We'll start in La Liga - Where else? Whilst having Barcelona and Real Madrid sitting pretty as ever at the summit of the table, it is of massive shock and relief to those who follow Spanish football to see a smaller side challenge the big guns. Little Levante UD - finishing a very ordinary 14th last term have taken off marvelously in Spain, remain one of only three sides unbeaten (Barcelona and Sevilla) in La Liga. With a game in hand over the two European giants they have the unbelievable opportunity to take joint top spot with the Catalan men. Casting an eye further down the table we find the stalwarts that prop up Madrid & Barca year after year - perhaps with the exception of Malaga, with there Qatari millions, Valencia, Sevilla, Atletico & Espanyol are solid as ever. It is clear the struggle to upturn the top two remains as challenging and unenviable as ever, as pleasant as Levante's start is, even the most die-hard of Granotes fans would be reluctant to believe this run would continue - long may it continue though, a nice effort to show a bit of teamwork and organisation can take a basic side a long way.
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| Betis's Brazilian skipper in action. |
Continuing with the surprise packages though we have Real Betis, casting minds back a couple of years and finding Betis in 7th spot would not cause any raising of eyebrows - in-fact they were playing regular UEFA Champions League football. Taking into account the clubs dramatic drop last year into La Segunda Division it is fair to conclude 7th place is a very decent, solid start. With 4 wins and 3 defeats from their opening 7 games and a seemingly solid backbone to their squad, Inaki Goitia, former Barca center half Mario, strong and influential Brazilian skipper Iriney backed by impressive loanees of which include Dusko Tosic, Jefferson Montero, defender Ustariz and perhaps biggest of all Roque Santa-Cruz from Manchester City - things again look promising at The Benito Villamarin.
Footing the La Liga we find Sporting, Racing Santander and Granada. Ignoring Granada, a relectively surprising bottom 3 to Spanish football, with Sporting Gijon & Santander both achieving mid-table security last term, they have equally suffered a nightmarish opening this year. Having considered Betis already, Granada - one of the other promoted sides this year have not endured such a rewarding start as their Betis rivals, not appearing too bad on paper, they boast the loan signing of talented South American Franco Jara - one of three Benfica loanings this year (Julio Cesar & Carlos Martins), formerly Portsmouth Algerian Hassan Yebda and seasoned Nigerian forward Ikechukwu Uche, the mentioned need to start performing for their new suiters or they could face a difficult 8 months.
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Benfica loanee Franco Jara will want
to begin to turn it on for his new side. |
Individual watch - It would be easy to mention Messi, Higuain and Ronaldo - with 10, 8 and 6 goals respectively so far. There is Atletico's new big money man Falcao (
See shocking transfers) on 5 goals enjoying a decent start to life in Spain, closely followed by regular Spanish goalscorers in Valencia's Roberto Soldado and Sevilla's Alvaro Negredo. It is another one of my earlier
transfer article that has really shone on his return to Spain. Cesc Fabregas has molded into the Barcelona squad majestically, the worry of fitting Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Busquets to name a few is not fazing Guardiola, the ex-gunners skipper already has four goals to his name, along with the same amounts of assists he is looking a fine purchase.
We are of looking at early days here, removing the top 2 perhaps - all other positions across the board are up for grabs, being Champions League, Europa League. mid-table obscurity or escaping relegation, it is all to play for!
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