MADRID, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The last weekend before the international break left us plenty of things to think about over the coming fortnight as the Liga Santander prepares to take next weekend off: here are four things we learned in matchday 8 in Spain.
1 Long fortnight ahead for Lopetegui
Real Madrid are in crisis, there is no other way to describe a run of form which continued with a 1-0 defeat away to a compact and hard-working Alaves on Saturday night. The defeat means Julen Lopetegui's side have gone 4 games (around 650 minutes without scoring) and unlike the midweek defeat to CSKA Moscow when they hit the woodwork four times, on Saturday Madrid never really looked like scoring.
Key players look sluggish and out of form and Madrid have lost their awe of invincibility which used to surround them and with two weeks without club football Lopetegui can expect to be the focus of attention in the press who will have one main question. Will the former Spain boss get the sack?
2 All praise to Alaves
The fact Real Madrid are in crisis should take nothing away from Alaves' performance, after Saturday's win took them to the top of the league table. Coach Aberlado Fernandez has engineered a fine start to the season based on hard-work and organization and effectiveness in attack.
The start to the season is no fluke either given that the former Sporting Gijon coach was also responsible for the incredible turnaround which lifted the club clear from the threat of relegation last season. Players such as Victor Laguardia and Manu Garcia and Jonny may not be household names for many LaLiga fans, but they are doing a fantastic job and Alaves' league position is down to good football and not coincidence.
3 Pablo Machin showing his worth
Sevilla's 2-1 win at home to Celta Vigo coupled with Barcelona's draw away to Valencia was enough to send Sevilla into the international break as leaders of the Liga Santander.
Coach Pablo Machin joined the club in the summer after his excellent work with Girona and has not only taken them to the top of the table, but also guided them through three qualifying rounds into the group stage of the Europa League.
Many complain that the Europa League qualifying rounds can tire sides out as their season starts so early, but it has also allowed Machin to have six extra competitive matches for his players to start the campaign with more match-fitness than other sides and also to adapt to his style of play, which is just as effective in Sevilla as it was in Girona.
4 So far it's an atypical season... and we should be grateful for that
The second international break comes after 8 weeks with Sevilla top of the table on 16 points, followed by Barca and Atletico Madrid on 15 and Real Madrid, Espanyol and Alaves on 14, while newly promoted Valladolid have 12 points.
It's unusual for Barca to drop 9 points from 8 games and Real Madrid to drop 10, but the fact is that neither Barca nor Real Madrid have been their best so far this campaign and for the moment at least the race for the title is wide open.
Logic says that the big three of Barca, Real and Atletico will use their superior resources to pull away as the season progresses, but for the moment, we should enjoy the fact that LaLiga is more than a 2 (or 3)-horse race.
