Features
MON 09.02.2015
Matchday 22 in the Liga BBVA ensured that the title race, the battle for European places and the fight to avoid the drop will all be full of excitement from now until the end of the season. And for yet another weekend, more records were broken and clubs and players reached new milestones.
Barral guides Levante to centurion win
Saturday was a glorious day for Levante UD, who after nine league games without a win finally got a victory, beating Málaga CF 4-1 to climb out of the relegation zone. It was also the Valencia side’s 100th victory in the Liga BBBVA, and it came about thanks to an outstanding performance from David Barral, who scored his first career hat-trick, and also became the first Spanish player to score a treble this season. Kalu Uche, who signed in the January transfer window, completed the rout to score on his first start for Levante.
Fortress Madrigal
Despite losing to FC Barcelona last weekend, Villarreal proved they are still one of the top teams in the Liga BBVA, above all at their El Madrigal home. Marcelino García Toral’s side, who are three points behind fourth spot in the Liga BBVA, picked up a sixth consecutive home win and recorded a fifth successive clean sheet. And with their 2-0 win over Granada, Villarreal have now scored in all of their last 27 matches in all competitions.
Atlético end home derby day curse
Atlético Madrid had not beaten their neighbours Real Madrid CF in the league in the Estadio Vicente Calderón since 1999, but the Rojiblancos brought this run to an end in emphatic style on Saturday with an outstanding performance their loyal fans will likely never forget. The 4-0 win over their Madrid neighbours not only ended that hapless run, but also put Atlético right back in the race for the Liga BBVA title. Diego Godín, who fractured his nose during the game, demonstrated the Colchoneros’ fighting spirit, and the defender also became the Uruguayan player to have played most matches for Atlético Madrid, his 142 games in a red and white shirt seeing him overtake former Atleti striker Fernando Correa.
An ungrateful guest
Juan Ignacio Martínez has turned UD Almería into a very dangerous team away from home. The Andalusian side won at Córdoba CF on Sunday to pick up their third away win in five matches and also exited the relegation zone. RC Celta and Malaga were the other victims of a Almería side who are much improved under Juan Ignacio Martínez, and who last weekend also picked up their first home win of the season, beating Getafe.
A feast of goals in San Mamés
Sunday’s final game between Athletic Club and FC Barcelona was full of emotion and goals. Lionel Messi scored for the fifth game running in Barcelona’s 500th away win in the Liga BBVA. Barcelona have scored 2033 goals on the road in the league, with Messi netting 117 of them. Meanwhile, Aritz Aduriz, who is close to turning 34 years old, scored his 100th Liga BBVA goal in 297 games - 60 of them for Athletic (in 170 games), 17 with Valencia (from 58 games) and 23 with RCD Mallorca (69 matches).
© LALIGA - 2015