2008-2009 La Liga Wrap-Up (Week 1-10)
November 21st 2008 23:21
After back-to-back league titles, Real Madrid started the season with hope of getting their third title in three years. Meanwhile, their archrival, Barcelona wiped the slate clean in the offseason, bringing in their own Pep Guardiola as the new manager, and getting rid of superstars Ronaldinho, Deco, and Zambrotta. After ten games, here's how the teams stack up.
1. Barcelona (10-8-1-1 | 25pts)
Like I said before, it's a new era at the Camp Nou. Gone are Ronaldinho, Deco, and Zambrotta while newcomers Keita, Piqué, Dani Alves, and Hleb strengthen the defense and midfield without the ego that comes with huge stars. With all those changes, it wasn't surprising to see the Blaugrana struggling in the first games of the season, losing against Numancia and drawing against Racing de Santander. The problem was that the players weren't performing as a team during these two games, just a bunch of individuals.
From that point on, they were steered in the right direction as Guardiola named Eto'o as his central striker, forcing Henry to suck it up and be a man by sticking him on the bench until he accepted his situation. Barcelona went on to win their next eight games with 33 goals scored for 6 conceded in that span. The change of mentality is clearly noticeable when you watch them play. Everyone knows their role and play it to perfection like different pieces of an engine coming together to bring it to life. The defense is led by Puyol and Marquez, the midfield is ruled by Xavi, the attack starts with Messi and ends with Eto'o. All three Barcelona strikers - Eto'o, Henry (when he's playing centrally), Bojan – understand that their job is not to carry the ball in the box to score by themselves. They have to find holes in the opposing defense and wait for either Xavi or Messi to set them up with defense-splitting passes. Eto'o and Messi seem to have found a new complicity with Messi as the set-up man and Eto'o as the scorer. They don't get in each other's way anymore which is something that frequently happened in the first two games.
Broadly speaking, the team has found back the intricate passing that made them a powerhouse back when Ronaldinho only had football in his mind, not clubbing. Their football is purely offensive as evidenced by the two goals scored by right-back Dani Alves (I feel really bad for not discovering this guy before this season, he's really good) and Eto'o's league-leading 13 goals. The team will hope that he continues his great form and that his knee injury doesn't resurface.
2. Villareal (10-7-3-0 | 24pts)
Since 2005/2006, Villareal has stuck considerably close to the two giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. Their strong midfield (consisting of Marcos Senna, Santi Cazorla and Robert Pires) is the core of their success as they are the only undefeated team after ten games. They have a strong character and cannot be counted out of any game (as evidenced by their 4-4 draw against Atletico Madrid).
3. Valencia (10-7-2-1 | 23pts)
Like Villareal, Valencia is another contender that cannot be dismissed. With David Villa and Fernando Morientes in front, skilled speedy wingers such as Vincente, Joaquin, and David Silva, their attack is a lethal weapon that strikes very hard if not properly controlled. The loss of Silva early in the season hasn't affected them very much but you still feel like something's missing when he's not there.
4. Real Madrid (10-7-2-1 | 23pts)
This year's edition of the Meringues is a perplexing case for fans and commentators alike. Their fourth place in the standings along with their winning record cover serious issues at the back where other teams have ruthlessly exploited their left flank. With the inexperienced Marcelo playing alongside slow veteran Gabriel Heinze, the defense has basically been left to Cannavaro and Casillas. In front, the loss of Robben to injury and Robinho's depature means that Madrid isn't as fast and agile on the wings as they would like - something that gives a lot more freedom to opposing fullbacks. Higuain has been a pleasant surprise in attack (9 goals in ten games), but there's no guarantee that he'll keep the same pace in the coming weeks. Right now, the defending champions have to solve their porous defense, the rest will fall in its place.
5. Sevilla (10-6-2-2 | 20pts)
Five of Sevilla's six wins came with a clean sheet, showing that, unlike Madrid, their defense is playing quite well. But then again, they haven't faced any team from the top 5 just yet so it's easy to chalk up their defensive prowess to an easy schedule.
6. Deportivo La Coruna (10-4-3-3 | 15pts)
Despite a win against Real Madrid in the first week of the season, Deportivo hasn't shown enough to be considered top 5 material. Like Sevilla, the majority of their victories came with clean sheets while they have been unable to score more than three goals per game.
7. Atletico Madrid (10-4-2-4 | 14pts)
The other Madrid team has been struggling to post back-to-back wins. Most of their losses came during a difficult patch where they consecutively encountered Sevilla, Barcelona, and Real Madrid, stopping their skid with a dramatic 4-4 draw against Villareal.
8. Malaga (10-4-1-5 | 13pts)
Malaga has to do more than defeat the bottom-tiered clubs if they want to stay in the top 10.
9. Getafe (10-3-4-3 | 13pts)
Their numerous draws are the only thing that's keeping Getafe afloat right now. Like Malaga, they have to do more than defeat clubs like Sporting de Gijon and Valladolid.
10. Almeria (10-3-3-4 | 12pts)
Inconsistency is the key here for Almeria who haven't won two consecutive games, going 0-2-3 in their last five games. Their 1-1 draw against Real Madrid is the best thing that happened to them in those first ten games.
11. Sporting de Gijon (10-4-0-6 | 12pts)
Promoted club Sporting de Gijon started the season in atrocious manner with five consecutive defeats including 6-1 and 7-1 routs against Barcelona and Real Madrid. They picked up the pace in the sixth week, winning four games in a row and conceding only two goals in that period. They ended their first ten games with a defeat but there's no way to tell how they will turn out in the end.
12. Racing de Santander (10-3-3-4 | 12pts)
Two draws at the beginning of the season against Sevilla and Barcelona made things look hopeful, but a three-game losing streak quickly brought them back to earth.
13. Mallorca (10-3-3-4 | 12pts)
14. Espanyol (10-3-3-4 | 12pts)
15. Real Betis (10-3-2-5 | 11pts)
Betis have had trouble scoring goals – that explains their current record. But when they do score, the goals come in bunches so they have to find a way to be consistent when on the attack.
16. Valladolid (10-3-1-6 | 10pts)
If you don't score goals, you don't win. Football is as simple as that.
17. Numancia (10-2-1-7 | 7pts)
They defeated Barcelona 1-0 in the first week of the season, and almost played the same trick against Real Madrid one week later. Unfortunately, they don't seem capable of keeping up with La Liga's pace.
18. Recreativo Huelva (10-1-4-5 | 7pts)
19. Athletic Bilbao (10-1-3-6 | 6pts)
20. Osasuna (10-0-5-5 | 5pts)
It doesn't look good for Osasuna who haven't won a single game in the first ten weeks of the season.
1. Barcelona (10-8-1-1 | 25pts)
Like I said before, it's a new era at the Camp Nou. Gone are Ronaldinho, Deco, and Zambrotta while newcomers Keita, Piqué, Dani Alves, and Hleb strengthen the defense and midfield without the ego that comes with huge stars. With all those changes, it wasn't surprising to see the Blaugrana struggling in the first games of the season, losing against Numancia and drawing against Racing de Santander. The problem was that the players weren't performing as a team during these two games, just a bunch of individuals.
From that point on, they were steered in the right direction as Guardiola named Eto'o as his central striker, forcing Henry to suck it up and be a man by sticking him on the bench until he accepted his situation. Barcelona went on to win their next eight games with 33 goals scored for 6 conceded in that span. The change of mentality is clearly noticeable when you watch them play. Everyone knows their role and play it to perfection like different pieces of an engine coming together to bring it to life. The defense is led by Puyol and Marquez, the midfield is ruled by Xavi, the attack starts with Messi and ends with Eto'o. All three Barcelona strikers - Eto'o, Henry (when he's playing centrally), Bojan – understand that their job is not to carry the ball in the box to score by themselves. They have to find holes in the opposing defense and wait for either Xavi or Messi to set them up with defense-splitting passes. Eto'o and Messi seem to have found a new complicity with Messi as the set-up man and Eto'o as the scorer. They don't get in each other's way anymore which is something that frequently happened in the first two games.
Broadly speaking, the team has found back the intricate passing that made them a powerhouse back when Ronaldinho only had football in his mind, not clubbing. Their football is purely offensive as evidenced by the two goals scored by right-back Dani Alves (I feel really bad for not discovering this guy before this season, he's really good) and Eto'o's league-leading 13 goals. The team will hope that he continues his great form and that his knee injury doesn't resurface.
2. Villareal (10-7-3-0 | 24pts)
Since 2005/2006, Villareal has stuck considerably close to the two giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. Their strong midfield (consisting of Marcos Senna, Santi Cazorla and Robert Pires) is the core of their success as they are the only undefeated team after ten games. They have a strong character and cannot be counted out of any game (as evidenced by their 4-4 draw against Atletico Madrid).
3. Valencia (10-7-2-1 | 23pts)
Like Villareal, Valencia is another contender that cannot be dismissed. With David Villa and Fernando Morientes in front, skilled speedy wingers such as Vincente, Joaquin, and David Silva, their attack is a lethal weapon that strikes very hard if not properly controlled. The loss of Silva early in the season hasn't affected them very much but you still feel like something's missing when he's not there.
4. Real Madrid (10-7-2-1 | 23pts)
This year's edition of the Meringues is a perplexing case for fans and commentators alike. Their fourth place in the standings along with their winning record cover serious issues at the back where other teams have ruthlessly exploited their left flank. With the inexperienced Marcelo playing alongside slow veteran Gabriel Heinze, the defense has basically been left to Cannavaro and Casillas. In front, the loss of Robben to injury and Robinho's depature means that Madrid isn't as fast and agile on the wings as they would like - something that gives a lot more freedom to opposing fullbacks. Higuain has been a pleasant surprise in attack (9 goals in ten games), but there's no guarantee that he'll keep the same pace in the coming weeks. Right now, the defending champions have to solve their porous defense, the rest will fall in its place.
5. Sevilla (10-6-2-2 | 20pts)
Five of Sevilla's six wins came with a clean sheet, showing that, unlike Madrid, their defense is playing quite well. But then again, they haven't faced any team from the top 5 just yet so it's easy to chalk up their defensive prowess to an easy schedule.
6. Deportivo La Coruna (10-4-3-3 | 15pts)
Despite a win against Real Madrid in the first week of the season, Deportivo hasn't shown enough to be considered top 5 material. Like Sevilla, the majority of their victories came with clean sheets while they have been unable to score more than three goals per game.
7. Atletico Madrid (10-4-2-4 | 14pts)
The other Madrid team has been struggling to post back-to-back wins. Most of their losses came during a difficult patch where they consecutively encountered Sevilla, Barcelona, and Real Madrid, stopping their skid with a dramatic 4-4 draw against Villareal.
8. Malaga (10-4-1-5 | 13pts)
Malaga has to do more than defeat the bottom-tiered clubs if they want to stay in the top 10.
9. Getafe (10-3-4-3 | 13pts)
Their numerous draws are the only thing that's keeping Getafe afloat right now. Like Malaga, they have to do more than defeat clubs like Sporting de Gijon and Valladolid.
10. Almeria (10-3-3-4 | 12pts)
Inconsistency is the key here for Almeria who haven't won two consecutive games, going 0-2-3 in their last five games. Their 1-1 draw against Real Madrid is the best thing that happened to them in those first ten games.
11. Sporting de Gijon (10-4-0-6 | 12pts)
Promoted club Sporting de Gijon started the season in atrocious manner with five consecutive defeats including 6-1 and 7-1 routs against Barcelona and Real Madrid. They picked up the pace in the sixth week, winning four games in a row and conceding only two goals in that period. They ended their first ten games with a defeat but there's no way to tell how they will turn out in the end.
12. Racing de Santander (10-3-3-4 | 12pts)
Two draws at the beginning of the season against Sevilla and Barcelona made things look hopeful, but a three-game losing streak quickly brought them back to earth.
13. Mallorca (10-3-3-4 | 12pts)
14. Espanyol (10-3-3-4 | 12pts)
15. Real Betis (10-3-2-5 | 11pts)
Betis have had trouble scoring goals – that explains their current record. But when they do score, the goals come in bunches so they have to find a way to be consistent when on the attack.
16. Valladolid (10-3-1-6 | 10pts)
If you don't score goals, you don't win. Football is as simple as that.
17. Numancia (10-2-1-7 | 7pts)
They defeated Barcelona 1-0 in the first week of the season, and almost played the same trick against Real Madrid one week later. Unfortunately, they don't seem capable of keeping up with La Liga's pace.
18. Recreativo Huelva (10-1-4-5 | 7pts)
19. Athletic Bilbao (10-1-3-6 | 6pts)
20. Osasuna (10-0-5-5 | 5pts)
It doesn't look good for Osasuna who haven't won a single game in the first ten weeks of the season.
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