If Real Madrid were tired after their midweek exploits against AC Milan, they certainly didn't show it. Mourinho's side confirmed themselves as the Chelsea of La Liga with a second six goal thrashing in a row, the first time they've completed such a feat in 46 years. Cristiano Ronaldo will grab all the headlines with a four-goal display that will serve wonders to improve his already stratospheric goals to game ratio, but it was the performance of Angel Di Maria that will have most pleased Mourinho and the fans. The winger had an absolute stormer and as their coach Miguel Angel Portugal had so wistfully predicted days before, Racing had no answer. It was a serious case of men against boys which will only add fuel to the argument that La Liga is rapidly turning into a rich mans SPL. The Madrid fans won't care one bit however, as they remain the highflyers in Spain.
La Liga Matchday 8 Review: Real Madrid Knock Racing Santander For Six
Real Zaragoza reverted to a 5-4-1 formation for the visit of Barcelona to La Romareda, but they might as well have lined up eight in defence for all the difference it would have made. Lionel Messi is what they call in Spain, a machine, a player capable of scoring any time, any place. After his double in midweek against Copenhagen, Messi was at it again, scoring another two goals to sink Zaragoza into even more turmoil. The home side never looked like getting anything from the match, but their helpless cause was quickly turned into mission impossible after Ponzio was sent off for a reckless challenge on Dani Alves. The three points keep Barca on Real Madrid's coat-tails, although all the post-match talk seems to be about David Villas continuing goal drought. When will it end? Pretty soon I'd say.
Valencia and Atletico Madrid’s early season optimism has been dampened in recent weeks, with both falling to defeat on matchday 8. Valencia lacked their characteristic fluency and with Juan Mata and Aduriz starting on the bench, they were made to pay by an organised Mallorca team. Michael Laudrup’s side had their extravagant Uruguayan Gonzalo Castro to thank, scoring the two goals, one a dodgy penalty which only the referee spotted. Roberto Soldado hit back with a penalty of his own, but Valencia were ultimately made to pay for Unai Emery’s team rotations, that are made all the more mystifying when you consider their midweek match is a cup tie against third tier Logrones.
Atletico Madrid were left seething at some ridiculous refereeing from Ramirez Dominguez as they had three stonewall penalties turned down by the man in black. Villarreal were let off the hook on more than one occasion, the most ridiculous of which saw the ref blow for half-time instead of calling a blatant penalty. The Atleti players were left apoplectic and Quique Sanchez Flores was eventually sent to the stands after frustration got the better of him. Villarreal certainly didn’t let the good fortune go to waste as an early strike from Cani and a peach of a goal by Guiseppe Rossi sees the Yellow Submarine remain in second place, one point behind Real Madrid.
Sevilla continued their mini renaissance with Gregorio Manzano at the helm, with victory in a seven goal thriller against Athletic Bilbao. The match was as crazy as the scoreline suggests, with three strikers all grabbing a double. One of those was Luis Fabiano who returned to form in style, his second goal a glorious chip which had all the hallmarks of 'El Fabuloso' in his prime. Fernando Llorente also grabbed a double, but to no avail as his team eventually ran out of time after having to come back from 3-0 down. It was a fantastic advert for Spanish football, although another example of the shocking refereeing which is threatening to undermine the season. Clos Gomez this time the culprit with some truely atrocious decisions, the worst of which saw Alvaro Negredo rewarded with a penalty after fouling a defender. A contender for worst decision ever seen in professional football.
Elsewhere there were victories for Getafe, Espanyol and Osasuna in a matchday which saw 32 goals fly in the back of the net. All we need now are some decent refs. The LFP has a lot to answer for.
