It was an impressive week for the Spanish big guns in the La Liga as Real Madrid and their Catalan rivals Barcelona made impressive opening statements for their title challenge.
The week was started off by Barcelona taking on Real Betis as they marched to their first victory in the La Liga this season with a 6-2 scoreline.
The rout was completed courtesy of Luis Suarez, who had a hat-trick to his name and Lionel Messi, who helped himself to a brace, as well.
Suarez continued his impressive form in front of the goal, notching 3 goals, one of which was a nicely executed free kick.
It was almost total domination from Barcelona except the 2 goals which they conceded, highlighting their problems at the back.
As for their domestic rivals, Real Madrid began their La Liga campaign at the back of an impressive 12-game winning streak from last season against Real Sociedad at Anoeta.
It took the 11-time European champions only 73 seconds to score their opening goal via Gareth Bale, who scored a lovely header by meeting Dani Cavajal’s cross. He later scored in the 93rd minute to make it 3-0 to Los Blancos.
Marco Asensio was the other man to score, brilliantly chipping over the goalkeeper and showing plenty of flair in the final third.
Zidane’s men made a strong start with a little shaky defence but their experienced defenders were more than capable to see off the challenge.
On the other side of Madrid, Atletico Madrid were held to a draw by the newly promoted Alavés, who scored in the 95th minute via Manu García with their first shot on target to disappoint the Calderon faithful in their own home.
Atletico had gone ahead in the stoppage time as well, scoring via a penalty and then Alavés equalized in the 95th minute, sending the fans into a frenzy.
Atletico’s talisman Antoine Griezmann, who was inspirational at the EURO 2016 as a finalist, was absent against Alavés because of a suspension as Atletico’s bid for a 2nd La Liga title in 4 years were dented in the first match, itself.
Although, we have 37 matches to go, it’s nice to see teams going all guns blazing regardless of their club stature and giving it their all to be in the Liga race.
Till next time, here’s hoping for a spectacular gameweek 2 as Real Madrid’s galactic talisman Cristiano Ronaldo is speculated to return in the match against Celta Vigo.
That’s all for today, folks!
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