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Four things we learned in Spain's matchday 8

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, September 30, 2024
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MADRID, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Matchday 8 in La Liga featured a Madrid derby halted due to the actions of a section of Atletico supporters, while Barcelona suffered their first league defeat of the season and things got worse for Valencia. Here is what we learned in Spain this weekend.

1. It's time for Atletico to act against their ultras

The derby between Atletico and Real Madrid is always one of the games of the season in Spain and attracts a massive worldwide audience, so the scenes which saw the game halted for 15 minutes after members of Atletico's Frente Atletico ultra group threw objects onto the pitch after Eder Militao's opening goal for Real Madrid, will have been seen by football fans globally.

The Frente Atletico are notorious for their hooliganism and racists insults, and yet the club continues to tolerate their actions.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone even looked for excuses for Sunday's actions, saying Thibaut Courtois had suffered similarly when he played for his side.

It's simply not good enough from Atletico Madrid, which has repeatedly failed to act against this group of hooligans who have no place in the game.

2. All square in derby but not a game to remember

Although most of the headlines are about the behavior of the Frente Atletico, the Madrid derby disappointed as a spectacle and ended in a 1-1 draw, with Real Madrid taking the lead, before Angel Correa scrambled home a late equalizer for Atletico.

Real Madrid had most of the play and the better chances in the game and it's interesting that Atletico's goal came when the only one of their summer signings still on the pitch was defender Robin le Normand.

Conor Gallagher has impressed since arriving and Julian Alvarez has shown flashes of quality, but so far Alexander Sorloth is struggling and despite lucky late winners in Bilbao and Vigo, there is no sign that Atletico have either changed their style or improved as a team, even though they spent more money than anyone in Spain this summer.

3. Barca youngsters overpowered in Pamplona

Barca's 100 percent start to the season ended in emphatic style as Osasuna beat them 4-2 in the El Sadar Stadium on Saturday night.

Hansi Flick was forced by the intense fixture schedule to rest Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Inigo Martinez and his side paid the price as they were outmuscled and at times outplayed by an experienced Osasuna, who had a wily and effective striker Ante Budimir.

Barca's young players showed that technically, they are as good as you would expect, but Osasuna were able to use their experience and even when Barca had spells of possession, the home side looked capable of scoring on the break.

Yamal and company will return in the Champions League, but Saturday shows what could happen unless Barca stay relatively injury free this campaign.

4. Valencia slipping deeper into trouble

Real Sociedad claimed their first home win of the season with a 3-0 triumph against a Valencia side that is slipping deeper and deeper into trouble in the bottom three.

It was clear this was a big game for both sides, but in the end, Real Sociedad were clear winners as Valencia put up only slight resistance.

Valencia boss Ruben Baraja has done an excellent job at the club: saving them from relegation in his first games in charge and seeing them battle in the top half of the table for most of last season with a team comprised largely of youngsters.

This season is proving to be much harder and unless he can spark a reaction next weekend in Leganes, he could find himself in trouble. Enditem

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