Like a date with La Liga Loca, BarcelonaâÂÂs encounter with Sevilla was only fun for two minutes. But at least the fans didnâÂÂt walk off promising to call the next day.
Two minutes was how long it took for PepâÂÂs Dream Boys to post their single-finger response to Real MadridâÂÂs fist-waving fury from the previous night.
Two minutes was how long it took for BarçaâÂÂs hero of the hour, Andrés Iniesta, to smack a shot past the hapless Javi Varas in the Sevilla goal.
Two minutes was how long it took for everyone in Spain to switch over to watch Desperate Housewives. Or, for those treasonous types, Manchester UnitedâÂÂs Premier League clash with Portsmouth.
On Wednesday night, Sevilla showed just how truly average and uninspiring they have become under Manolo Jiménez, the man who took over the clubâÂÂs reins from Juande Ramos.
Getafe had an excuse or two for barely having a touch in their Coliseum clash on Saturday night: theyhâÂÂre not very good and are being managed by Victor Muñoz.
But Sevilla have no such fallback position for the four goals conceded, or the two shots in response that was their wonderful nightâÂÂs work.
Jiménez admitted that âÂÂwe were infinitely inferior to themâ and bleated that âÂÂyou have to be perfect to beat them.âÂÂ
You have to at least try to beat them, huffs La Liga Loca to a manager who waved the white flag from the off by leaving Freddie Kanouté on the bench.
Manolo eschews the option of brown trousers
SportâÂÂs headline notes that âÂÂWho laughs last laughs longer,â while the considerably less literate Mundo Deportivo - the paper that communicates in grunts and clicks - yells âÂÂSuperstar!â at Iniesta.
âÂÂBarcelona are unstoppable,â opines SportâÂÂs Josep Maria Casanovas. âÂÂLa Liga will not be lost, despite certain referees.âÂÂ
And Josep is probably correct in his assumption, considering there are just six games to go and Madrid have to face Sevilla in the Sánchez Pizjuán without Pepe, Sneijder, Robben and HiguaÃÂn (pending an appeal).
Elsewhere on Wednesday night, Osasuna found themselves suffering at the hands of a life-risking referee in Pamplona in their clash against Málaga.
The relegation-battling Basques were punished with the softest of penalties in the opening minutes before losing three more players and their manager in a game where the man in the middle seemed to quite enjoy himself â unlike the furious white-hankie/plastic bag-waving fraternity who watched their team crash to a 2-3 home defeat.
Osasuna fans: "May we have a word?"
Elsewhere, David Villa struck twice to beat Betis 2-1 at home in a match where Unai Emery claimed âÂÂthe second half was oursâ but where opposition coach José Maria Nogúes felt that âÂÂthe second half was more open.âÂÂ
And Deportivo beat AlmerÃÂa.
Thursday night sees what uncharitable types would describe as the runt of la LigaâÂÂs midweek fixtures. In the 10pm kick-off against Valladolid, Mallorca are hoping to see their crowd reach double figures.
âÂÂThe other day, Arsenal's Alex Song told me that we are the only league you watch in bed when you go to sleep,â joked Mallorca striker Pierre Webo on the preposterous start time.
Meanwhile, two bald men fight over a comb in GÃÂjon as Sporting take on Espanyol. Atlético are set for another dazzling away day defeat, this time against Racing Santander, while Villarreal will continue to show indifference to la Liga with a narrow, scrapping win over Recreativo.
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