Barcelona went top of the La Liga table on Saturday night after a goal from Robert Lewandowski was enough to earn a narrow win away to Real Mallorca.
It was the Polish hitman’s ninth strike in seven league games as he curled a low shot into the bottom corner of the net after good work from Ansu Fati.
The Blaugrana started the weekend in second position and Real Madrid have the chance to retake top spot if they maintain their 100 per cent record when they face Osasuna on Sunday night.
Lewandowski had a good chance to double his tally when he saw Mallorca keeper Predrag Rajkovic off his line, but the stopper recovered to save the striker’s attempted lob.
And at the other end of the pitch, Barca’s goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen was busy too, as he made a brilliant save to deny Mallorca’s Jaume Costa. Ter Stegen also had to be alert to keep out Antonio Sanchez and Lee Kang-in and ensure Barcelona held on for all three points.
The latest La Liga 2022 betting odds reckon Barca can push Real Madrid all the way in this season’s title race and Lewandowski might just make the crucial difference.
Pressure mounts on Lopetegui
Reports have emerged in the Spanish media suggesting that Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui could be on his way out after another defeat, this time to Atletico Madrid, left Los Sevillistas just a point above the drop zone with a single victory from their first seven games.
Atletico Madrid moved up to fifth place as Marcos Llorente and Alvaro Morata pierced the Sevilla defence for a comfortable 2-0 victory. On his 554th appearance for Los Rojiblancos, midfield veteran Koke made the opening goal for Llorente and Morata converted a one on one chance early in the second half.
The hosts showed little sign of recovery and there are now suggestions that former Sevilla boss Jorge Sampaoli is being lined up as a replacement for the beleaguered Lopetegui. Sampaoli is rumoured to be awaiting a call in his home country of Argentina.
Here at SBOTOP we billed this as a ‘must not lose’ game. It turned out to be mission accomplished in some style for Los Rojiblancos… and a disaster for Sevilla and Lopetegui.
Williams Boys do it for Bilbao
With the most impressive of the weekend’s La Liga 2022 results Athletic Bilbao moved up to third place on Friday night thanks to a 4-0 mauling of new boys Almeria as Inaki Williams and his kid brother Nico both got on the score sheet. The two forwards had three goal involvements as Nico teed up his elder brother for the opening strike.
Inaki thought he’d made it 2-0 but was denied by VAR which adjudged him to be marginally offside, before Oihan Sancet did make it 2-0. Nico made it three with a beautiful finish and Mikel Vesga completed the scoring from the penalty spot.
Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde was purring after the match, praising his players’ work ethic and skill, saying: “The points are a result of our performance.”
And it was certainly an impressive showing from Bilbao as they increased their points tally to 16 from their opening seven games. With 60 per cent possession, passing accuracy of 86 per cent and 17 shots to eight the hosts were in total control. And they were lethal in taking the big chances, all four of their shots on target ending up in the net…not a great day for Almeria keeper Martinez Rubio.
Yellow Submarine misfires in Cadiz
Unai Emery’s Villarreal missed a chance to move up into the top four after failing to beat struggling Cadiz on Saturday. The Yellow Submarine dominated possession and won the shot count by 14 to ten, and six to two on target; but they just couldn’t break down their resolute hosts.
Cadiz keeper Conan Ledesma was in outstanding form, making late saves to deny Alex Baena and Dani Parejo. But Cadiz remain in the relegation zone with four points from seven games.
So now it’s over to Real Madrid who will return to the top of the table if they defeat Osasuna on Sunday night. Los Blancos have a 100 per cent record so far, while Osasuna have started well with four wins and two defeats, lifting them into the top half of the table, currently seventh. Elsewhere, fourth-placed Real Betis are away to Celta Vigo, where a victory would lift Betis back up to third in place of Bilbao.
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