For better or worse, Real Madrid dominate the media agenda.
After two tough away games in the space of four days on Spain’s eastern Mediterranean coast, Madrid will be glad about on Wednesday’s home match against a Las Palmas side who have lost their last four matches – though they were unfortunate to lose against Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Madrid lost at Valencia last Wednesday, a defeat which made the title race far more interesting and made those Barcelona fans who have been jeering their manager during games recently realise that all is not lost this season.
Madrid are a point clear at the top of the Primera Liga and have a game in hand over Barcelona and Sevilla, who are three points behind. All three were top of the table at different stages over the weekend. It is a three-way title race.
Barcelona’s victory at Atletico Madrid on Sunday has all but ended the title hopes of Diego Simeone’s side. Having played a game more, they are now seven points behind their neighbours Real with 14 games remaining.
Atletico’s attention is likely to focus on retaining that top four place ahead of Real Sociedad, who are only a point behind, and winning the Uefa Champions League.
Madrid will be glad about on Wednesday’s game for more than just the opportunity to record a home win after a controversial couple of days following their trip to fifth-place Villarreal on Sunday.
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They were 2-0 down after an hour before Gareth Bale scored. Cristiano Ronaldo was then awarded a controversial 73rd-minute penalty which he converted – a record 57th penalty for Madrid which saw him surpass Hugo Sanchez’s total – to draw them level. An 82nd-minute goal from substitute Alvaro Morata secured what could be a crucial win in the long run.
Substitute Isco was a key performer for Madrid, but Ronaldo’s penalty caused the biggest stink.
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique took to social media to infer there was bias in Madrid’s favour. The Catalan media were also indignant, for the ball had ricocheted off the arm of Villarreal’s Bruno Soriano without him having any time to avoid it.
“You will see clearly on TV that I couldn’t do anything,” the aggrieved Villarreal midfielder said. “I said to the referee that I couldn’t cut off my arm. He told me that it [the penalty] was clear.”
“Barca won at the Calderon but the referee assists Madrid to regain top spot,” the cover of Mundo Deportivo declared.
“Against everyone,” the Catalan language L’Esportiu added, reinforcing the feeling that Barcelona have to do more than win themselves.
Villarreal’s president, the billionaire businessman Fernando Roig, added to the intrigue by claiming that the referee Gil Manzano left the stadium with “Real Madrid bags”.
This has not been denied, but some Spanish clubs regularly present officials with team mementos. Barcelona claim that they do not, but Real Madrid prepare personalised shirts, with the name of the referee on the back and the date of the match beneath.
It all seems a little unethical, but while Spain was outraged at the favour shown towards Madrid, the capital club hit back with a counter allegation that television coverage is biased against them and took their complaint to the league and its chairman Javier Tebas.
They claim that controversial events involving other teams are not given the same emphasis. Of course not, they are Real Madrid and they receive more praise and criticism than any club.
But facing a barrage of criticism will unite their own fans behind them and give the story a new direction until matters calm down with a full midweek calendar of matches.
The Madrid-supporting media have rallied firmly behind their team, with Marca stating: “Nothing is for sale for the price of a pen.”
Madrid also have the three points and went back to the top of the table. And while their penalty was controversial, referees do make mistakes.
It was also not the most controversial penalty in Spain this weekend, but then the others did not involve Real Madrid.
Nothing quiet about Sevilla
While the exploits of Madrid and Barcelona continued to dominate, Sevilla went about their business of winning football matches. You couldn’t say that they did it quietly because the Sevilla derby which they won on Saturday could never be described as such.
It’s the most passionate cross-city derby in Spain and even the absence of fans behind the goal where Betis’s most vocal fans usually congregate because of a stadium redevelopment couldn’t detract, especially when the home team went into a 1-0 lead with a 35th minute goal from Riza Durmisi.
Betis looked positive as they went for their opponents, pushing them back with the roar of their packed stands behind them — and no away fans to distract. Sevilla were sluggish after their midweek Champions League victory against Leicester City.
Great teams know how to dig deep and great managers know when to make changes. Jorge Sampaoli made two at the start of the second half, bringing on forward Wissam Ben Yedder and Iborra. Both would have an impact, with the latter setting up an equaliser for defender Gabriel Mercado in the 56th minute.
Despite being in hostile territory, Sevilla pushed for a winner which came in the 76th minute and involved three of their best players. Samir Nasri took a free-kick which Steven N’Zoni headed towards Vicente Iborra to score.
Iborra slid on his knees to celebrate Sevilla’s fourth straight win, with 41,000 Beticos cursing him. As well as a fine manager and a squad packed with talent which has integrated surprisingly quickly together, Sevilla know how to win.
They have the cocksure swagger of winners too, which quickly infects new arrivals. Stevan Jovetic, who only arrived on loan in January and has immediately impressed, responded to abuse from Betis fans by signalling that his side were leading 2-1 when he was taken off the field after 82 minutes.
Sampaoli and his Sevilla team returned to their Nervion home to huge celebrations from fans delighted at the continued excellence of their greatest ever period which has now lasted over a decade.
Betis are 15th and while they boast a marginally higher average home attendance than their neighbours — 34,649 against Sevilla’s 34,633 — their exploits on the field are far less impressive.
Betis are huge and could be the subject of a €160 million (Dh623.7m) takeover from a Chinese conglomerate which the club have been in talks with after chief executive Ramon Alarcon recently went to China to try and find sponsors.
Betis are still 30 per cent owned by Farusa, a company owned by the club’s former chairman which is currently under judicial embargo. Betis will continue to search for investment and improvement, Sevilla just need to keep continuing as they are.
Player of the week
Sevilla captain Vicente Iborra did what mattered in a huge game as he came off the bench to set one up and then score the winner in a febrile Sevilla derby. The defensive midfielder, 29, is in his fourth season at the club — three seasons more than most of his teammates. He’s the heartbeat of the side.
Game of the week
Barcelona v Celta Vigo on Saturday will see if the Galicians can repeat their victory earlier in the season against a side who aren’t convincing at home. Real Madrid face a tough match at Eibar, while Atletico Madrid vs Valencia is a game between Spain’s third and fourth biggest clubs.
What else?
■ Spare a thought for Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo, who picked up another serious knee injury — his fourth cruciate injury of his career. He had been enjoying a superb season, too, with Villarreal boasting the best defence in Spain.
■ Deportivo are now just two points above the relegation zone and in serious danger of going down if their last match is anything to go by. They lost 4-0 to an out of form Leganes who’d only scored nine goals in their previous 23 matches. The win lifted the promoted side above Deportivo.
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