EURO BITES: Seville derby turns ugly while the Galician sides turn on the charm

THE WINNERS

Real Madrid hit Rayo for 10

We have to start with the biggest victory in La Liga since 1960 as Real Madrid ruthlessly put 9-men Rayo Vallecano to the sword. For Paco Jemez it was another game where his team demonstrated both their best – and worst – against one of Spain’s kingpins.

It started so well for Rayo and despite going 1-0 down after just 2 minutes, their reaction was fantastic. Antonio Amaya rose higher than Pepe at a corner and Keylor Navas couldn’t quite keep his header out. Real were rattled and just 2 minutes later Rayo took the lead. Tito produced the perfect cross from the right-hand side and Jozabed this time guided his header past Navas. The Bernabeu crowd were stunned and it didn’t take much encouragement for them to get on the back of their side.

Rayo, and more specifically Tito, gave Rafa Benitez’s men a helping hand. A poor touch from the defender gifted possession to Toni Kroos, but in looking to atone for his error he threw himself – two-footed – at the German international and sent him flying. It was a clear red card and one that sparked Real Madrid into life again. Gareth Bale produced a fine header of his own to get his team back on level terms before things got a lot worse for Rayo.

While there is little debate as to whether the first was a sending off, the second isn’t as clear-cut. Raul Baena was already on a yellow card when he was adjudged to have held back Cristiano Ronaldo at a freekick. There’s a hand on Ronaldo’s shoulder but whether it was enough to stop the Portuguese hitman from reaching the ball, I’m not so sure. To rub further salt into the wound he was given a second yellow and that was all she wrote for Rayo.

Cristiano scored the penalty and in turn opened the floodgates. Rayo had matched Real Madrid prior to that point but after going down to 9 men, it was just a question of how many Real would score. Bale scored his second just before half time. The ‘BBC’ smelt blood and punished every mistake or failed Rayo attack. Bale ended up with 4 goals to his name; Benzema with a hat-trick and Cristiano with a brace.

Deportivo and Celta continue their assault on the European places

People always try to belittle unfashionable sides doing well in the league with throwaway comments such as “it won’t last” or “they’re nothing without [x]”. It’s happening with Leicester in the Premier League although more are coming to the realisation that maybe, just maybe, they are deserving of their high status. How nice of them, eh? The same has to be said of the Galacian sides Deportivo de La Coruña and Celta Vigo.

Victor Sanchez has created a side with a wonderful blend of experience, youth and unfulfilled potential. I saw them go to the Mestalla and outplay Nuno’s men and ignorantly put it down to Valencia being too focused on the Champions League more than Deportivo being at Los Che’s level. Yet despite the odd hiccup (Gijon at home, Malaga away) they’ve been wonderful to watch this term and need to be shown a lot more respect. This isn’t the same Deportivo as last year; this is a very good, well-drilled side capable of beating anyone on their day.

Eibar were the visitors to Riazor last Saturday for the late kick off and came into the game with no wins in their last 4. Although it’s worth pointing out they had faced Villarreal, Real Madrid and Valencia in 3 of those.

The men from Ipurua started brightly but struggled to create any noteworthy opportunity. The first goal came, as expected, from Depor’s Lucas Perez. That goal meant he matched the Bebeto’s record of scoring in 7 consecutive matches. Eibar could consider themselves unfortunate to concede the penalty which led to the goal as Riesgo clearly punched the ball away from the aforementioned Perez before clattering the striker.

It left a mountain for Eibar to climb. They were given renewed hope as Luisinho picked up a second yellow card for diving in the box but it was Deportivo that reacted first. Faycal Fajr is one of the best crossers in the league and Eibar allowed him the time and space to pick out Arribas, who with a bit of luck got his header over the line.

Celta Vigo are often incorrectly referred to as a one-man team. Nolito is the headline-grabber although he will be the first to tell you that his teammates deserve equally as much credit. The likes of Daniel Wass, Augusto Fernandez, Fabian Orellana and Iago Aspas have all been key in Celta’s fine form at the back end of last season which has continued into the beginning of this one. Last weekend there was no Nolito but they still picked up the 3 points.

Granada are one of the most unpredictable sides in the league at the moment. There’s enough talent to suggest they won’t be relegated but they occasionally throw out performances such as these that make you have second thoughts. The first 15-20 minutes belonged to the Andalucians but as soon as they went behind, they went missing. Aspas and Josep Señé played a beautiful 1-2 before laying it across the 6-yard box for Orellana to score.

It got worse for Granada on the stroke of half time as Jonny was allowed far too much time in the penalty area after escaping his marker to pick out Aspas who coolly slotted home Celta’s second. Granada failed to respond and Celta saw the game out fairly easily. In Isaac Success and and Adalberto Peñaranda Granada have an exciting front line but need to sharpen up in defence if they don’t want to be dragged into the relegation fight.

Malaga stop Atletico dead in their tracks

With Barcelona away many thought this would be Atletico Madrid’s time to shine and open up a gap ahead of the Christmas break but Malaga had different ideas. Simeone’s men never really got going, it has to be said. Jan Oblak was forced into two smart saves to deny Charles in the first half and despite having a full-strength side very rarely threatened Carlos Kameni in the Malaga goal.

Malaga have struggled this term but against the bigger sides have produced their best performances. A narrow loss to Barcelona has been followed up by draws against Real Madrid, Sevilla and Athletic this season. Luciano Vietto couldn’t get into the game and was replaced by Fernando Torres at half time. ‘El Niño’ almost rolled back the years as he skipped past two challenges but couldn’t beat Kameni. The Torres of old wouldn’t have missed that.

Gabi was sent off in the second half, which only made matters worse, and while Atletico pushed forward in the hope of scoring it left gaps in their defence. In the end it was Charles who got the goal – and victory – Malaga’s performance merited. Nordin Amrabat found the forward in space and his volley took a wicked deflection off Diego Godin that wrong-footed Oblak in the Atletico goal.

If you have aspirations of winning the title you simply can’t afford to perform like that.

Honourable mentions: Espanyol – under the stewardship of Constantin Gâlcâ they’ve won their last 2 games. Villarreal – a trip to Anoeta can often be tricky but a Denis Suarez double ensured the Yellow Submarines continued their upturn in form. Valencia – a 2-2 draw at home to Getafe isn’t good enough but the game marked an improved performance from Los Che ahead of the Christmas break. Iker Muniain – the young winger made his return after 8 months out with a knee ligament injury.

THE LOSERS

The Seville derby had everything; everything but quality

Real Betis welcomed – or rather didn’t welcome – their city rivals Sevilla for the first of four derbies we’ll see between the two sides this year. Sometimes you can find derbies to be family affairs, where pride is important but the general atmosphere is relatively nice. Not in Seville.

There’s a genuine hatred amongst the two sets of fans and you felt that as the team buses arrived as well as inside the stadium. For Betis fans it probably hurt that Sevilla hadn’t lost in their stadium in the previous 8 fixtures and, in the midst of a poor run at home this year, saw a chance to spark a revival of sorts.

In a derby such as this one you need a strong referee and from the first foul you sensed he would be a hindrance to letting the game flow. Every challenge appeared to result in a freekick and/or yellow card. There was a lot play-acting, too, on behalf of both sides which was disappointing for the neutrals. For Dani Ceballos it meant more than most as he had been let go by Sevilla as a youngster before eventually signing with Betis. If anything good was going to come from Betis, it’d need to go through him.

Ceballos wasn’t great though and spent a lot of time trying to get Sevilla players sent off. Joaquin, Konoplyanka, Banega and Vitolo were all below par as they struggled to create space to do any significant damage. The only chances of note fell Sevilla’s way and Kevin Gameiro spurned them both. The first was perhaps the easier of the two but Adan stood tall and his trailing leg deflected the ball out for a corner.

It descended into a foul fest with 22 committed by Betis [7 yellow cards] and 19 by Sevilla [5 yellow cards]. Everyone loves to see passion in a derby but this one had a bit too much. Sevilla were just about the better side but no one deserved to win. Let’s hope for better in the following fixtures between the two.

Déjà vu for Eibar fans

Last year was one of the few times when you could describe a team’s season as a rollercoaster ride and it be completely true. Eibar started the 14/15 season facing the very real prospect of being denied entry to La Liga due to not having enough funds/being a big enough club. It’s a ridiculous law that exists in Spain but there you go. Thanks to the support of fans both at home and abroad the club generated enough through shares to rightly take their place at the top division.

It was a fairytale start as they defied the odds and found themselves comfortably in midtable at Christmas. Those that didn’t love them before the season, did now. However after a couple of victories in January Eibar’s form nosedived as they lost 14 of their final 18 matches and ended the season in the relegation places. Elche’s financial woes saved them from the drop but the alarming form meant fans were concerned ahead of this season.

Once again they’ve surprised us all and find themselves in 10th place. A very respectable position all things considered. Yet if you scratch beneath the surface there’s concern as to whether history will end up repeating itself with Eibar. At the same stage last season they had won 5, drawn 5 and lost 6. This year they’ve won 5, drawn 6 and lost 5. After a tough run of fixtures they’re a point better off but you feel 5 of their next 6 games will define their season.

Sporting Gijon, Espanyol, Granada and Malaga visit Ipura. All winnable and it’d allow them to distance themselves from the sides below. But lose one or two and panic could set in. A trip to the Benito Villamarin is the other key fixture, especially as Betis can’t buy a win at home. Eibar have a better side this year and should stay clear of relegation but they need to come through the next few fixtures with flying colours or face another season of looking over their shoulder.

It’s tough at the bottom

It’s getting very tight at the wrong end of the La Liga table. One victory can make everything look a lot better but a loss and suddenly it’s all doom & gloom. You’d say any side from 10th to 20th are unable to consider themselves ‘safe’ at the moment.

Malaga’s victory over Atletico moved them up to 13th after beginning the weekend equal on points with the side in the final relegation place. Levante lost away to Athletic Club; Las Palmas against Espanyol; Rayo against Real Madrid and Granada against Celta. Sporting Gijon didn’t play this week. Getafe earned a respectable draw against Valencia while Real Sociedad lost to Villarreal.

With no winter break this year it’d be the ideal time, with a congested fixture list, to go on a decent run of form and break away from the clubs at the bottom. The transfer window opens soon so there might be a chance for some sides to improve their squads but most down there, sadly, don’t have the funds to call on.

Honourable mentions: Melero Lopez – inexplicably failed to award Las Palmas a penalty when Espanyol goalkeeper Pau Lopez missed the ball and punched Sergio Araujo in the face. Angel Lafita – missed an open goal which would’ve given Getafe all 3 points vs Valencia. Luciano Vietto – given another chance to impress in the absence of Jackson Martinez but failed to grasp it. Fernando Torres looked more dangerous after he came on for the Argentine.