La Liga 2020-21: A Messi Business

[Jon]

Thread faves eibar (well, tony and I like them) finally won today! A thumping 3-0 victory over Alaves. Alas, it might be too little too late but I still live in hope. Atleti won 1-0 away at elche who missed a penalty in the last minute. I think espanyol were promoted last weekend. Good to see them back although it'll just be another six points for Barcelona.

[Sporting]

Bugger the diacritics problem.

[ursus arctos]

Eibar are five points from safety with four matches left, but those four are Getafe away, home to Betis, away to Valencia and home to Barcelona

They likely need at least a point from Getafe and some help from those above them. It is unlikely that the Barca match will be a complete dead rubber.

[Belhaven]

So, that's Sevilla most likely out of the championship race, going down 1-0 at home to Athletic after a late goal last night. That's a shame, I wanted them to win this year.

[Sporting]

It is indded a shame and good news for Madrid who play them next Sunday.

[Sporting]

Yesterday in Valencia:

[Jon]

Yesterday in Valencia:

Wow, I wasn't aware of the heightened feeling among Valencia fans until you posted this, Sporting. Was the sacking of Javi Gracia a contributing factor? And do you think the protests against the Superleague has emboldened the Valencia fans? Here is an article about Lim in the FT, printed just a couple of days before the demonstrations. https://www.ft.com/content/7611e5f0-...3-4e4e1c263324

The chase for the league title this year has been the most exciting for decades. In fact, I can't remember it ever being as tight as this, with four clubs still in with a chance with 3 games to go. Barca dropped points again this evening, Levante coming from behind 3 times to draw 3-3 at home. Atleti's run-in looks the easiest but the next their one is potentially the trickiest - at home to Real Sociedad. Win that game on Wednesday and they are very nearly there.

It's also interesting at the bottom. Eibar won again at the weekend. And Alaves won a big relegation game 0-2 away at Elche this evening.

[Sporting]

Was the sacking of Javi Gracia a contributing factor?

No, that was largely irrelevant in the larger scheme of things. The sacking of Marcelino had a greater negative impact. The main thing is that Lim is seen as someone with no interest in football, only interested in advancing his own business interests etc. Sounds familiar?

Here is an article about Lim in the FT, printed just a couple of days before the demonstrations. https://www.ft.com/content/7611e5f0-...3-4e4e1c263324

Cursed paywall, but I've seen translations here.

[Sporting]

Levante coming from behind 3 times to draw 3-3 at home.

Actually just twice, but they played as well as Barcelona's defence was dodgy.

[Discordant Resonance]

Further proof of the strength in depth of Basque football - the town of Amorebieta has a population of only 16,000, but its club is now only 90 minutes away from promotion to the second tier:

https://twitter.com/SDAmorebieta/status/1393655704263741445

Meanwhile, Pique's Andorra project must wait another season to escape the third tier, after defeat to Sociedad B.

[Discordant Resonance]

Booo - Real take the lead in San Mames, and would currently go top on the H2H rule.

[Ray de Galles]

Contentious goal too, Benzema dummied/made an attempt to play the ball from an offside position and it went through to Nacho to score.

The commentary team (and me) were sure it was going to be ruled out after the VAR check.

[Discordant Resonance]

Worse still, Osasuna take the lead at the Metropolitano, 1-1 now.

[Discordant Resonance]

Suarez to the rescue!

[Jon]

Contentious goal too, Benzema dummied/made an attempt to play the ball from an offside position and it went through to Nacho to score.

The commentary team (and me) were sure it was going to be ruled out after the VAR check.

Yes, I thought it would be disallowed. Strange decision. Earlier on in the game the ref turned down a penalty for a handball against Madrid.

[steviecowden]

Yes, I thought it would be disallowed. Strange decision. Earlier on in the game the ref turned down a penalty for a handball against Madrid.

how very surprising

[Senyor Pirotecnic]

I was at the game in Mestalla yesterday. 5,000 tickets on sale to abonados (neither Levante nor Villarreal are charging for theirs ...), they didn't even sell out in the end, I believe. It helped that the team clicked but it was a surprisingly emotional occasion, especially when the first goal went in, I'm still kind of buzzing from it tbh! Nice balance of support for the team and anti-Meriton chants, especially as the crowd was spread out and there were no ultra cheerleaders.

I was at the demo above too. Wasn't happy with the ultras having such prominence but I guess their ehmm organisational skills were needed. You can read the FT Lim piece with a basic free registration. Despite his talk of being in for the long haul, I have no doubt he will sell up if and when the right offer arrives (with preference given to non-Valencian bid). The huge debt and the new ground conundrum complicate things for would be buyers, of course. Yes, I think the SL protests added some impetus, there were 50+1 and "football for the fans" banners that mightn't have been there before but this has been brewing for some time, it's only covid that has prevented such a big demo happening earlier.

[Sporting]

they didn't even sell out in the end, I believe

About half of the tickets were sold.

So there's someone else here who lives in Valencia!

[ad hoc]

Both Atleti and Real fall behind early

[Jon]

Just over 20 minutes gone. Atleti conceded a breakaway goal to Valladolid and, a minute later, Madrid conceded at home to Villareal.

[Sporting]

Huesca holding on...

[Sporting]

But Elche score

[Jon]

Maybe not the Great Huescape after all?

[Jon]

Benzema scores! Madrid lead La Liga!

[Jon]

Gone to VAR.