La Liga window: Real knock Betis down in the battle for top spot, Lewandowski’s beautiful goal and Sevilla’s crisis

Except for one game, we’re in the fourth round of La Liga. Only one team remains 100% as Real Madrid beat Real Betis in the battle for first place. In Barcelona, Lewandowski is on a rampage and Sevilla are in deep crisis.

Real Madrid

The reigning La Liga champions remain the only team with a 100% record in the Top 5 leagues. Now it faces its toughest test yet, after three away games, Real Betis, who can do it in the capital, come to the rebuilt Santiago Bernabéu. Not only had Real not beaten them at their home stadium for five years in a row, they hadn’t even scored a goal!

After 0:1 and 0:2 defeats came three goalless draws, but now Real have broken the curse. And it was in the ninth minute when Alab’s pass found Vinícius and he lobbed the goalkeeper beautifully. But Betis didn’t give up and Canales equalised from a rare chance after a cross.

But Los Blancos continued to be the better team and it was only a matter of time before they scored the winning goal. It came in the second half when substitute Valverde set up Rodryga’s goal.

Barcelona

After an opening stumble with Rayo Vallecano, Barcelona got off to a flying start. They notched up three wins in a row, with a score of 11-1. And they didn’t just have easy opponents, winning at Real Sociedad and Sevilla.

It was to Andalusia that they travelled on Saturday. And at the best possible time, because Sevilla are in crisis. But that doesn’t change the fact that Barcelona put in a very good performance. In the 22nd minute, Lewandowski’s ball was still kicked by the defenders, but only to Raphinho, who headed it home.

But in the 36th minute, Robert Lewandowski showed his greatness. A beautiful pass from former Sevilla defender Jules Koundé found the Polish marksman on the whitewash, who worked the ball and sent it into the net. In the second half, Eric García added a third goal after a corner.

Sevilla

4 games, 1 point. Three defeats, 3: 8 and 16th place in the table. This is Sevilla’s tragic record at the start of this season. Although the sporting director Monchi asks the fans for calm, the coach Julen Lopetegui has his job on the line.

Losses to Osasuna and Almeria, a draw with Valladolid and a loss to Barcelona put the Champions League participant in an unenviable situation. Can the former Spanish national team coach turn things around, or will another coach try?

Trivia:

Atlético Madrid dropped points for the second time, after a second-round defeat to Villarreal came a draw with Real Sociedad. They are now five points behind leaders Real Madrid.

Valencia have made a comeback. It scored only one goal in the first three rounds and now it has beaten Getafe 5-1.

Villarreal is also in great form. Emery’s charges only drew 0:0 with Getafe after their win over Atlético in Madrid, but at the weekend they shot back and beat Elche 4:0. They are now in third place behind Real Madrid and Barcelona with ten points and a 9:0 record. They are the only team in the Top 5 leagues that has not scored yet.

The fairytale seems to be over for Cadiz. The midget from Andalusia had a fairytale first season, beating both Real Madrid and Barcelona and staying in the middle of the table, in the second year among the elite they saved themselves at the last minute, but the third season looks final. Cádiz have yet to score a goal and with a 0::10 record and zero points, they are pegged at the bottom of the table.

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