It was the La Liga weekend in which Atletico Madrid reminded everyone why they should never be written off on the big occasion; the weekend when reigning champions Barcelona moved to the summit for the first time this term and the weekend when Mallorca, at the seventh time of asking, finally had some La Liga 2025 highlights to cheer about.
There was no doubting the match-up of the weekend.
The first Madrid derby of the season where Julian Alavrez hoped to inspire Atletico once more, this time to victory over arch rivals Real as derby day came to the Metropolitano.
The only side in the top flight with a 100 per cent record after six wins from six games against a new-look team which has yet to gel and was well off the pace, sitting in ninth place in the table with just two wins (and three draws) from their six encounters coming into this contest.
As a result, this SBOTOP observer said the onus was very much on Diego Simeone’s hosts but I was certainly not expecting them to deliver quite like this.
For the first 45 minutes it was all in the balance.
They had gone a goal up through Robin Le Normand, just as they had taken the lead in every game this season only to repeatedly relinquish it, and that had slipped away from them again when Madrid scored twice in 11 minutes via Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler.
Arguably the turning point arrived in first half stoppage time when Alexander Sørloth leapt highest to head home the equaliser.
Home faith was restored and the second half was one-sided.
Alvarez, from the penalty spot, and then with a free-kick through the wall ensured Los Rojiblancos had wriggle room and the cracks in Madrid’s facade had been found, the foundations of the stadium shaken by the noise.
Even if my overall view that they won’t be quite at the races (as far as a title tilt is concerned) this term remains unchanged, there was still time for Antoine Griezmann to slip the ball under Thibaut Courtois to make it five and seal a derby day to remember for Atletico.
It was only the fourth time they have scored at least five in a Madrid derby (the last occasion being a 6-3 victory in November 1950).
As for Real this defeat came at a cost as manager Xabi Alonso had to withdraw captain Dani Carvajal just before the hour with an injury which is expected to keep him out for a month and which leaves them with no fit right-back as summer signing Trent Alexander-Arnold (hamstring) is missing for a similar timescale.
If that result didn’t quite shake the La Liga 2025 betting odds to their core, Real Sociedad briefly threatened to on Sunday when Alvaro Odriozola turned home an Ander Barrenetxea cross to give them a lead in Catalonia.
Sociedad are better than their lowly position suggests but few expected that given they have only one win to their name so far this season.
It was a lead they maintained until two minutes before the break when defender Jules Kounde met a Marcus Rashford corner with a thumping header.
On-loan Manchester United man Rashford had another fine game for the hosts – penny for them Ruben Amorim – regularly carving out chances down the left and had dipping shots well saved by Sociedad keeper Alex Remiro either side of half-time.
Barca would not be denied though and, taking full advantage of Real’s slip-up 24 hours earlier, grabbed the win which lifted them to the top of the table.
With the score locked at 1-1, manager Hansi Flick brought on Ballon d’Or runner-up, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, just before the hour and, within seconds, the 18 year-old beat an opponent and delivered an inviting cross which the unmarked Robert Lewandowski was always going to accept.
Both sides hit the woodwork within 30 seconds of each other late on but it was Barca who had the points.
The final word of the weekend goes to Mallorca who may not be quite out of the drop zone but have their first win of the campaign.
After six matches without a win, it was lucky number seven for Mallorca at Son Moix as they edged out Alaves.
Takuma Asano’s first half strike proved to the difference between the teams, much to the delight of the home faithful in Palma.
With that result, Mallorca moved off the bottom of La Liga, and they are now 18th with only goal difference keeping them in the relegation zone. Alaves remain mid table.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
