MADRID, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona returned to the top of the table in Match-Day 14 in the Spanish Liga Santander, although Sevilla showed enough grit to prove they can be challengers. Here are some things we learned this weekend in Spain.
1. Barcelona do just enough
It was far from a vintage display by FC Barcelona to return to the top of the table as goals from Gerard Pique and Carles Alena gave them a 2-0 win over Villarreal. Coach Ernesto Valverde will be pleased with Alena's goal after the youth team product replaced Arturo Vidal with 20 minutes to go after another aggressive display from the Chilean.
Ousmane Dembele also impressed in the Camp Nou, but it was a difficult evening for Phillipe Coutinho, who gave another lackluster display in front of the fans and with Dembele improving the Brazilian needs to up his game to ensure he starts when Luis Suarez recovers from treatment on his knee.
2. Youth team products important for Real Madrid
Real Madrid rode their luck to beat Valencia 2-0, but nevertheless it was an improved display from Santiago Solari's side following last week's 3-0 thrashing in Eibar and the former B-team coach can thank former Real Madrid B-team players for the improvement.
Right back Dani Carvajal was excellent against Valencia, while winger Lucas Vazquez scored the second goal of the game.
Meanwhile, midfielder Marcos Llorente showed he can play an important role at the club. Two years ago, Llorente was outstanding on loan at Alaves, but last season he struggled to get minutes back at Real Madrid and until Madrid's midweek Champions League game, he had only made two brief substitute appearances this time around.
Llorente has now made two starts and Madrid have kept two clear sheets, and that is probably no coincidence.
3. Sevilla lose leadership but show they can last the pace.
Although Sevilla only lasted a week on the top of the table, their 1-1 draw away to Alaves showed that Pablo Machin's side have the qualities to go a long way in the title race.
Sevilla fell behind to a controversial goal in the first half, but dug deep against a side that defends well and has pace on the break and they got their reward thanks to Wissan Ben Yedder's smart finish from Pablo Sarabia's low cross.
Alaves are having an excellent season themselves and after playing Europa League football on Thursday, Sevilla will see this as a point gained rather than two points dropped.
4. It's looking bleak for Huesca
Huesca's 2-0 defeat away to Celta, who are not having a great season themselves, was a depressing result for the side that is currently playing their first ever season in the Spanish top-flight. Huesca were never really in the game and fell after two goals from Iago Aspas, who now has 11 goals this campaign.
Huesca began in August with a win in Eibar, but haven't won since, and despite sacking coach Leo Franco at the start of November and replacing him with Francisco Rodriguez, neither results nor performances have improved. The side from the North-East of Spain have just 7 points from 14 games (just 4 from their last 13) and with Real Madrid the next visitors to their El Alcoraz Stadium, where they have yet to win this campaign, things don't look likely to improve for a while yet.
