Alavés prepare to capitalise as Elite two falter
Let’s rewind to Sunday January 4th in 2015, some three years and nine months ago, when both Barcelona and Real Madrid threw away three points on the same day.
An event so rare that this is only the fourth time such thing has occurred in the past 11 La Liga campaigns. Happening today in 2018, as well as in 2015 as mentioned above and then both in 2011 and 2009.
The last time this happened, Real Madrid lost by two goals to one away from home at The Mestalla against Los Che, whilst FC Barcelona fell victim to who else but David Moyes’ Real Sociedad at Anoeta. The result secured the Scot his second victory in charge thanks to a second minute own goal from Jordi Alba.
Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat at Valencia earlier in the day would have allowed the Catalans to edge ahead in the title race if they had won, but wasn’t to be.
Back to 2018 though and the door has now been opened for this seasons surprise package Deportivo Alavés to go joint with both Barça and Los Blancos at the top of La Liga. Let that sink in for a second.
After three victories, one draw and just one defeat from their opening five games Abelardo Fernández’s side host Getafe at Mendizorrotza on Thursday evening and will be looking to capitalise after Wednesday’s revelations.
Real were flying before Wednesday’s defeat, with four victories and one draw from their opening five league games.
Julen Lopetegui’s men were however were far from their best in Andalusia as they were thumped by three goals to nil. A fast start from Sevilla led to the opening goal of the game when Marcelo was caught out of position allowing Portuguese international André Silva to capitalise.
And just four short minutes later Los Hispalenses extended their lead to two when Madrid’s corner was cleared, the home side pounced, clearing the length of the pitch in the process before a clinical Silva secured his second of the game and his sixth of the season.
The away side did create chances of their own, most notably Gareth Bale’s superb strike which had summer signing Tomáš Vaclík beaten before it cannoned back out off the post.
A night to forget at the Sánchez Pizjuán was made worse when Real failed to properly clear Sevilla’s corner which at the second attempt found its way into the path of Wissam Ben Yedder who made no mistake to secure all three points.
Its now six defeats in seven visits to the red part of Seville for Real Madrid and is the first time since 1958 that Sevilla have beaten real four years in a row at home. Real could actually start to believe that the Sánchez Pizjuán is cursed.
Real may have been thrashed, but Barcelona were well and truly embarrassed.
Coming into this one Ernesto Valverde’s side were unbeaten in La Liga and Leganes were rooted to the bottom of the table after four defeats including a 4-1 loss to Real Madrid.
A packed-out Estadio Municipal de Butarque and no one in blue and white could’ve predicted this one.
As everyone would’ve expected Barca took the lead after 12 minutes when a Philippe Coutinho wonder volley rocketed past Iván Cuéllar.
You would’ve expected the away side to kick on after that and to some extent they did exactly that. Dominating possession and creating chances. The only thing missing was the second goal.
As the second half commenced Mauricio Pellegrino’s outfit started to play direct balls in behind Barca’s back line and started to cause all sorts of problems.
And they were rewarded after 52-minutes when a ball in behind created space out wide before the incoming cross found former Liverpool winger Nabil El Zhar who ghosted in at the back post to equalise for his side.
Astonishingly just 64-seconds later the home team were in front when another ball was played over the top, Gerard Piqué thought he’d recovered before sheepishly playing the ball directly into the path of former Real Madrid youngster Óscar Rodríguez Arnaiz who made no mistakes and extended Leganes’ lead on his first start for the club.
Valverde’s men have now dropped points in both of their last two La Liga games and on both occasions Piqué’s questionable defending was to blame.
Real can rescue some pride in two days’ time when they face local rivals Atletico in the Madrid Derby whilst Barca return to the Camp Nou to face Bilbao. Plenty of questions for both Lopetegui and Valverde to answer.