Four things we learned from Spain's matchday 4

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MADRID, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- There is no time for breathe as the Spanish Liga Santander moves from Matchday 4 to Matchday 5 without a break, but the past weekend still taught us some important things.

1. Rumors of Real Madrid crisis are exaggerated

Had Real Madrid lost to Real Sociedad on Sunday we could have said the club was in crisis, however, instead of a defeat that would have left them seven points behind their rivals and Barcelona, they won 3-1. Not only did they win but young striker Borja Mayoral showed that he can play a role this season and Gareth Bale produced one of his best displays in a long time, goal included, to silence his critics.

Wednesday sees Madrid take on Betis in the Bernabeu and Ronaldo will be back after suspension. It looks as if the crisis, (if it ever existed) is over.

2. Ernesto Valverde is the man for the Camp Nou

Barcelona didn't play well in Getafe with Luis Suarez having an especially poor afternoon and if you add to that the hamstring injury suffered by Ousmane Dembele, the scene was set for the sort of defeat that cost them the title last season. However, Valverde didn't flinch in his decisions, replacing Andres Iniesta with Denis Suarez at halftime. It was the sort of decision that would have brought criticism had his side slipped up, but Denis was on hand to score the equalizing goal with half an hour left on the clock.

Things got even better when summer signing Paulinho, who had also come on as a substitute, scored the winning goal to totally justify another of the coach's decisions.

So far everything Valverde has done has worked out well and for the moment there is no better man for the Camp Nou hotseat.

3. New home, but few changes for Atletico Madrid

Antoine Griezmann scored the only goal of the game as Atletico Madrid inaugurated the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium with a 1-0 win against Malaga.

There may be questions over how fans adapt to travelling to a different part of the city to watch Atletico, but the performance from Diego Simeone's side implied there will be little change to the football served up to them.

Against a side without a point all season and who caused more problems than expected, Atletico ground out a win with a typically pragmatic performance. It may not have been brilliant to watch, but it was effective...in short it was Atletico Madrid, who on this evidence should have few problems adapting to life across town.

4. Lack of goals could cost Valencia this season

The 23rd Valencia derby between Levante and Valencia ended in a 1-1 draw maintaining both sides' unbeaten statue to the season. Valencia look a changed side from the team which so often rolled over for rivals last season and under coach Marcelino Garcia Toral hopes are high that they can qualify for Europe at the end of the campaign.

However, Saturday showed one thing could put the brakes on Valencia's European ambitions: a lack of goals: Rodrigo Moreno scored for Valencia, but he was guilty of a bad miss and has scored just 7 goals in two seasons in Spain. Meanwhile Simone Zaza has never scored more than 11 goals in a campaign in the top flight and Santi Mina's best total is 6 goals in a season.

Valencia may be tough to beat, but unless they can find goals somewhere, they may be collecting their points one by one rather than in threes. Enditem

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