FC Barcelona doesn’t play their 28th round match in La Liga until Monday night, but even though the league’s leaders were able to take a break, there are several things to discuss. Here are some things we learned this weekend in Spain.
1. Real Madrid focusing on Cups
Real Madrid waved ‘adios’ to any slender chances of retaining their La Liga title when they were defeated at home by Villarreal on Saturday night.
The game came just 72 hours after their 4-0 win over FC Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, and five days ahead of what looks to be a highly winnable UEFA Champions League quarterfinal against a chaotic Chelsea side that has just replaced Graham Potter with Frank Lampard.
Carlo Ancelotti made a host of changes for the game, and although Real Madrid didn’t play badly, it is obvious they are now focused on the knockout competitions, and the league will be to ensure the players stay sharp for midweek commitments.
2. Chukwueze the hero for Villarreal
Although it was a good moment to play Real Madrid, that should not take away from Villarreal’s impressive win, which keeps them in the hunt for a top-four finish.
Villarreal matched Madrid in possession and completed passes and had more shots on target than their rival with one player standing out. Nigerian forward Samuel Chukwueze seems to have run into the best form in his career at exactly the right moment.
The 23-year-old has netted five goals and given three assists in his side’s last seven matches, and with striker Gerard Moreno injured, he has been vital for his side by adding pace and ability to beat his marker to Villarreal’s passing game.
His two goals and one assist against Real Madrid were decisive and could have teams in the Premier League taking note ahead of this summer.
3. Atletico Madrid marches on
It was business as usual for Atletico Madrid, who won 2-1 away to Rayo Vallecano on Sunday night for their ninth win in 11 La Liga matches.
Defenders Nahuel Molina and Mario Hermoso scored two goals in a three-minute spell in the first half, and from then on it was relatively easy for Atletico to hold on despite Fran Garcia’s late strike for Rayo.
The win lifts Atletico 10 points above Villarreal, who currently sits fifth, strengthening their UEFA Champions League spot for next season, and leaves them just two points behind Real Madrid. With their neighbors focused on the Copa del Rey and Europe, second place looks to be within Atletico’s reach.
4. No reaction for Luis Garcia
If Espanyol hoped that sacking Diego Martinez and replacing him with former favorite Luis Garcia would produce an immediate reaction, they were wrong as Espanyol was outplayed in Garcia’s first game in charge, losing 2-1 at home to Athletic Club Bilbao.
Athletic traveled to Barcelona looking to recover from their Copa del Rey exit in midweek and controlled the game from start to finish. With better finishing, the Basque side would have been three or four goals up before Sergi Darder netted in injury time with Espanyol’s only effort on target all game.
Espanyol is second from bottom and has to visit Betis and Villarreal in the next three weeks. Unless Garcia can produce a drastic change, things don’t look good for Espanyol.
