A cautious weekend starting line-up from Pep Guardiola meant that Barcelona did their bit to challenge accusations of theirs and Real’s La Liga dominance.
By Peter Cadogan
“Liga de mierda” – League of Shit. It was the phrase on the lips of Spanish football this week as Sevilla president José María del Nido launched a stinging attack on the unhealthy financial dominance of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Supported by several other clubs, Del Nido hosted a meeting to discuss the inequitable distribution of TV money – Madrid and Barca are set to gobble up 35% of the total funds between them.
In the end, twelve clubs attended the meeting that has sparked a fierce debate on the perceived lack of competiveness in the league and after the opening weekend of fixtures where Real Madrid and Barcelona romped to comfortable victories, many felt they had a point.
Up to a point.
Pep Guardiola, no doubt mindful of his players’ exertions while on international duty and an imminent Champions League tie against AC Milan, picked an experimental side for Barca’s away trip to Real Sociedad leaving Messi, Villa, Mascherano and Iniesta on the bench and selecting Cesc Fabregas as central striker.
Two first half goals appeared to have vindicated the decision to rest senior players with Xavi and free scoring Fabregas both finding the net. However, Sociedad launched a spirited second half fight back with the make-shift centre half pairing of Busquets and Fontas struggling to cope with the physicality of Imanol Agirretxe who pulled a goal back with a far post header.
David Villa, on as a first half substitute for the hamstrung Alexis Sanchez, then inexplicably attempted a back pass from five yards inside the opponents half. Agirretxe pounced on Villa’s woefully misplaced effort and rounded Valdes with ease, hitting a shot on goal that was handled onto the bar by a backtracking Busquets before being tucked away by Antoine Griezmann.
The goal was awarded amid scenes of confusion and Busquets was spared what would have surely been a straight red card. Scores tied, Messi and Iniesta were thrown into the fray but could not turn the tide. A two goal lead had been squandered as Guardiola paid the price for underwhelming team selection.
Elsewhere, Valencia maintained their solid start to the season with a home victory over Atletico Madrid. All eyes may have been on Falcao in the build-up as he made his debut for the visitors but it was Roberto Soldado who scored the only goal in a 1—0 nil win at the Mestalla. The goal was Soldado’s fourth of the season after and opening day hat-trick and his side top the table along with Reals Madrid and Betis with 100% records.
Sevilla followed up on their opening day victory over Malaga a hard fought draw away to ten man Villarreal. Alvaro Negredo again scored for the visitors, capping a fine week where he notched a couple of goals for the Spanish national side having been picked ahead of Chelsea misfit Fernando Torres.
If financial inequality was the theme of the week then the Monday evening match between Moneybags Malaga and lowly Granada was a fitting finale. Malaga ran out four nil winners with Santi Carzola and Joaquin bagging a brace each. As forms of financial doping, TV money is one thing – oil money is another thing entirely.
Results:
Espanyol 2-1 Athletic Bilbao, Malaga 4-0 Granada, Villarreal 2-2 Sevilla, Real Sociedad 2-2 Barcelona, Osasuna 2-1 Sporting Gijon, Valencia 1-0 Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid 4-2 Getafe, Rayo Vallecano 0-0 Real Zaragoza, Racing Santander 0-0 Levante, Real Betis 1-0 Mallorca
Fixtures (Sept 17-18):
Sporting Gijon v Valencia, Granada v Villarreal, Mallorca v Malaga, Barcelona v Osasuna, Sevilla v Real Sociedad, Getafe v Rayo Vallecano, Zaragoza v Espanyol, Atletico Madrid v Racing Santander, Levante v Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao v Real Betis
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