La Liga Round 1 Summary : Here We Go!

So finally the new league season is up and running! Strange to start a new season without having the Super cup out of the way and officially the first El Clasico will begin on Thursday as league winners Real Madrid take on cup winners Barcelona for the early bragging rights I guess in the first leg.

However the league threw up some shocks and some surprising results, some good comebacks and some surprise scorers which I will bring you now! Honestly I haven’t thought of how I will lay this out as of yet so any thoughts would be good to hear!

So lets have a summary on the opening results in the Primera Liga :-

Celta Vigo 0 -1 Malaga

With a squad of only 19 players and no new signings expected I have Malaga to struggle this season and so was the case after a narrow victory in Vigo, Celta had the better of the play and for only Malaga keeper Caballero kept the scores even. However the goal came from the most of unlikeliest of scorers! As 16 year old Cameroonian forward Fabrice Olinga who was part of the Samuel Eto’o foundation struck the winner with only five minutes remaining he was only on the bench to make up the numbers but might have played his way into the managers thinking now.

Goals : Olinga 85

Ana’s Man of the Match : Enrique de Lucas did everything but score and constant threat to the Malaga defense.

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Sevilla 2 — 1 Getafe

An opening day victory for Sevilla but far from assured against a good Getafe team who held their own at times in Sevilla. Getafe were on top until the 34th minute when Rakitic’s freekick out wide was headed in my giant defender Federico Fazio four minutes later Reyes fouled and up stepped Alvaro Negredo to double the Sevilla lead. Alexis who oddly is on loan from Sevilla headed in from a corner to half the deficit but there comeback ended there and a home win for Sevilla.

Goals : Fazio 34, Negredo 38 — Alexis 51

Ana’s Man of the Match : Ivan Rakitic, excellent deliveries all game and was a dominant figure in the midfield.

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Mallorca 2 — 1 Espanyol

A man of the match performance from Mallorca forward Tomer Hemed was enough to beat a spirited Espanyol who were dominated for most of the match by a very good looking Mallorca team. Only two minutes had gone when a smart finish from Hemed got the home team of to a perfect start as the game began at a furious pace, new signing for Espanyol Mubarak equalised  four minutes later as both sides attacked each other. However Mallorca then began to dominate creating the better of the chances and deserved the winner four minutes from time with Hemed and another classy finish.

Goals : Hemed 2, 86 — Mubarak 6

Ana’s Man of the Match : Tomer Hemed, two good goals and led the front line very well one to watch this season from that display.

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Athletic Bilbao 3 — 5 Real Betis

So a crazy game at the San Mames after a horrendous start by the home side Ruben Castro, Jorge Molina and Benat had put the visitors into a comfortable lead after only 30 minutes! However credit Bilbao as Oscar de Marcos and then a double from center back Mikel San Jose brought them back into the game after half time and the game was tied at 3-3.  Cue a spate of even more goals as Alejandro Pozuela and a second from Jorge Molina scored in the last ten minutes for an excellent away day victory and giving Bilbao the stark realisation of life without Javi Martinez and Fernando Llorente.

Goals : Castro 7, Molina 26, 86, Benat 31, Pozuela 80 — de Marcos 47, San Jose 67, 76

Ana’s Man of the Match : Benat, outstanding display in midfield capped with a goal.

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Real Madrid 1 — 1 Valencia

An unconvincing display in Madrid saw new Valencia coach Pellegrino leave with a point a good start to his new life at Valencia. Diego Alves the Valencia keeper had an inspired game after an amazing save to deny Higuain he then had to make another before the ball fell again for Higuain who this time smashed it past him as his defenders looked on the perfect start for the home team. However they struggled with balls into the area and when a Tino Costa delivery was headed in my Jonas just before half time the game for tied at 1-1. Things should have got worse for Real Madrid just after the break when a delightful pass from from Tino Costa released Roberto Soldado who rounded Casillas and rolled the ball into the open goal only to be wrongly denied by the linesman flag for offside.

 Goals : Higuain 10 — Jonas 42

Ana’s Man of the Match — Diego Alves, the Valencia keeper had his doubters but was inspired form making a string of fine saves earning an excellent point for the away team.

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Barcelona 5 — 1 Real Sociedad

Tito Vilanova began his new reign as Barca coach is style after a five one victory at the Nou Camp, things started quickly as Puyol firmly headed in after only four minutes but a goal from Sociedad’s Castro five minutes later leveled the game until a brace from that little Argentinian! Two goals in five minutes from Lionel Messi put the home side in total control and when a lovely ball from Tello found the unmarked Pedro his calm side footed finish just before the break made in four. Late on Andres Iniesta picked out the amazing David Villa who came off the bench and putting the nightmare of his broken leg behind him scored with a brilliant finish six minutes from time.

Goals : Puyol 4, Messi 11, 16, Pedro 41, Villa 84 — Castro 9

Ana’s Man of the Match : Lionel Messi, scored two and was generally everywhere!!

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Levante 1 — 1 Atletico Madid

All square in Valencia as Levante and Atletico took a point each after a one all draw, and another fast goal! This time Nabil el Zhar striking with only four minutes gone to give the home side the lead however that was cancelled out on the stroke of 22 minutes by Arda Turan who struck a fine finish from the edge of the area. The game lost its flow and Falcao was denied a penalty late on as both teams had to settle for a point.

Goals : el Zhar 4 — Turan 22

Ana’s Man of the Match : Arda Turan, scored and showed good touches in an pretty stale game.

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Deportivo 2 — 0 Osasuna

Back in the top flight and back with a win as Deportivo edged out Osasuna despite missing an early penalty through Riki, who re-deemed himself just after half time with a well struck goal from just inside the area to give the home team the lead. The game was wrapped up in stoppage time when Oliveria scored as Osasuna struggled to create chances and Deportivo looked well organised  and are set for a decent season I think.

Goals : Riki 53, Oliveira 92

Ana’s Man of the Match : Carlos Marchena, assured display from the experienced Spaniard in a good look Deportivo.

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Rayo Vallecano 1 — 0 Granada

I have tipped both to struggle but Vallecano earned their first win of the season with a late winner to beat Granada. Granada had been the better team over the 90 minutes but an excellent Roberto Trashorras free kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time earned the home side an opening day win and what already may be a vital one.

Goals : Trashorras 95

Ana’s Man of the Match : Fabian Orellano, looked a constant threat until substituted.

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Real Zaragoza 0 — 1 Real Valladolid

Zaragoza were struck down by  former player as newly promoted Valladoild claimed an excellent away win with two teams I feel will struggle. Valladolid were the better team in the opening 45 minutes and struck first with only seconds remaining in the first half Oscar scoring from a few yards away. Zaragoza were better in the second half but the game should have been over when Zaragoza’s Apono handled in the area but Perez’s penalty when high and wide but thankfully didnt cost them as they held on for the win.

Goals : Oscar 45

Ana’s Man of the Match : Jose Maria, came of the bench at half time and the game changed will surely start in the next game against Espanyol.

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And that’s that as they say! The league table can be found here and it makes good reading for any Deportivo fans! But nothing can really be drawn until at least ten games or so are played and I really hope you enjoyed this post!

Am still thinking about other ways to present it and write it so as always any feedback is welcomed layout, length etc. Its my first time writing something like this for others to read so your thoughts and ideas would be great and will be interesting to read your thoughts after the first round of fixtures.