterattacks caused Athletic problems from the get-go, who had Iraizoz to thank for keeping them in the contest as long as he did. He could do nothing to stop Saul converting a penalty after youngster Laporte had a Lovren-type moment; he was caught on the ball and resorted to pulling back Sergi Enrich as he entered the area.

Eibar’s second came 15 minutes after the break as Saul’s corner was sent to the back post where Adrian looped a header back across goal and over Iraizoz. The Ipurua erupted and with good reason. From relegation to joint leader of the league in just three months is more than they could’ve ever dreamed of.

Atletico Madrid

Diego Simeone’s men were far from convincing last week as they squeezed past Las Palmas at home but they turned in a display of the highest quality yesterday in one of the toughest stadiums in the country; the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.

Atletico took the lead through what you’d class as a typical Simeone-team goal. Griezmann found himself dragged to the floor on the edge of the box but fought not once, but twice to win the ball from his prone position and knocked the ball into Koke’s feet who made no mistake firing past Beto in the Sevilla goal.

In the second half they had to absorb a lot of Sevilla attacks as the home side pushed to get back onto level terms, but the kind of defending which won Atletico the title two years ago kept them at bay for large periods of the game.

However it took until the 78th minute for the game to be over as a contest. Gabi, in acres of space, decided to let fly from over 30 yards and with the help of a huge deflection which caught Beto out, it nestled into the back of the net to stun the Sanchez Pizjuan crowd and send the 30 or so Atleti fans who made the trip south into celebration.

There was still time for a third however as new boy Jackson Martinez, disappointing last week against Las Palmas, produced a moment of magic to silence those far-too-early doubters. He played a one-two with Griezmann on the edge of the box before firing an unstoppable, curling shot past the stranded Beto who was perhaps guilty of being too far off his line.

Honourable mentions: Deportivo – fantastic performance at the Mestalla. Thomas Vermaelen - showing Messi how it’s done. Illarramendi - impressive return for Real Sociedad.

The losers

Valencia

Last season’s victors in the battle for 4th place were underwhelming in the league for the second time as Nuno’s tinkering of the squad came back to haunt them.

Valencia’s impressive form at the Mestalla was crucial last season as they only lost once at home in all competitions. However it wasn’t a happy return for the side as they were thoroughly outplayed by Deportivo in the first half and were relieved to see Luis Alberto, who was causing all kinds of problems, go off injured after 28 minutes.

Ruben Vezo was unconvincing as he tried to quell a Depor attack and Lucas Perez was allowed the time and space to run forward, before curling an effort into the opposite corner, beyond the reach of Maty Ryan in the Valencia goal.

Valencia did get a goal back through Alvaro Negredo, fresh after scoring midweek against Monaco, on the stroke of half time but it wasn’t until Parejo and Feghouli were introduced - for the below par Danilo and Santi Mina respectively – that Los Che began to take control of proceedings. But they were met with a defence, wonderfully marshalled by Fernando Navarro, and couldn’t find a way through as the Mestalla crowd signalled it’s disapproval at the full time whistle.

Real Sociedad

For the second week in a row David Moyes’ side have failed to find the back of the net and there are already a few grumbles in the crowd. This is the first season in which he will be truly judged on having taken over an unfit and morally broken side last November.

Illarramendi’s performance was a bright spot in a largely forgettable game. La Real perhaps started the better of the two sides but Sporting Gijon, as they did last week, tightly marked the attackers throughout. They forced Vela to go out wide as opposed to playing behind new boy Jonathas, and the one chance he did get he headed wide from 5 yards out.

It’s early days for Moyes but he will need his attacking trio of Jonathas, Vela and Bruma to help him out by scoring if he wants to win over the Real Sociedad faithful. Illarramendi is a superb signing and one that just might start to make everything click.

Luciano Vietto

Another week passes and the Argentina hitman is yet to make his debut for Diego Simeone’s side. I think we’ve all seen the photos of poor Luciano struggling in his first training session at Atletico Madrid and sources close to the club claim that remains the issue at hand.

Simeone is notorious for demanding high energy levels from all of his players and some adapt sooner than others. Carrasco was another who found it tough going but he came on against Sevilla for his La Liga bow while Vietto continues to wait for his chance.

Competition is fierce up front at Atletico, as demonstrated by Fernando Torres replacing Jackson Martinez in the starting line up against Sevilla. However young Vietto will be desperate to get some playing time of his own after the international break if only to calm his nerves.

Lest we forget he notched an impressive 20 goals in 48 appearances last term for Villarreal so the talent is there; he just needs to improve his fitness before he’s given a chance under Simeone’s leadership.

Honourable mentions: Toño – his early sending off ruined any hope Rayo had of beating Celta. Messi and Cristiano – still yet to score despite not playing badly. Getafe – uninspiring and have lost both games.