MADRID, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- A strange weekend in Spain's La Liga saw only one of the top-six win their games. Barcelona may have been happy with their draw against Espanyol, but others will look back on this weekend with disappointment: here are some things we learned from this weekend's La Liga actions.
1. Valverde is an arch pragmatist
Most managers, when faced with a derby away to a bitter local rival would field their strongest possible starting 11, but Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde is a brave and pragmatic man.
With Sunday's derby away to Espanyol sandwiched between two Copa Del Rey semi-final matches, Valverde rested Lionel Messi and other key players, and fielded an 11 designed to slug it out in Cornella. Although the final 1-1 score line could be seen as two points lost, Barca are still nine points clear at the top of the table and Messi (who came on as a first half sub), Ivan Rakitic, Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto should all be fresh for Thursday's cup game in Valencia.
2. The Cup is taking its toll
None of the four sides involved in last week's semi-final first leg ties won at the weekend, with Barca and Leganes both drawing, while Valencia and Sevilla lost their matches.
That should serve to show that the current format of the Copa Del Rey, with the ties played over two legs, is a huge drain on sides as it means the four semi-finalists have played on the weekend and in midweek for the past five weeks and still have this week's semi-final return leg to come.
Sevilla, who were thrashed 5-1 in Eibar, played five more games than their opponents on Saturday, while Getafe played five fewer games than Leganes. Leganes snatched a point from their encounter even though they failed to muster a single shot on target.
Valencia travelled to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium to face an opponent who had all week to prepare for the match, while they played on Thursday night. The Copa Del Rey is a major trophy, but for some it can also be a major handicap.
3. Real Madrid have not recovered yet
Real Madrid went to Levante having scoring 11 goals in their last two league matches and with their morale on the rise ahead of their key Champions League tie against Paris Saint Germain. Their 2-2 draw in the Ciudad de Valencia Stadium has created new doubts about their form.
Zinedine Zidane's side slipped back into poor habits; missing chances and making defensive errors and the frustration was clear to see on the players' faces when Levante snatched a late equalizer.
It's possible Madrid will find a different mindset when they return to Europe, but unless that happens they will find themselves out of Europe, out of the Copa del Rey and with no options in the league by early March.
4. Keep an eye on Eibar
Eibar were the early birds in more ways than one on Saturday, as they kicked off at home to Sevilla at 1pm and then took the lead after just 40 seconds.
Jose Luis Mendillibar's side went on to steamroller their rivals in a 5-1 win that sent a message to the rest of the league. The win lifted the Basque side to within one point of the top-six and shows they are real candidates to qualify for European competition next season.
Last season Eibar fell just short, but there are few teams that are as well drilled as Eibar, in such good physical shape and who know exactly what they are doing on the pitch.
Add to that the fact their Ipurua Stadium is a veritable fortress, maybe the idea of Eibar playing in European competition isn't so far-fetched at all.
