A recap of what has been going on in LaLiga this past week, among European draws and awards, derby drama and a 16-year-old goalscorer.
ATLÉTICO MADRID SIT TOP OF THE TABLE
After three LaLiga Santander rounds, just one team with a 100 percent record remains. Atleti fought back from a 2-0 deficit to earn a 3-2 home win over Eibar, taking them top with nine points from a possible nine. Athletic Club and Sevilla are currently the closes challengers on seven points each.
ANSU FATI MAKES HISTORY… AGAIN
One week after becoming the second-youngest player to ever play for Barcelona, Ansu Fati become the Catalan club’s youngest-ever scorer. By scoring against Osasuna at 16 years and 304 days of age, he also became the third-youngest scorer in the entire history of Spain’s top division. Only Fabrice Olinga, at 16 years and 98 days, and Iker Muniain, at 16 years and 289 days, scored at an earlier age.
LALIGA’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PARTICIPANTS LEARN THEIR FATE
Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, Real Madrid and Valencia found out who their group stage opponents will be. The Catalan club were drawn into the competition’s ‘group of death’ along with Borussia Dortmund, Inter and Slavia Prague while Diego Simeone’s Atleti will face Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen and Lokomotiv Moscow. Real Madrid, Champions League winners in four of the last six seasons, take on PSG, Club Brugge and Galatasaray while Los Che will face Chelsea, Ajax and Lille.
THREE SPANISH SIDES IN THE EUROPA LEAGUE DRAW
Espanyol‘s reward for their long journey through the summer qualifiers was to be drawn in a group together with CSKA Moscow, Ludogorets and Ferencváros. Getafe will meet Basel, Krasnodar and Trabzonspor on their return to Europe while Sevilla were handed fixtures against APOEL, Qarabağ and Dudelange.
DE JONG, MESSI AND HAZARD WINS AWARDS
Several LaLiga players picked up awards recognising their performances during the 2018/19 season as the stars of European football met for the Champions League and Europa League draws. Lionel Messi was named Forward of the Season, Frenkie de Jong the Midfielder of the Season and Eden Hazard the Europa League Player of the Season.
NACHO MONREAL RETURNS TO SPAIN
Real Sociedad have secured the signing of Spain international Nacho Monreal, who leaves Arsenal after more than six years in North London. The left-back came through the ranks at Osasuna and also represented Malaga CF in LaLiga Santander.
A SCOTTISH PLAYER IN LALIGA SANTANDER
D. Alavés have secured the loan signing of Oliver Burke. When the winger debuts for the Basque club, he’ll become the first Scottish player to play in LaLiga Santander since Alan Hutton represented RCD Mallorca. Burke’s arrival increases the league’s British contingent to four along with Atleti’s Kieran Trippier, Real Madrid‘s Gareth Bale and Jack Harper at Getafe.
ATHLETIC CLUB WIN BASQUE DERBY AGAINST REAL SOCIEDAD
Real Sociedad‘s run of three consecutive victories in the derby against their rivals Athletic Club came to an end on Friday night at San Mamés. Goals from Iñaki Williams and Raúl García earned the team from Bilbao a 2-0 win and the bragging rights in the Basque Country.
TAKEFUSO KUBO MAKES LALIGA SANTANDER DEBUT
18-year-old Japanese prodigy Takefusa Kubo made his LaLiga Santander debut this weekend, coming off the bench in Mallorca‘s 2-0 loss at Valencia. The hyped youngster has just joined the islanders on loan from Real Madrid, for whom he starred in pre-season. Expect big things from Kubo this season.
LEGANES GET THE BAND BACK TOGETHER
By signing Guido Carrillo on another loan deal, Leganés have restored the strike force with which they finished last season so strongly. With Carrillo joining Martin Braithwaite and Youssef En-Nesyri, the Pepineros will feel confident about scoring goals this season.
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