La Liga wrap: Barcelona bask in victory as Real Madrid falter in the Basque Country

The champions triumphed in adversity while their rivals dropped points slightly west as the main action took place on the Bay of Biscay on Saturday
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Ben Hayward17 September 2018

La Liga heads north,” said Marca on Friday. With the international break over, Spain’s top two teams travelled to the Basque Country on Saturday. First, Barcelona were away to Real Sociedad; later, Real Madrid played Athletic Club in Bilbao.

Barca at Anoeta is often a drama. It had been described as a “curse”, a “nightmare”, a “bogey ground” and worse. The Catalans were without a win in La Liga in San Sebastian between 2007 and 2017, but did come back from two goals down to claim a 4-2 victory last season.

This was a "new" Anoeta, though. Previously, Real Sociedad’s stadium had a running track and the fans were 44 metres from the pitch.

But work was done over the summer: the pitch was lowered, new stands built and impressively, there is now only an eight-metre gap between the supporters and the playing surface.

La Real had played three times in La Liga already, but none of those games were at home. With extra time to finish off the renovations, bar one end which will remain closed for a few more months, their first fixture at the ‘new Anoeta’ was to be this one. Against Barcelona. It is always a special one, after all.

Before kick-off, there was a tribute to striker Imanol Agirretxe. The 31-year-old was forced to retire due to injury problems in the summer, but was afforded a rapturous reception from fans, who raised a banner which, in reference to his aeroplane goal celebration, read: “We flew!”

They had; and one of Agirretxe’s most famous goals was a winner against Barca at Anoeta in 2013. In front of the home fans, his wife and two young children on Saturday, he kicked a ball into an empty net. Huge cheers followed. There was a party atmosphere inside the ground and a noise, an atmosphere, like never before.

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And the Basque side did enough to make the occasion even more memorable. Asier Garitano’s side took the lead through Aritz Elustondo and had chances to go further ahead. But two goals in three minutes by Barca dampened the mood. Two mistakes by goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli. Missed chances at the other end. Fine lines. But somehow, the Catalans came through it.

In Pictures | Real Sociedad vs Barcelona | 15/09/18

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“Barca rectify in time at Anoeta,” La Vanguardia said, alluding to the introduction of Philippe Coutinho at half-time and Sergio Busquets 12 minutes into the second period. And so the home fans trickled out, happy with their impressive and improved new stadium, but upset at a result that could have been different. “An incomplete party,” the Diario Vasco noted.

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That match had kicked off at 16:15 and finished shortly after 18:00. And at 20:45, Real Madrid were in action in Bilbao. At San Mames. By road, 108 kilometres separates the two stadiums. A little over an hour west on the motorway. Just enough time, although parking close by can prove problematic. A few intrepid journalists did it anyway. Perhaps some fans, too.

And if Anoeta was noisy, San Mames was ear-piercing. And intense. That is a word always associated with Athletic Club, with their style of play and with the atmosphere at their stadium. This ground is different from the old one they called 'La Catedral', but it is still a place of worship. And the fans will their team on religiously. With more than 53,000 souls packed in, steep stands and an almost-enclosed roof, it is hostile for rival sides.

While Barca's Valverde had initially left out Busquets, Madrid coach Lopetegui started without Casemiro in Bilbao. Both bosses, in two of the most difficult away fixtures in the calendar for their teams, dispensing with their defensive midfielders. International breaks can do strange things.

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At Anoeta, there were consequences. At San Mames, too. Outfought in the first half, Madrid found themselves a goal down at the interval as Iker Muniain scored from close range. Muniain seems to have been around forever, yet is still only 25 years old. Forever young, like Bart Simpson. Which is his nickname. And his goal on Saturday brought unbridled joy. Ay, Caramba!

A couple of minutes later, Athletic thought they had scored again, only to see Raul Garcia’s strike ruled out for offside. The midfielder was putting himself about as usual and Athletic looked fresher, fitter, sharper and stronger. Perhaps unsurprisingly, because this fixture is a “Clasico” for the Basque side. And while most of Madrid’s squad were away on international duty, the Basque-born players were not – and they had three weeks to prepare for this one, after their visit to Rayo Vallecano was suspended in the third round due to an unsafe stadium at Vallecas.

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“Our players have been away and came back when they came back,” Lopetegui said the day before the game. “Athletic’s have been sharpening their nails for two weeks.” It showed. And at half-time, Casemiro came on. The Brazilian’s handball almost gave away a penalty, but he shored up the midfield. And Isco levelled with a header.

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And that is how it finished as Lopetegui’s side were unable to make it four wins in a row in La Liga.

“Madrid leave their soul,” Marca headlined. “And two points.” And AS simply said: “Fierce football at San Mames”.

That was true and is almost a guarantee in this fixture. The home fans, by the way, were furious at the referee. “Hands up, this is a robbery,” they chanted in the final few minutes.

But while Barca got out of jail, Real did not. And in the end, the result was somewhat underwhelming for both teams.

“Good for the self-esteem,” Bilbao’s El Correo said. But when La Liga tweeted that “Athletic get a point against Real Madrid at San Mames with a goal from Iker Muniain”, the Basque side soon sent an angry response. “What we saw yesterday at San Mames would invite one to think that [it was] Real Madrid [who] secured a valuable point after the team of the “11 villages” (which refers to the club’s local heritage and policy of fielding only players from the region) went ahead,” they said.

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Earlier on Saturday, Atletico Madrid had also faced Basque opposition. Diego Simeone’s side could only draw at home to Eibar and another slow start from the Rojiblancos means they may already – after just four games – be out of the title race.

“Take off!” Barcelona-based paper Sport beamed on Sunday. And underneath, they noted: “+2 over Madrid; +7 over Atleti.” Even at this early stage. And El Mundo Deportivo went with something similar. “More leader,” they said. Because in the Catalans’ case, the result was definitely more positive than the performance.

In Pictures | Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid | 15/09/2018

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As the three title contenders took on teams from the north on Sunday, only Barca basked in victory. And winning without playing well is often the key to capturing La Liga. Valverde's side did that. And four weeks in, the Madrid teams are playing catch-up again already.

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