False start

The end of the two-week vacation took the leaders of the championship of Spain by surprise. As if they did not know that it was time to return to work. The hardworking middle peasants guarded the giants and made them dark. “Real”, “Barcelona” and “Seville” got in the first round of 2007 with only one point. For everyone.

Atletico - Nastik - 0: 0
Like it or not, but the “Nastik” from Tarragona is a misunderstanding. These guys accidentally fell on someone else's holiday. They look around, shrug, no one knows them, and indeed they see everyone for the first time. Javier Portillo once showed hope in Real Madrid, but now he enjoys two goals scored for Nastik. How to score more? Nastik won only two victories in 16 matches. And well, in their 17th game, the Tarrangans became insolent. Insolent visiting Atletico. Recognizing all of Madrid’s weaknesses today, Nastik lured the opponent into impassable thickets of tactical struggle. “Atletico” reached the final whistle in an incomplete composition and with a draw instead of the predicted victory. So began the joyless 17th round for the favorites.

“Zaragoza” - “Seville” - 2: 1.
"Zaragoza" itself lives at the top of the table, but most often passes against notebook giants. “Valencia” stayed in Zaragoza before the New Year and got hold of a dry victory 1-0. Today's Sevilla is more powerful than Valencia, but now the owners simply had nowhere to retreat. “Zaragoza” showed almost its best game. A serious matter is to impose your will on Seville. But that is exactly what happened. Almost for the first time in the current championship, Sevilla was forced to play by the rules of others. The scuffle of Luis Fabiano and Diogo became a hit on the Internet , as if by chance a video shoot of a fight from a school graduation. But now for “Seville” is a very important point. Question - is it a champion caliber team? - literally hung in the air. So let's see if Seville has strong nerves. Will she cope with this stress? The battle is lost, but the war continues.



“Getafe” - “Barcelona” - 1: 1
Injured Barcelona players could easily apply for the championship as a separate team. Thuram, Motta, Messi, Eto'o. On this tour, they would have come to the rescue of healthy, but disqualified Ronaldinho and Deco. Meanwhile, the game at the main team of Barca was not easy - Getafe is a thorny and in its own way nasty opponent. The Catalans were counting on the class, Getafe - on the embodiment of the German slogan, where the class gets the order. The result was an almost chess alignment: the teams agreed to a draw. An ideal compromise: class and order were enough to exchange goals. Verpakovsky made his debut at Getafe, coming on as a substitute 15 minutes before the end. Forward and this time was enough to spoil a little “Barca” nerves. However, hardly anything could change the position of the pieces on the board. A draw is not a defeat, but Barcelona still has 22 games ahead!



“Deportivo” - “Real” - 2: 0
"Real" was eager to trump a new thing at the very first party of the new year. Fernando Gago left at the start, Mamadou Diarra remained on the bench. But the Madrid dandy underestimated the company he was in. Riasor Stadium is a place where glamor is not held in high esteem. The local "Depor" traditionally rushes to the "Real" with the fury of the savage. Gold cufflinks and luxury watches fly in different directions. It was not a good idea to come to visit the uncouth men in such a defiant way. Fernando Gago replaced immediately after the second goal. And there were no other goals in the match. When two weeks ago, Real Madrid in its native home was attacked by the Recreativo hooligan attack, it seemed an annoying misunderstanding, but Madrid’s nightly walk around La Coruña raises questions more acutely. What football does today's Real Madrid play? What does active shopping mean ? Is the team just starting to build and ready to sacrifice the current season? The longest pause in the championship is behind, now Real Madrid has to go out at least once a week. We'll see.


 


“Villarreal” - “Valencia” - 0: 1
Valencia, like an ambush regiment, watches the battle from the side. Serial punctures seem to have struck her out of the race for Sevilla, Barca and Real. But, catching her breath and healing the wounds, “Valencia” entered the New Year with a formidable force. She is combat-ready, and she felt the taste of victories. Ambush regiments, by the way, decided the outcome of many battles, so ...



Timur CRANES

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