What has been going on in LALIGA this past week? Here are 10 of the top stories, from the January awards to the Copa del Rey semi-finals. It was a busy week in Spanish football, with Copa del Rey games and LALIGA EA SPORTS fixtures. The main headlines are outlined below.
FC Barcelona maintain their lead at the top
FC Barcelona still hold a one-point lead over Real Madrid at the very top of the LALIGA EA SPORTS table, thanks to a 3-0 victory over RCD Mallorca. Marc Bernal, Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski all got on the scoresheet to pick up three important points.
Real Madrid are right on the leaders’ heels
Real Madrid also won this past weekend, to make it four league wins out of four under Álvaro Arbeloa. They earned a 2-0 victory away at Valencia CF, who now sit just one position above the relegation zone.
Athletic Club earn a much-needed victory
It had been a long time since Athletic Club had won a league game, but they put in a strong attacking performance in Matchday 23 to overcome Levante UD 4-2. That was their first league win since the first week of December.
Getafe CF get their first win since November
Another team in desperate need of a victory was Getafe CF, who also claimed three points in Matchday 23. Los Azulones won 2-0 away at Deportivo Alavés, moving up the table and away from the relegation zone.
CA Osasuna keep climbing up the table
It has been a great few weeks for CA Osasuna, who have taken 10 points from the last 12 available. Their latest result was a 2-1 win away at RC Celta, which means they now sit in eighth position in the LALIGA EA SPORTS table.
A mixed week of Atlético de Madrid vs Real Betis
Atlético de Madrid and Real Betis faced off twice this past week, once in the Copa del Rey and once in LALIGA EA SPORTS. In the cup game, Los Colchoneros won 5-0 away from home. But then, in the league meeting, the team from Seville secured a 1-0 win at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
The Copa del Rey semi-finals are set
Each of the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey took place last week, with all four of the away teams progressing. That means FC Barcelona, Real Sociedad, Athletic Club and Atlético de Madrid are into the final four. There will be a Basque derby in one semi-final, while Barça and Atleti will clash in the other.
Vedat Muriqi is the Player of the Month for January
The results of the January Player of the Month vote are in, and it’s RCD Mallorca’s Vedat Muriqi who has won the prize. The striker scored five goals in the month of January, including a hat-trick in a victory over Athletic Club.
Pellegrino Matarazzo is already a Coach of the Month winner
New Real Sociedad manager Pellegrino Matarazzo has received the award for the Best Coach of the month of January. In his first full month in the role, Matarazzo steered La Real to an undefeated record and even conquered league leaders FC Barcelona.
The rest of January’s LALIGA AWARDS winners
The other January winners of the ‘LALIGA AWARDS’ were also revealed this past week. The Best U-23 Player was Vitor Reis of Girona FC, the Best Goal was Real Madrid striker Gonzalo García’s effort against Real Betis and the Best Save was Joan García’s parry in FC Barcelona’s derby win over RCD Espanyol.
