La Liga Gameweek 13 Review: Disallowed Goal Mars Top Of The Table Clash

La Liga Gameweek 13 Review: Disallowed Goal Mars Top Of The Table Clash
09:43, 27 Nov 2017

Alba returns to haunt his old club

On a weekend when Barcelona celebrated Lionel Messi’s contract renewal, they couldn’t leave Mestalla with all three points, but that was more down to the incompetence of the officials than Barca’s wastefulness in front of goal.

Messi would prove decisive later in the game, but a perfectly legitimate goal was ruled out as VAR is not yet live in Spain, and the linesman couldn’t see a ball which was clearly a yard over the line.

When Rodrigo put Valencia ahead, it looked likely that the Blaugrana would succumb to their first defeat of the season, but Ernesto Valverde pulled another rabbit from the hat, changing his 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3.

That switch gave the visitors more options and Messi’s ‘quaterback’ pass found a scampering Alba at the far post to volley home.

It was a goal that still gives Barca the advantage and keeps them four points ahead of Los Che.

Ronaldo gets Real out of jail

It was a win, yes, but not one that Real Madrid can be proud of.

Yet to score away from home, Malaga managed to get two at the Santiago Bernabeu, and were only 15 minutes away from potentially driving the final nail into Los Blancos’ La Liga coffin.

The headlines will be about how both Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo were back on the goal trail again, but the truth is Real looked anything but champions again.

Even the winning goal, when it came, was fortuitous, Ronaldo missing his penalty only to drive home the rebound.

Make no mistake, Zinedine Zidane has problems, and if he doesn’t solve them quickly, Real’s title challenge will be over for another year.

Second-rate isn’t good enough so perhaps it’s time that a number of squad members took a long, hard look at themselves.

El Clasico is less than a month away and we all know what happened the last time Messi came to town…

Sevilla are King of the comebacks

Not content with coming back from 3-0 down against Liverpool in their midweek Champions League fixture, Sevilla were at it again on Sunday, this time against Villarreal.

A mouth-watering clash didn’t disappoint but the hosts will rue their wastefulness in front of goal after being two goals to the good.

Cedric Bakambu and Carlos Bacca had given the Yellow Submarine the perfect buffer, but within four minutes of their second, Sevilla were on terms thanks to Clement Lenglet and Franco Vazquez.

Just as in the Liverpool game, the pendulum had well and truly swung and there wa only going to be one winner from that point.

Victor Ruiz’s handed Sevilla the chance, getting a red card before Ever Banega put away the resulting penalty.

Levante smacked by Atleti’s ‘big hand’

When five goals are scored in Spain, it’s known as a ‘manita’ or ‘big hand,’ and that’s exactly what Levante were slapped by on Saturday night.

Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid side were ruthless from start to finish and the score line was fully justified.

The margin of victory was all the more remarkable given that the hosts had become something of a bogey team for the Rojiblancos, denying them victory on their last three visits.

On this occasion, however, the result was never in doubt once Pier put through his own goal on five minutes.

It took until the half hour for Kevin Gameiro to double the lead, but it had been one way traffic throughout.

The pattern continued in the second half, Gamiero grabbing his second just before the hour mark and then Antoine Griezmann weighing in with a double of his own inside three minutes.

Tello breaks Girona hearts

The romantic story of the season isn’t just Girona’s rise to the Spanish top flight for the first time ever, but the fact that they are regularly holding their own in games.

Against Real Betis they led twice but were ultimately undone in the 95th minute by former Barcelona star, Cristiano Tello. That doesn’t tell half of the story though.

Portu had put the visitors ahead in first half stoppage time and with five minutes left to play, it looked as if the minnows were on for another famous victory.

Andres Guardado then popped up and looked to have given Betis a share of the points.

With the whistles of the supporters deafening those on the pitch, the officials continued with a match that was well into its 94th-minute when Portu scored again.

Cue a mass exodus of home fans who would’ve missed their team go straight down the other end to equalise with virtually the last kick. Amazing!

Honourable mention - Las Palmas end losing streak

Pako Ayestaran will be delighted. His team didn’t win, but a point away at Real Sociedad will feel like a victory to a team that had lost their last eight league games in a row.

Though it doesn’t alter their position in the table and means they’re still five points from safety, the manner of the draw against the team who were in seventh should give the Canary Islanders hope of pulling themselves out of their slide.

Pedro Placeres had given the visitors the best possible start but within 10 minutes Willian Jose had brought La Real level.

Once Adnad Januzaj had fired the hosts in front just after the hour, the writing appeared on the wall again, but to Las Palmas’ credit, it was all square again within five, Jonathan Viera on target on this occasion.

Both teams battled gamely until the end, and it’s Ayestaran’s side who’ll be feeling the most pleased with themselves.

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