La Liga’s Good Day, Bad Day - Round 6
Monday 05 October 2009 10:00
Good Day
Sevilla
After a couple of depressing days spent in the Vicente Calderón and Coliseum watching Atleti and Getafe, the Sevilla vs Real Madrid clash was a powerful pick-me-up against the La Liga Loca’s blues that prevented it from popping into its usual post-Deportivo drugs den.
Irrespective of the result, this sensational game was a huge boost for the Spanish league and a banishment of the blog’s grumpy claims that la Liga was divided into A and B divisions.
Sevilla were magnificent on Sunday night, while Real Madrid were not as bad as Monday’s papers are complaining, but could not match their Flamenco-fuelled opponents for pace or power.
It was the result most neutrals - including this particular organ - was praying for. And it will be supporting Valencia just as hard against Barcelona in a fortnight’s time.
NEWS: Ronaldo-less Real sunk by Sevilla
Jesus Navas
Despite the Spanish squad for the World Cup now being fixed - aside from injuries and any changes, according to a double-speaking Vicente Del Bosque - Jesus Navas may, just may force his way onto the roster if he can keep battling away at his psychological demons that prevent him from leaving the city of Seville for more than a few days at a time.
“I’m taking steps to be with them,” claimed Navas on Sunday night after a magnificent display against Madrid.
Up close and personal, Navas is a frail, delicate-looking figure with a whisper of a voice.
But on the pitch, he’s as hard-as-nails, as strong-as-an-ox and as devastating as a... er... devastating thing.
NEWS: Nervy Navas stakes claim for Spain selection
Saint Iker Casillas
Produced the season’s first “Did he just do that?” moment, with that second half save against Diego Perotti.
The best goalkeeper in the world and La Liga Loca will arm wrestle anyone who says anything different.
Doesn’t mean that a rather puny blog will necessarily win, though.
Deportivo
“Valencia, Villarreal, Atlético Madrid! Gather round.
"No, no, that doesn’t go in your ear Atleti. Just put it down and come here.
"Now, Deportivo’s 1-0 win over Tenerife has put them into fourth place. Yes, that’s right. Fourth. Deportivo.
"Now how does that make you feel? Mmm? Yes. I thought so. Now go back to your corners.”
NEWS: Colotto headers seals Depor success
Barcelona
La Liga Loca had got down to the Vicente Calderón on Saturday night nice and early to catch the preceding clash between Barcelona and Almería.
But seeing as neither the stadium bar, nor any bars around it had GolTV, the platform the game was broadcast on, it cannot contribute anything to the Catalan cause today, aside from saying that it enjoyed the images of Chica trailing Xavi around the pitch and current blog hero Pedro’s stunning strike.
But La Liga Loca is welcoming any outside interventions or ramblings on the Camp Nou clash. And a free card, holder, and subscription from GolTv, too.
NEWS: Pedro piledriver preserves perfect Barca start
Iker Muniaín
The Athletic player’s equalising strike against Valladolid on Sunday makes him the youngest scorer in la Liga at the age of just 16 years and 290 days.
Spain’s Jason Dozzell is surely among us.
NEWS: Muniain named youngest la Liga scorer
David De Gea
The 18-year-old keeper who made his league debut for Atlético on Saturday night is the definite hero of the hour for the rojiblancos - there aren’t many other contenders, to be fair - after a solid display against Racing in a 2-1 win - a display that included a penalty save.
Although he did give the spot-kick away in the first place, mind.
The good news for the shot-stopping youngster is that he can now enjoy the love and adulation from the Atleti support, at least until Sergio Asenjo comes home from Spain duty.
The bad news is that Marca and AS have already started poking into his private life with Monday’s editions featuring him pootling about his ‘pueblo’ and having a bash on his Playstation.
Pedro León
Pretty much the only player who showed any signs of life for Getafe in a horribly sleepy encounter at the Coliseum was Pedro León.
The former Valladolid midfielder who dazzled the locals with a stunning free-kick against Valencia two rounds ago was back at his best again with a cracking chipped lob thing to put Getafe into a 2-1 lead against Osasuna - a lead which they hung on to.
Xerez
A goal! An actual goal! A crappy two yard poke from Emiliano Armenteros that may well have come from a handball, but a goal nonetheless!
And a point as well, against a worryingly bad Málaga.
NEWS: Xerez finally score first goal of season
Sporting
Not only did the Asturian side put high-flying Mallorca in their place with a 4-1 win, but Sporting nestled themselves into ninth with a second victory of the season.
Nikola Zigic
It’s always fun to see some strikers return to their old clubs and perform the “I’m not celebrating” trudge back to the half-way line after grabbing a goal.
The Serbian Yeti did just that on Sunday evening after his winner against his beloved Racing - a match that will see David Villa out of the Spanish side next week after a muscle knack.
Bad Day
Marcelo
Skinned, smoked and hung up to dry by Jesus Navas. Made Royston Drenthe look good. Oh yes. That bad.
Carlos Aranda
Arizmendi and Riki had better watch their step, cos’ there’s a new sheriff of shoddy sharp shooting in town. That man is Osasuna’s Aranda.
The former Numancia forward first made a name for himself last week with a stunning headed miss against Sporting.
But the baldy, slow one surpassed this effort on Sunday with two laughably lousy attempts to score a goal using his bonce.
The Osasuna forward nearly fluffed his eventual effort by directing the ball straight at Cata Díaz on the goalline, but fortunately for careless Carlos he was not able to clear the danger.
“You can only miss chances if you take them,” said an understanding José Antonio Camacho after the game, after a journalist more-or-less told the Osasuna manager that his striker was completely sh*t.
Nivaldo
And for a second week in succession, it’s a warm welcome to the Bad Day section for Valladolid defender, Nivaldo.
Last time round, the Pucela centre-back put in a staggering performance of utter ineptitude in a defeat at Mallorca.
This week, the Brazilian put Fernando Llorente in hospital with a horrendous headed challenge before getting himself sent off later on in the game - his second red card in five games.
Good work.
Villarreal
Well, La Liga Loca’s weekend prediction of a double figure scoreline for Villarreal against Espanyol didn’t quite come off.
In fact, there’s wasn’t any scoreline at all. Here’s Paul from Barcelona who travelled south to watch Sunday’s goalless draw.
“Regular readers may remember me explaining that a trip to Villarreal isn't the most exciting. Well nothing's changed.
"It's still three or four hours away from Barcelona and there's still nothing to do when you get there. And they still have a high percentage of Argentinean and Scottish supporters. (Anyone know why?)
1) Forlin's red card was softer than that Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel Song (ask your dad). Try YouTube for both.
2) Kameni had a great game, but he still is a microsecond away from some howler.
3) Villarreal are missing an edge. They try to play football and play it wide but the end product is poor. (Cliché alert)
4) Espanyol defended well but the expected onslaught from Villarreal didn't really come. For the most part, Espanyol were comfortable for the 70 odd minutes where they only had 10 men.”
Paul, Barcelona
NEWS: Espanyol ensure more Villarreal misery
NEWS: Pires - Keep the faith
Málaga
Currently a side wishing they could play Atlético Madrid every week, as that has been their only win of the current campaign back in the opening round.
*And you can hear more of La Liga Loca's thoughts on the weekend's action in 3D and Smellovision on RMTV's gabfest, Extra Time, all this week.
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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