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The BBVA was the league that held the biggest game of the weekend. The top two teams in the league, Barcelona and Real Madrid met in an El Clasico which looks likely to decide the fate of the Spanish league title this season. The Nou Camp was full and the atmosphere terrific for a game that has been so exciting to watch in recent years. Barcelona, looking to build on their win over Manchester City in the week and extend their lead to four points at the top of the BBVA table, started brightly, with high pressing and excellent inter-changing passing between the front three. However, it was Madrid who should’ve led, Cristiano Ronaldo firing onto the bar from close range, when the Portuguese international would’ve been expected to score. A Barcelona free-kick allowed Lionel Messi to grab another assist, Jeremy Mathieu heading home his curled delivery.
Elsewhere in the league, nearest challengers Atletico Madrid ensured they continued their winning ways on Saturday afternoon with a 2-0 success at home to Getafe. Fernando Torres, the returning Atleti hero grabbed another early goal, scoring after just three minutes. Torres finding space in the box, managed to head home an excellent Koke delivery to give the red side of Madrid the perfect start. It was 2-0 before half-time and it was another set piece delivery that was the downfall of Getafe. Koke again with another wonderful delivery, but this time Portuguese midfielder Tiago was on the end of it, glancing a header into the back of the net. Without any real clear cut chances in the second half, Atletico cruised to victory to keep themselves in the title hunt, but they remain behind Valencia in fourth place in the Liga BBVA table.
On Sunday, apart from Barcelona vs Real Madrid, there were three other games in the Spanish league. Deportivo La Coruna and Espanyol were the days earliest game and the game lived up to no real expectation, as both sides cancelled each other out in a goalless draw. Sevilla were fantastic in winning 2-0 away from home at Villarreal. Villarreal have been a strong package in the league this year and comfortably outclassed their opponents throughout the game, dominating possession and shots on goal, but Sevilla’s quality in front of goal proved crucial. Two second half goals, first from Coke in the opening five minutes of the second half before Vitolo made it two midway through the second half.
The final game, prior to the El Clasico was David Moyes’ Real Sociedad taking on bottom of the league Cordoba. Cordoba were down to ten men after just six minutes when Aleksandar Pantic was shown a straight red card, but they still took the lead when Florin Andone got on the end of a corner kick to head home. By half-time, Sociedad were level and it was Agirretxe, who also scored a header, this time from an excellent Sergio Canales cross. Second half goals from Chori Castro and Alfred Finnbogason ensured David Moyes’ strong start to his career in Sociedad continued with a 3-1 win. Cordoba did have another two players sent off in the second half however, ending the match with just eight man after both Pablo Pinillos and Inigo Lopez were dismissed in the second forty five minute period.
