5 things we didn't expect from the La Liga this season

#3 Valencia's blistering form

Valencia: An empire on the rise again?

We've seen some of the lesser-known teams in every other league making a strong start to a season, only to blow up all the hard work in smoke with a sharp decline in form as the season progressed.

Valencia's case may seem to be one those, but for the moment, they're in red-hot form, trampling underfoot almost everything on their way.

Second in the standings with 24 points so far, Los Che are the only other side apart from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid to be still unbeaten in the league! Moreover, they've pumped 27 goals so far, which is just one fewer than the Catalans.

Five of their last six games has seen them find the net at least three times (including massive victories such as 5-0 vs Malaga, 6-3 vs Real Betis, 4-0 vs Sevilla), whilst they also held Real Madrid at the Bernabeu (which has become a common sight now though).

Not only has Simone Zaza's and Rodrigo Ely's rich vein of form been a driving factor, but the change in guard may have also played a role, as new manager Marcelino Garcia Toral has been running a taut ship ever since he arrived at the scene, producing encouraging results week in week out.

Valencia look like a different beast altogether, and that isn't a good sign for their rivals.