The weekend before the Clasico saw a 17-year-old score on his debut to move Barcelona to within one point of Real Madrid at the top. Girona kept up their charge and share the lead with Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Elsewhere Atletico Madrid beat Celta Vigo leaving Antoine Griezmann close to the Atletico goals record and Rafa Benitez in the bottom three. Here are ten talking points from the weekend’s games in Spain
No Camp Nou no problem
The Olympic Stadium is not filling up but Barcelona are not being affected by the absence of a full roaring Camp Nou. It’s been six wins from six games and although they left it late on Sunday they deserved the three points.
Barcelona have been impressive at home despite not being able to play at the Camp Nou
Quickest debut goal this century
Marc Guiu took just 33 seconds to score on his debut for Barcelona. The previous record was held by Sandro who scored within 10 minutes of his first start. ‘I am surprised that they are not more scared,’ said Xavi of his young players after the game.
17-year-old Marc Guiu scored after just 33 seconds on his senior debut for Barcelona
If not now then when?
Athletic Bilbao have not beaten Barça away since 2001 and they may never get a better chance. Barcelona had so many players missing that there were only three senior outfield players on Xavi’s bench – and one of those was 16-year-old Lamine Yamal. Athletic missed their goal scoring chances and missed their best opportunity for years to pick up an away win against Barça.
Bilbao have not beaten Barça away since 2001 and they may never get a better chance
Griezmann can play Atletico to the title
His hat-trick on Saturday took him to within nine goals of Atletico Madrid’s all-time top scorer Luis Aragones. The French forward destroyed Celta Vigo and Atletico Madrid are now fourth just three points off the top and with a game in hand on their big two rivals.
Antoine Griezmann scored a hat-trick as Atletico Madrid managed to overcome Celta Vigo
Simeone’s had a great year…
Maybe not in terms of trophies but his team have picked up 72 points in this calendar year and no team in Spain can top that. Barcelona have managed 71 and Real Madrid 65.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid have got the most point in LaLiga in this calendar year
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Rafa’s rough time
It’s now one win, three draws and six defeats for Rafa Benitez at Celta Vigo. They are in the bottom three and only his pedigree and the fact that they have played well at times and had to face the three biggest teams in the league are saving him from calls for his sacking. He needs wins soon though.
Rafa Benitez is enduring a tough time at Celta Vigo, with his team in the relegation zone
Girona more than just hand-outs from Manchester City
They do benefit from their City Group status but Girona scout well too. They picked up Artem Dovbyk in the summer and the Ukrainian has five league goals and two assists so far this season. His brace on Saturday helped them come back from 2-0 down to win 5-2.
Artem Dovbyk has made a major impact for Girona with five league goals and two assists
Savinho is the star
That win for Girona saw them go joint top with Real Madrid and it was Savinho who got their fifth goal. There are two things that seem fairly certain this season – Michel’s team will not be in a relegation battle for all that they say getting 40 points is the aim, and Savinho will move to bigger things next summer.
The talented Savinho has impressed for Girona and seems set for a big move next summer
Madrid’s 100 per cent league record broken by Ramos
Well, he was certainly part of a spirited display from Sevilla who became the first team all season to take points from Madrid. The old warhorse might have been sent off in a feisty display, he also might have scored a late winner but Kepa’s save kept his header out.
Sergio Ramos was in the Sevilla team that ended Real Madrid’s 100 per cent league record
Bellingham denied by Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea
Defenders and goalkeepers have not been able to stop him, on Saturday in Sevilla it was a referee he prevented him scoring. After Antonio Rudiger’s challenge on Lucas Campos the match official told the Sevilla player to get up and wave play on. Real Madrid counter-attacked quickly and Bellingham scored but meantime the referee had stopped play to ask after Ocampos who had stayed down. It was text book finishing again from Bellingham, not so much text book refereeing.
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea denied Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham a goal
