GOOD DAY
Vladimir Stojkovic
Having gone through more goalkeepers than a Seaman-obsessed old slapper, Getafe finally found the right man for the job on Sunday evening.
Vlad the Impaler was between the posts in the Sánchez Pizjuán and helped the visitors to their first clean sheet in 22 league games with some fine saves and even finer arm-waving and boggle-eyed staring.
Having previously worked their way through Ustari (too injured), Pato (too peculiar) and Jacobo (too meeeehhhh) they finally settled on the Serbian currently on-loan from Sporting Lisbon.
Combined with a tough-tackle and splendid run from Jaime Gavilán on the left, Getafe won just their second game in 10 to send coach Victor Muñoz more than a little doolally on the opposition bench.
David Villa
There is nothing as poignant as the player who pointedly refuses to celebrate a goal against a former team. That slumped posture of depression, so reminiscent of some poor soul being ordered to watch Real MadridâÂÂs last three games all over again.
This was the brace position adopted by David Villa on Sunday on converting a penalty against his old stomping ground and big love, Sporting.
It was against the club that made him a big banner to welcome him home and even tried bribing him with a celebratory plaque before the game. But it was to no avail, as VillaâÂÂs first half strike was to prove.
Villa: All out of goal celebration ideas
Cleber Santana
The Mallorca midfielder has appeared one or two times in the blogâÂÂs past - usually with the word âÂÂwhy?â and âÂÂ!!!â next to his name.
This is a player who is so awful that Atlético even put a clause in his contract forcing the on-loan player to play against them, rather than be left out. (This may not technically be true).
But for now, those jokes are (temporarily) suspended after CleberâÂÂs Hugo Sánchez-esque overhead kick which put Mallorca ahead in their 2-0 win over AlmerÃÂa.
Osasuna
The 2-1 victory over Athletic, the sideâÂÂs third win in a row, lifts Osasuna to the heady heights of 11th.
It also makes them - or so La Liga Loca heard - the third best team in Spain in the second round of matches with just one defeat in 11. Manager, José Antonio Camacho is perhaps one Madridista that the fans wonâÂÂt lob lighters at it in El Sadar.
Kun Agüero
Or âÂÂKum Agüeroâ as one caption writer for TVE1 put, opening a whole different career path to SundayâÂÂs goalscorer, should he give up football one day.
It was almost a very familiar but entertaining story for Atlético in Riazor. Decent work by the strikers let down by the sideâÂÂs failure to play the final three minutes of the match with a late goal conceded.
âÂÂBut this time, there was to be no circus (just)â wrote Iñako DÃÂaz Guerra in AS. âÂÂWe did well for the rest of the game,â noted Abel Resino coming to his teamâÂÂs defence.
Emana
After a very sprightly first third to the season, Betisâ marvellous midfielder seemed to be stuck in the same plug hole of despair as the rest of his team-mates.
But the Cameroonian footballer finally clambered out to âÂÂsinkâ 10-man Racing Santander with two goals to give new manager José MarÃÂa Nogúes a winning start to his no doubt short Betis career.
Málaga
Took advantage of a Villarreal side who looked like they were playing on jam rather than grass to restart their European push with a 2-0 win to keep them level with sixth-placed Atleti on goal difference.
Malaga stay on course for a Europa League spot
Barcelona, Real Madrid
The same reaction in the Spanish press to two more victories for both teams in a weekend that was sadly similar to the last round of matches.
Marca claim referees are helping Barça and complain they are winning the league âÂÂby decreeâÂÂ. Sport and co say that Madrid are spawny jamsters doing the bare minimum to hang onto Pep's Dream Boysâ brilliant coat tails.
Meanwhile, the Bernabeu correspondent for El PaÃÂs appears to be on the point of blowing their brains out with the headline that Madrid âÂÂwin as much as they boreâÂÂ.
BAD DAY
Cáceres, Keita, Gudjohnsen, Bojan, Hleb...
Over the next few weeks, BarcelonaâÂÂs first-teamers are going to be busier than a one-legged tap dancer, but the less-than-super subs do not appear to be aware of this.
Like Maniche, they are unable to pull their weight and are contributing very little to the culé cause.
Although the 2-0 win over Recre can be seen as a battling performance in the middle of a big Champions League week, itâÂÂs nothing to what the Catalan club will face when the likes of Sevilla, Valencia, Chelsea and Villarreal come a callinâ over the next month.
If the Barcelona backroom boys can barely overcome a side that are in the bottom three, it doesnâÂÂt bode well for the immediate future of the league leaders.
Sergio Ramos
Replaces Guti in the Real Madrid naughty corner after leaving the ground at half-time (he was suspended, the game wasnâÂÂt that bad) to go and watch some bullfighting.
"I love a bit of bullfighting me"
Sporting
Have now equalled the record for number of matches played without achieving a draw - 30. And this sees Sporting slipping towards the relegation zone.
10 of the promoted clubâÂÂs 19 defeats have been by the odd goal, a touch more pragmatism in some of those matches could have seen Sporting already safe for another season instead of one place above the trap door.
Sevilla
Have scored less goals than Real Betis this season. Which is not very good really.
Espanyol
Like an over-botoxed Barbie Girl, Paul from Barcelona has had a stiff upper lip for a good fortnight now... letâÂÂs see how it is holding this week.
âÂÂA five-and-half-hour drive through the jungle, desert actually, only to see us stitched up yet again. Three clear penalties (one for Numancia) not given and a perfectly good goal disallowed. The horror! THE HORROR!. Welcome to Espanyol's world.
"Over 1,800 made the trip and about 700 of them couldn't get in as it was sold out. Numancia decided that a point would be good enough so they didn't go for the win, whereas Espanyol did but came up against Supergoalie and Supermoron.
"By far the better team, Espanyol created loads of chances and should have had a penalty when Tamudo had a shot and what looked like a clear handball stopped it going in.
"A couple of minutes later a nod down from Moises was volleyed home by Sergio Sanchez. Disallowed because..........????????
"The ref was garbage. Both sets of fans agreed on this. In the final minutes Espanyol could have scored five or six times but Juan Pablo, Numancia's keeper, had the game of his life.
"So, results went against us and we are now seven off safety. How much do I hate Sevilla? Probably more than Barça at this moment in time. Not quite over yet. Three of the next four at home and our away match is against Sporting.
"Nice friendly people in Soria but no reason to visit them.âÂÂ
Paul, Barcelona
Deportivo
A team that has gone into depression ever since securing safety for another season, say AS on a side that has picked up just one point from 12.
Getafe stall Sevilla
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