La Liga’s Good Day, Bad Day - Round One
Tuesday 01 September 2009 14:00
GOOD DAY
Getafe
Thought that La Liga Loca was bluffing when it predicted that Getafe would spend the season chasing the Big Two like a particularly terrier-like terrier? Reckoned that the blog was merely having a jolly jape at the outrageous notion?
Oh no. La Liga Loca was all with the Richie Edwards carving ‘4-Real’ into his arm with its sensational declaration. And for proof, just look at the 4-1 thrashing of Racing on Sunday afternoon.
Three goals from Roberto Soldado - the first of his 47 this season; an outstanding display from Zelda-from-Terrahawks-in-a-Guns-n’-Roses-Slash-wig Dani Parejo; and a safe display from keeper Oscar Ustari.
Surely a sign of an incredible campaign to come from the mighty Getafe. Or that Racing are really, really, really really shi[Woah there – Ed.]
José Guardado
On Sunday, both Marca and AS were under the impression that it was Raúl who was the bestest ever player on the pitch in the Madrid vs Depor clash, what with his one-yard super strike and penalty-winning tumble.
Wrong, wrong, wrong. It was Deportivo’s Guardado with a very welcome return to form. In his first season in La Coruña the poodle-haired midfielder was outstanding, but went off the boil a little last year.
But at the Bernabeu, the Mexican international was in fine fettle, whipping in crosses up front and pegging it back to help double-up on Cristiano Ronaldo.
Barcelona
Monday’s Camp Nou clash against Sporting was exactly the type of match where Pep’s Dream Boys will be looking to rest some of the first-teamers and still cruise to a comfortable win.
The Catalan club began without Diego Messi (whose priorities this week are Argentinian), Andres Iniesta, Thierry Henry, Eric Abidal and Yaya Touré. But the likes of the increasingly impressive Pedro did the Barça business in a 3-0 win.
Real Madrid
Well, they didn’t lose. Instead, Madrid came away with three points from a fixture the side should always win, no matter who plays for them.
Former president Ramón Calderón almost made it into the Bad Day section; with memories still fresh of having a Nicolas Cage impersonator as his guest of honour at the Bernabeu, this time it's mad-as-a-plate-of-spanners Usain Bolt who kicked off the top-flight season at the Bernabeu on Saturday night.
Arjen Robben
Not technically in la Liga, but a fine middle finger to Jorge Valdano with two strikes for Bayern on Saturday, the second of which was a link-up with Frank Ribery. And with his right foot!
Riki, Arizmendi
A big ‘balls-to-you’ to La Liga Loca with the two worst strikers in the world scoring for Deportivo and Zaragoza respectively. The latter gave his side a winning start to the season with a booted effort in a goalmouth scramble.
Málaga
Looked like a CGI-generated flesh-stripping goblin army in Sunday's 3-0 victory over Atlético. Málaga’s players tirelessly swarmed over the Rojiblancos whenever the opposition side had the ball. A promising start to the campaign.
Ricardo
So often pants-poor, the Osasuna keeper kept Villarreal out in a 1-1 draw.
Iker Munian
After a lifesaving strike in the UEFA Cup qualifying rounds, this wee young scamp made his league debut for Athletic Bilbao this weekend and looks quite a prospect at just 16.
Defeated Espanyol manager Pochettino claimed that the nifty-on-the-ball attacking midfielder was “a player to get people out of their seats.” Presumably not in the Lady Gago "If he's playing for Madrid, I'm not paying for it" going-home-now sense.
Ever Banega
With big boss man Ruben Baraja out injured, it was Ever Banega who surprised a few by starting in Valencia’s defeat of Sevilla – and by putting in a fine performance that included the setting up the Mestalla men’s second strike.
BAD DAY
Racing Santander
Already neck and neck with Abel Resino of Atlético in the sack race, Racing coach Juan Carlos Mandía declared after his 4-1 tanking by Getafe that “it may not appear to be that way, but the game was fairly even.”
A few megabytes short of a download, thinks the carefully stepping-away La Liga Loca...
Atlético Madrid
...and that’s exactly the reason why Atleti are so cherished and loved by all who watch la Liga.
In the first match of last season, the Rojiblancos beat Malaga 4-0. One year later, they lose to them in a result that raised a titter all over Spain. Except among those of the Rojiblanco persuasion, perhaps.
Coach Abel Resino looks set to leave the handy José Jurado on the bench in this season, persisting with the distinctly defensive Raul García as his creative hub alongside Cleber Santana or Assunçao. Unfortunately, it’s like asking Spanish TV to make a funny sitcom.
Here’s Iñako Díaz-Guerra of AS is to explain why (not about the sitcoms): “The formula for beating Atleti is not so complicated: leave the ball for them in the centre of their midfield and wait for someone to do something. It’s like waiting for Godot: nothing will happen.”
Xerez, Tenerife
A losing start for two of this season’s promoted clubs. There will be scraps of optimism in the camps, though, as both sides created chances, even if they couldn't take advantage of them.
The authorities decided to welcome Xerez to the top flight in style, with two sendings-off for yellow card offences by the nit-picking clown of a referee.
Freddie Kanouté
The Sevilla striker definitely woke up on the wrong side of the bed with a bloodthirsty performance to pick up two yellows for dirty play.
Alvaro Negredo was another to have a hard time of it against Valencia in a comedy two-minute period where he was booted in the back, clothes-lined and hacked in the knee.
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About Tim Stannard
La Liga Loca is the playground for the evil, more childish half of Tim Stannard’s psyche to be let loose. The other 50% is a contributor to FourFourTwo magazine, Football365, Sabotage Times as well as other publications such as UEFA Champions Magazine and When Saturday Comes. He is also a regular guest on Real Madrid TV’s Extra Time show and works as a TV producer extraordinaire for hire. To contact Tim directly email laligaloca@yahoo.co.uk