La Liga
SPANISH LA LIGA
In the season opener,
Hugo Guillamon (Getafe): First Red Card of the season.
Carlos Soler: First goal of the season.
In the 76th minute, Erick Cabaco (Valencia) received the second red card of the season after accumulating yellow cards.
Despite getting reduced to 10 men after three minutes,
Valencia went on to win the season opener through a 1-0 win against Getafe.
Carlos Soler scored the first goal of the season from the penalty spot in the 11th minute to get Valencia the three points.
As to what we can expect for the coming season in La Liga, it is hard to say. How teams begin their season will play a big role in accomplishing their objectives.
The teams that finished in the ‘top 4’ last season were all on the winning side of the score in the opening round.
Angel Correa’s two goals got Atletico Madrid the winning start they wanted to defend the league title. Correa’s goals lead Atletico Madrid to a 2-1 win against Celta Vigo.
Karim Benzema scored a brace as Real Madrid started their season with a 4-1 away win against A laves. After having a trophyless season last year, this was the start they needed to amend that.
Barcelona started their season at Camp Nou.
Martin Braithwaite’s two goals were sandwiched between Gerd Pigue’s match opening goal and Sergi Roberto’s insurance goal. Barcelona went 3-0 up before the hour mark but allowed for a tricky end to the game when they conceded two goals in the final 10 minutes of regulation time.
In the end, a 4-2 win against Real Sociedad is a good start for Ronald Koeman’s [Messi-less] Barcelona.
Sevilla were 3- 0 winners against a 10-man newly-promoted Rayo Vallecano.
A red card to Luca Zidane [Rayo Vallecano’s goalkeeper] forced the team into making an early substitution, a concession of the first goal of the game, and playing over 70 minutes with a numerical disadvantage. Erik Lamela scored a second-half brace to add to Youssef En-Nesyri’s penalty goal.
Cadiz shared the point with Levante.
Alfonso Espino scored an equalizing goal for Cadiz deep into the added minutes. 90+7.
FOR THE NEWCOMERS
Mallorca’s first game back in the top flight was a 1-1 draw with Real Betis.
Espanyol were in a goalless draw with Osasuna.
While Rayo Vallecano started their season on a 3-0 defeat to Sevilla.
The final two games of the opening round ended as goalless draws. ‘Villarreal vs Granada’ and ‘Elche vs Athletic Club’.
Goal difference has Real Madrid leading the charge at the top. There were 5 winners making 5 losers. 10 teams shared points
LEADING SCORERS
Lionel Messi has been the league top scorer for the last five seasons, and it could’ve been his 9th season as league top scorer if he hadn’t moved on to the French Ligue 1.
It’s a four-way tie after one round played.
Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid) – 2 goals
Erik Lamela (Sevilla) – 2 goals
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) – 2 goals
Martin Braithwaite (Barcelona) – 2 goals
