Good Day
Barcelona, Real Madrid
Yes, Barcelona continue with their Ming-the-Merciless style maulings of opponents. And yes, Real Madrid continue to be somewhat lucky in their ability to grind out results when playing poorly. But so what?
As one pertinent poster pointed out over the weekend, none of these results matter a ManicheâÂÂs meal, thanks to the bungling of La LigaâÂÂs fixture-fixers.
In the first quarter of the season, Madrid should have been punished by tougher teams than the MalagaâÂÂs of La Liga whilst Barcelona deserve to be further ahead of their rivals having been victorious over the likes of Villarreal.
Instead, the two clubs have been fed cannon fodder to chump on and that will continue until round 13 when both will then face Sevilla, each other, Valencia and Villarreal in a rapid run, followed by another five months or so of fish-food.
What happens if Barça break down, as Xavi fears? Or if Real Madrid suddenly rediscover their mojo? Would the first 12 rounds have been a big waste of time?
Valladolidbecome Barca's latest sacrificial lambs
Villarreal, Valencia
It seems a little unfair to leave this impressive pair out of these calculations. But unless they are still in the hunt with 10 games to go, rather than 10 games gone, they must surely be considered as Champions League contenders rather than title-chasers - something Emery and Pellegrini would both perhaps admit after a pint or two.
Gonzalo HiguaÃÂn, Samuel EtoâÂÂo
The weekendâÂÂs perfect pair were unfortunate to score their four goal hauls within hours of each other, as they have been forced to share the big duvet of praise.
Two very different performances in two very different games. EtoâÂÂoâÂÂs first-half strikes were cool, calm and collected in another comfortable cruise for Barça.
HiguaÃÂnâÂÂs strikes were desperate but decisive in MadridâÂÂs 4-3 win and perhaps a little fortunate given that the ArgentineanâÂÂs two penalty successes were down to the power rather than the precision of the shots.
"Who da man!" Higuain bags all four in Malaga thriller
Mohamed Tchité
Five goals in RacingâÂÂs last three league and UEFA Cup games have saved his managerâÂÂs skin by moving his team into a snug mid-table position, after the wobbliest of starts to the campaign.
Fernando Llorente
Another coach-saving performance came from AthleticâÂÂs Fernando Llorente with an injury-time equaliser against Mallorca to keep JoaquÃÂn Caparrós hopping about on the touchline for another couple of weeks.
Mehmet Aurelio
Already a contender for the buy of the season. The Turkish titan made the right move this summer by becoming a very big fish in a very small Betis pond with a move from Fenerbahce.
In the absence of Edu, the trundling of Pavone and the absolute hopelessness of José Mari, the Brazilian-born midfielder is now the clubâÂÂs top scorer with three, thanks to a double against Numancia.
Aurelio: The signing of the season so far?
Bad Day
Sevilla
Awful. Just awful in the first half against Recreativo. From the distribution of Palop to the aimless punting of the midfielders Sevilla made Recreativo look half decent, which is a criminal offence in some parts of Spain.
A slightly improved second half showing gave Sevilla a narrow 1-0 win, but did not stop the inevitable boos and whistles from the home support.
âÂÂWe didnâÂÂt play well and to say anything other than that would be to delude ourselves from the truth,â admitted Manolo Jiménez after the game.
Diego Capel made a return to La Liga with another stunning dive - a dive which somehow fooled the referee into giving his side a penalty. Fortunately it was missed by Freddie Kanouté. Yet again, a player with undoubted talent came across as an enormous cheat.
Freddy: Goals: 1 Penalties missed: 1
Valladolid
A patronising pat on the back for Valladolid for pushing up against Barcelona and attempting to take the game to their opponents, in the manner of Betis earlier in the season. Things didnâÂÂt quite go to plan was the message from Mendilibar, after the 6-0 hammering.
Raúl
La Liga Loca hasnâÂÂt checked, but the Real Madrid captain still probably got one point from Marca and AS for his brilliant bench-sitting performance against Malaga.
Raul: Star man vs Malaga
People of Pamplona
âÂÂDear Lord no,â was the three-word review on Sunday nightâÂÂs goalless draw between Osasuna and Atlético from La Liga Loca's better half, who was at the match.
ItâÂÂs a game that has the Madrid press calling Javier Aguirre a big old yellow belly for deploying a five man midfield and Kun on his own against a team who have only netted three goals all season.
Recreativo, Numancia
La Liga Loca is not a betting blog but it would put itâÂÂs Buffy box-sets on this duo going down with Osasuna at the end of the season.
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