LaLiga: Messi's all you need, Bale's quick start and red cards aplenty on the opening weekend
Andrew Gaffney rounds up the LaLiga highlights as Real Madrid and Barcelona claim easy wins
THE WINNERS
Even if you don’t have S and N, all you need is M
This summer has seen Barcelona jump from one crisis to another. The departure of Neymar is a body blow they still haven’t gotten their breath back from. Their subsequent transfer business smacks of poor planning and the relationship with the fans is hanging by a thread. In amongst the madness and anger, at least Lionel Messi is still there.
It’s always important to get off to a good start and Barcelona did just that as they brushed aside a poor Real Betis team. Without Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta, Luis Suarez and Neymar a lot of responsibility fell on Messi’s shoulders. Then again, when doesn’t it?
Sergi Roberto played in a more advanced role and excelled. For someone who has given so much to the club, you worry where Roberto fits in. Jean Michael Seri appears to be the next man to join Barcelona. Gerard Deulofeu, the replacement for Neymar at the moment, didn’t harm his chances of more starts either. The former Everton man provided two assists and generally tormented the Betis backline.
Losing Neymar, Suarez or even Iniesta isn’t an end of the world problem for Barcelona. It’ll hurt, it might mean they need to take a season to adjust, but it’s possible to recover from. Yet if they somehow let Messi leave the club, his contract still isn’t signed, they might never get back to where they once were.
Another quick start from Bale – now to kick on
Gareth Bale is constantly fending off speculation about either his future or his worth to Real Madrid. Last season it was Isco who wanted his spot and this season it’s Marco Asensio. In Spain, due to the fact he’s an outsider, the others will always carry more fan fare. But if Bale continues to score on a regular basis even they’ll become quieter.
There’s pressure on everyone at the club when the world considers you the best around. Any slip up will require an inquest and heads will roll. After brushing aside Barcelona 5-1 on aggregate, in which Bale contributed little, the pressure was on for the opening game of the season. And, for the third year running, it was Bale who got Madrid off the mark.
The Welshman is struggling to impose himself in a 4-4-2 alongside Karim Benzema but still made the difference against Deportivo. Isco ran around a lot, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric were as you expected, but Bale was the key man in attack. A poacher’s effort saw him score the first before he played in Kroos to make it three. Casemiro scored in between those two strikes.
The key issue with Bale isn’t how he starts seasons; it’s about doing it throughout an entire campaign. Now, more than ever, he needs to remain injury free.
Marcelino shows Valencia what a real coach can do
It’s been a rough ride for Valencia fans under the majority of the Peter Lim era. The initial success in his maiden season gave false hope to many. While no one doubts Lim is a football fan, the second season showed his naivety in managing the club from afar. The people he chose to sit in the dugout were all poor or inexperienced. Only the man he didn’t bring in, Voro, provided a sense of hope.
And it’s true, one swallow doesn’t make a summer, but the basics at least look in place. Marcelino has a reputation for being a coach that demands the maximum from his players. He wants them at peak fitness so they can fulfil his demands. And, while it got him into trouble at Villarreal, Marcelino isn’t afraid to speak his mind to protect his values.
A 1-0 scoreline against 10-men Las Palmas doesn’t strike fear into anyone but it was the manner of the performance that was the most promising. Last season this would’ve been a game they drew. Instead, despite creating lots of chances, they remained solid at the back. They were a team.
More new faces will join in the coming days but there are plenty of reasons for Valencia fans to feel they’re on the right track. Quite how high they can go remains to be seen but the rebuilding of a giant can only be a good thing for LaLiga.
THE LOSERS
Silly red cards galore
Anybody hoping for an incident free opening weekend in LaLiga was left bitterly disappointed. Five of the first eight games saw a red card in them. Are referees becoming stricter, a new directive from the top, or was it early season sloppiness from the players?
Alen Halilovic was the first man to get his marching orders. The former Barcelona man was impressive until he wiped out Jose Luis Gaya. The challenge itself looked a lot worse than it actually was. Halilovic leaped off the ground but didn’t catch Gaya high. He can count himself a little unlucky.
The next man to see red was Antoine Griezmann. With his side 2-0 down to Girona at the time, the Frenchman felt he’d won his side a penalty. Instead, the referee showed him a yellow card for diving, a la Cristiano Ronaldo. Griezmann’s reaction appeared light hearted at first but he insulted the referee and was given a straight red. Silly.
Ever Banega’s expulsion was similar to Griezmann’s. Unhappy with a decision from the referee he swore at him and was sent off.
Getafe’s Alvaro Jimenez sending off was less controversial. Two poor challenges in less than 10 minutes made it an easy decision for the official.
And the last man to get sent off this weekend is now the record holder for the most sending offs in LaLiga history. Yes, it’s Sergio Ramos – for the 18th time!
After somehow avoiding a red card for pushing Fabian Schar in the face, Ramos was always walking a tightrope. However, on this occasion, he can count himself a little unlucky when it comes to the second booking. Ramos fairly challenged his opponent for the ball but the referee said he led with his elbow. ”Why always me?”
No VAR, no fun
It was arguably the poorest game of the weekend but Athletic Club versus Getafe wasn’t without incident. While some major leagues are using VAR for the first time this season, LaLiga doesn’t even have goal-line technology.
Getafe would’ve been 1-0 up after just seven minutes if goal-line technology was available. Markel Bergara’s header deceived Kepa in Athletic’s goal and he clearly fumbled it over the line. Unsighted the linesman said no goal and the referee went along with that.
In the second half it was Athletic who felt hard done by, although there’s an argument you shouldn’t need VAR to spot the foul in this case. Aymeric Laporte was clearly dragged to the floor in the penalty area. The referee gave nothing. This made all the more bizarre by the fact he’s staring directly at the incident.
It ended 0-0, but 1-1 in poor decisions not going their way.
