The new La Liga season kicked off with a weekend full of action, drama, and some surprising results. We had everything from dominant wins to hard-fought draws and late-game heroics. Let’s dive into a comprehensive summary of all the matches played from August 16th to August 19th, including the notable player and team of the week.
Match Highlights
Saturday, August 16th
- RCD Mallorca 0-3 FC Barcelona
- Barcelona started their title defense in style, but it wasn’t without drama. The Catalan giants secured a comfortable 3-0 victory against a Mallorca side that was reduced to nine men. Raphinha opened the scoring early, followed by a goal from Ferran Torres. Lamine Yamal sealed the win with a late strike, continuing his impressive form.
- Deportivo Alavés 2-1 Levante UD
- In a closely contested match, Alavés secured all three points at home against Levante. The home side’s attacking prowess proved to be the difference as they held on for a crucial victory to start their campaign.
- Valencia CF 1-1 Real Sociedad
- A tense encounter at Mestalla saw Valencia and Real Sociedad share the spoils. Both teams fought hard, with neither able to find a decisive winner. A solid start for both sides, but they’ll be looking for more in the coming weeks.
Sunday, August 17th
- RC Celta de Vigo 0-2 Getafe CF
- Getafe pulled off an impressive away victory against Celta Vigo. Their disciplined defensive performance and clinical finishing on the break were key to securing a clean sheet and a valuable three points.
- Athletic Club 3-2 Sevilla FC
- In a thrilling, back-and-forth affair, Athletic Club edged out Sevilla in a five-goal thriller. The Basque side showed great resolve to hold off a resilient Sevilla, giving them a perfect start to the season in front of their home fans.
- RCD Espanyol 2-1 Atlético de Madrid
- The biggest upset of the weekend saw Espanyol come from behind to defeat Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid. A spirited performance by Espanyol saw them capitalize on their chances and claim a massive win, leaving Atlético with work to do.
Monday, August 18th
- Elche CF 1-1 Real Betis
- The first Monday match of the season ended in a stalemate. Both Elche and Real Betis battled hard, but a lack of cutting edge meant they had to settle for a point each.
Tuesday, August 19th
- Real Madrid 1-0 CA Osasuna
- Real Madrid began their season with a hard-fought victory at the Santiago Bernabéu. In a match where they dominated possession, they were unable to break down a stubborn Osasuna defense for most of the game. A late goal was all that separated the two sides, giving Los Blancos the three points and a winning start to their campaign.
Player of the Week
The Player of the Week honor goes to Nico Williams of Athletic Club. In his team’s 3-2 victory over Sevilla, Williams was a constant threat on the left wing, providing a hat-trick of assists to help his side secure the win. His electrifying pace and playmaking ability were a nightmare for the Sevilla defense and a major reason for Athletic’s success. He was instrumental in all three of his team’s goals and stands out as the top performer this week.
Team of the Week
Our Team of the Week is set up in a 4-3-3 formation, featuring the standout performers from Matchweek 1.
- Goalkeeper: David Soria (Getafe) – Kept a crucial clean sheet against Celta Vigo, making several key saves.
- Right Back: Edu Expósito (Espanyol) – A strong defensive and attacking performance, contributing an assist in the win against Atlético.
- Center Back: Logan Costa (Villarreal) – Scored a goal and was a rock at the back for his side.
- Center Back: Éder Militão (Real Madrid) – Held the defense together, earning a clean sheet for Madrid in their narrow victory.
- Left Back: Adrià Pedrosa (Sevilla) – Despite his team’s loss, he was a standout performer, providing an assist and making an impact on both ends of the pitch.
- Midfielder: Pedri (Barcelona) – Orchestrated the midfield with exceptional passing and ball control.
- Midfielder: Conor Gallagher (Atlético Madrid) – Scored for Atlético and put in a tireless performance in the midfield.
- Midfielder: Dani Olmo (Barcelona) – A creative force, he was instrumental in Barcelona’s attacking movements.
- Forward: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) – The young sensation provided an assist and scored a goal, showcasing his immense talent.
- Forward: Nico Williams (Athletic Club) – The player of the week, with a hat-trick of assists.
- Forward: Julián Álvarez (Atlético de Madrid) – Scored a goal and was a constant threat for his team.
