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LaLiga clubs were set to have their depth and stamina tested this week, with matches making it a busy time in the calendar. But few would have expected such surprising results in Matchweek Six, as the division’s top two heavyweights suffered defeat.
Action began on Tuesday evening, as Espanyol secured their third win of the campaign in a 1-0 victory against Eibar. Real Sociedad had an early lead versus Rayo Vallecano but required a late strike from Willian José to rescue a point at the Estadio Anoeta. The day’s games finished with Atlético Madrid and manager Diego Simeone cruising to a comfortable 3-0 home win against newly-promoted Huesca.
But it was Wednesday that truly brought the shocking scenes. Leganés delivered the biggest moment in their top-flight history, as Los Pepineros beat Barcelona 2-1. A surprisingly ineffective Barcelona simply could not muster their usual magic in the attack. Real Madrid had a golden opportunity to move ahead of the league leaders with a result at Sevilla, only to see manager Pablo Machín guide his squad to a dominant 3-0 final scoreline.
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This was the first time that Barcelona and Real Madrid lost league games on the same day since 2015.
Athletic Club continued their inconsistent start to the term, this time crumbling at home to Villarreal in a 3-0 defeat. Valencia and Celta Vigo played to a 1-1 draw, with goals coming from Michy Batshuayi and Iago Aspas.
Thursday saw Deportivo Alavés miss out on a chance to catch Barcelona and Real Madrid on points at the top of the table, having to settle instead for a point versus Getafe. The draw places the Basque club fourth in LaLiga.
Real Valladolid earned three massive points, producing a 2-1 win against ten-man Levante. Real Betis appeared set for another frustrating draw, until a second-half goal from Loren Morón gave them a 1-0 victory over Girona.
There is no rest for the weary, as the next round of fixtures get underway Friday night.
We review the top players in LaLiga during Matchweek Six.
Goalkeeper
GK - Sergio Asenjo - Villarreal CF
The Yellow Submarine were in fine form at Athletic Club, and goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo was active in helping to keep the clean sheet.
The 29-year-old recorded two saves and came off his line brilliantly when needed.
Defenders
LB - Filipe Luís - Atlético Madrid
Atlético Madrid’s back-line was strong at home against Huesca, and Filipe Luís put in a vintage performance.
Once seemingly set to depart this past summer, the Brazilian continues to prove his worth. His passing was extremely accurate, and he made four tackles on Tuesday.
CB - Mario Hermoso - RCD Espanyol
Espanyol have impressed many pundits early in the season, and defender Mario Hermoso had a key influence at both ends of the pitch versus Eibar.
The centre-back cleared out several scoring chances for the opposition, and his second-half goal was the difference in a 1-0 win in Catalonia.
CB - Rodrigo Tarín - CD Leganés
Leganés made the most of their chances in the second half against Barcelona, as Rodrigo Tarín helped to frustrate Lionel Messi and his team-mates.
His positioning was fantastic throughout the evening, as passing lanes were constantly blocked for the visitors as they searched for a second goal.
RB - Luis Advíncula - Rayo Vallecano
Currently on a season-long loan from Mexican side Tigres UANL, Luis Advíncula scored Rayo’s first goal in their 2-2 draw at Real Sociedad.
Dubbed the “fastest player in the world”, the right-back can put immense pressure on opposing defences when he gets forward into the attack.
Midfielders
CM - Thomas Partey - Atlético Madrid
After some disappointing production earlier in the season, Atlético Madrid’s midfield was superb this week versus Huesca, with Thomas simply too much for the visitors to contain.
The 25-year-old scored the second goal of a 3-0 win for Los Rojiblancos, as his sharp runs forward created excellent space for team-mates as well.
CM - Pablo Fornals - Villarreal CF
Villarreal looked spectacular away from home against Athletic Club, and Pablo Fornals led the way to victory for the team.
His incredible long-range stunner opened the scoring, and the midfielder’s tackling was effective throughout the match.
CM - Nabil El Zhar - CD Leganés
Leganés fans are likely still celebrating their upset of Barcelona on Wednesday, and Nabil El Zhar was a crucial element to that result.
The 32-year-old levelled the match in the 52nd minute, with team-mate Óscar Rodríguez finding the winner just moments later.
Forwards
LW - Antoine Griezmann - Atlético Madrid
The front-line for Atlético Madrid kept the pressure on Huesca throughout the entire game, with striker Antoine Griezmann opening the scoring in the first half.
A pass from fellow forward Diego Costa set the Frenchman up well, netting his second league goal of the 2018-19 campaign. Atlético now prepare to face city rival Real Madrid on Saturday at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
CF - André Silva - Sevilla FC
André Silva kept his bright start to life in LaLiga shining for Sevilla, scoring two goals during their 3-0 win against Real Madrid.
The 22-year-old is seemingly unstoppable at the moment, with six goals through six league matches.
RW - Loren Morón - Real Betis
Real Betis needed to build momentum from their match at Girona on Thursday, and that was found thanks to Loren Morón’s goal in their 1-0 victory.
The three points vault Betis up to eighth in the table, now only two points from the top four.
Manager
Mauricio Pellegrino - CD Leganés
There was an element of risk this summer with a particular coaching change in LaLiga, both for the individual selected for the position and for the club involved. After being sacked by Southampton, Mauricio Pellegrino signed a one-year deal with Leganés and took on the task of keeping them in the top flight.
If Wednesday’s result is any indication, he should have no problem achieving that objective.
The 46-year-old organised his line-up effectively, and the players carried out his orders to perfection. Solid defensive work helped to limit Barcelona’s scoring chances, and a 2-1 triumph will not be forgotten any time soon by supporters.
Perhaps the most under-rated part of this showing can be found in Pellegrino’s ability to keep his squad motivated and believing in themselves, as it could have been easy to fall apart protecting their slender advantage in the second half. However, with the right tactics, a famous victory was cemented in history.
Ultimately, there is a very good chance that Pellegrino stays with Leganes beyond just this current season.
