MADRID, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The return to La Liga action at the weekend saw FC Barcelona and Real Madrid both win in different fashions, while at the bottom Celta Vigo showed signs of recovery. Here's what we learned this weekend in Spain.
1. No end to Barca's struggles on the road
FC Barcelona may have taken all three points from their visit to bottom side Leganes on Saturday, but the result should not fool anyone into thinking their troubles away from home have finished.
Coach Ernesto Valverde played Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele in an attempt to use the full width of the pitch, but Barca again lacked fluency in midfield and were vulnerable on the break.
This season has seen Barca lose away to Athletic Bilbao, Granada and Levante and draw against Osasuna, while at home they have scored at least four goals against sides such as Sevilla, Real Betis, Valencia, Celta Vigo and Real Valladolid. Unless they can end their "Jekyll and Hyde" behavior it will probably cost them the league.
2. Bale booed but shows his worth
Gareth Bale played for Real Madrid for the first time since October after a week which saw him surrounded in controversy for celebrating Wales' qualification for the European Championships with a flag reading 'Wales, Golf, Real Madrid - in that order.'
While there is no doubt the press helped stir up the controversy, Madrid fans roundly booed the forward when he came on as a 67th-minute substitute for Saturday's 3-1 win at home to Real Sociedad.
Bale had only been on the pitch for seven minutes before helping set up Madrid's third goal and later he went close to scoring himself.
It seems the relationship between Bale and the fans is broken for good and it could be that Bale doesn't care, but when fit the Welshman is still a decisive player.
3. Celta notice 'Oscar effect'
Celta Vigo may have lost 4-1 in the Camp Nou in Oscar Garcia's first game as coach, but the result didn't reflect the improved performance from Oscar's side who was victims of a Lionel Messi hat-trick.
Sunday's 3-1 win away to Villarreal showed the improvement has continued and this time Celta took all three points thanks to two late goals from Iago Aspas.
Aspas helped save Celta from relegation last season and forms part of an attack which also contains Brais Mendez and Pione Sisto. Celta have the quality to stay up and Oscar could be the man to guide them to safety.
4. Murphy's law in football
Osasuna were unbeaten at home in their last 31 matches, while Athletic Bilbao hadn't won away all season before Sunday's game between the two sides in the El Sadar Stadium.
It should therefore come as no surprise that Athletic took the points with a 2-1 win, and what will upset Osasuna fans even more is that both of the visitors' goals were scored by former Osasuna players Raul Garcia and Kenan Kodro.
Home fans shouldn't be too upset at seeing their unbeaten run come to an end, as Osasuna attacked in waves in the second half and more displays like Sunday's should see them avoid relegation with few problems. Enditem
