Three games have been played in the Spanish premier division so far, and although three games by far does not make a season, not many would have expected Getafe on top, with two wins and a tie, and 7 points. Getafe is one of the teams that have never dropped out of the top division, but their previous season was quite weak, so this represents quite a turnaround for them. Schuster, however, is an experienced and well respected coach, who definitely knows soccer.
It is equally surprising to find Deportivo in second place, also with 7 points. Deportivo lost two of its players after last season, due to retirement, and one of them was Fran, its captain, along with Mauro Silva. Both were good, steady players, although Fran usually came in as a replacement in most games.
Deportivo ended last season on a sour note, far from where it had been expected to end up in the standings. Caparrós has taken over the coaching position, after successfully having brought Sevilla to new heights, after having coached the team for five years. He is no doubt a very good coach, but I had not expected him to have this kind of impact so soon, especially with a key player like Luque having been sold to Newcastle this year. Caparrós is, however, quite good at moulding a team, and getting the players to play as a team, instead of as individuals. Time will tell whether the team will manage to stay near the top.
To find Celta and Osasuna in the next two places, also with 6 points may be even more surprising, and frankly I do not expect these two teams to be able to hold on to their respective places for very long, and definitely not over the course of the season. However, you never know in soccer; anything can happen, and often does, especially this season. That is one of the reasons why soccer is such a wondrous and fascinating game.
After almost dropping down to second division two seasons ago, Espanyol greatly improved last season, so finding them in 5th spot, and tied with Celta and Osasuna in terms of points, may not be that unexpected.
After becoming champions two seasons ago, Valencia has faded badly, largely due to the loss of the coach that brought them their championship, Bénitez, who subsequently left for Liverpool, and surprisingly turning his new team into European champions. He is still coaching Liverpool, but after Real Madrid's lacklustre start so far this season it has been suggested the last couple of days that he might replace Luxemburgo as the team's coach.
Luxemburgo was brought in as the team's third coach last January, and managed to salvage the season by placing the team in second position, and scoring more points than the champion, Barcelona, in the second half of the season, turning it into a close finish. nbsp;Although Liverpool denied that they were prepared to let their coach go, Real Madrid has only one policy and that is to win, regardless of what it takes. Monaco's former coach, Didier Deschamps, who is currently unsigned, was also mentioned as another prospect to take over Real Madrid's coaching reins, but similarly dismissed. What these rumours show, however, is that Florentino Pérez, Real Madrid's president, and his people, are already antsy enough to replace Luxemburgo, to avoid a repeat coaching disaster, similar to last season's.
The team can ill afford such a repeat, especially after having invested more than 60 million Euros in acquiring players like Robinho, at a cost of 24.5 million €, and heralded as the new Pelé (from Brazil's Santos), Sergio Ramos (20 million €) Baptista (20 million €), another Brazilian (both from Sevilla), plus Pablo Garcia (Uruguayan) and Diogo. Real Madrid accounted for approx. 40% of the league's total acquisition amount of 152 million €. Real Madrid is currently shockingly in 15th place, with only 3 points, the same as Malaga, in 17th, even after Malaga sold off more top players to make money. Tapia managed to keep the team in the top division, when he took over the coaching position in the second half of the last season. Is he going to be able to do the same this season? I hope so, and if anybody can, it is him, as he is a very solid coach, who sticks to basics, the only way to survive when you do not have the money to hold on to top players.
Barcelona decided to hold on to the players who brought them their championship last season, by extending their contracts for up to five years. So far the team has not been quite as convincing on the field, and is far from unchallenged. In fact, after the last game, away against Atletico de Madrid, Puyol, the team captain, and Spanish national team member, declared that the opponent, who won 2-1, had been superior. Barcelona was also lucky to win their first game against Werder Bremen in Bremen, 0-2, in the European Cup. Barcelona is playing at home tonight, against Valencia, which should prove to be a test and indication of how the team will do throughout the season.
Cádiz, which just moved up from secodn division is a team that demonstrates that a cohesive team, with an enthusiastic support, can do well against any other team in the league on a given day, and remain, which I am sure they will. It is currently in 9th place, with 4 points, the same as Barcelona, who is just ahead of them in the standings.
The other Andalusian teams: Sevilla and Betis, are in 11th and 12th spot, respectively, after having lost key players and coach, in the case of Sevilla (to Deportivo, as stated above). I expect both may climb higher as the season progresses.
Finally, a few words about Mallorca, which just escaped dropping down to second division last season, after having lost their key player, Eto'o, to Barcelona. With the hat trick by their new player Arango, they managed to win 5-2 in their last game over Real Sociedad, which proved that they may well have the team spirit to remain in the division. Mallorca is currently in 13th place.
Latest: Atletico de Madrid seem to be revitalized after its victory over Barcelona last Sunday, and is currently leading 0-2, after 18 minutes of play, and goals by Fernado Torres (9th minute) and Kezman (18th minute). In the game between Barcelona and Valencia Valencia leads 1-2, after Villa scored first on a penalty (53:15), followed by a goal scoring shot 22 seconds later (53:53), after Giuly, had put his team in the lead, by scoring after individual play, just before the end of the first half (44:40).
Other scores:
Racing - Espanyol 1-0
Malaga - Alavéz 0-0
Getafe - Mallorca 1-1
Real Sociedad - Atlético 3-2 (final)
Barcelona - Valencia 2-2 (final)
Deportivo - Bétis 1-1
Zaragoza - Osasuna 3-1
Sevilla - Cádiz 0-0
Villareal - Celta 1-2
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