Recently Steven Sodergergh posted a version of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” in which he stripped out the color and replaced the sound with “… a score designed to aid you in your quest to just study the visual staging aspect.” The Internet has been abuzz with this, but what Soderbergh did was hardly original. The Soccer Hipster has watched all matches with “Significant Other” by Limp Bizkit instead of the announcers, the color stripped out and with the monitor turned upside down since learning that Josef Von Sterberg of 1930s German cinema fame did this. Just as Sternberg wasn’t recognized as genius until later in his life, the Soccer Hipster’s films have not yet been accepted into the film festivals required to gain mass recognition. Luckily for you, the lack of press tours gives me time to screen La Liga.
Jump on the Valencia bandwagon while there’s still room
On Saturday Los Che hosted Atlético Madrid at a raucous Mestalla in a match that ended 3-1 for the hosts. That scoreline is due, largely, to a scorching first 15 minutes from Valencia during which the Rojiblancos conceded a comical own goal then proceeded to let in two more. The first was on a beautiful run by André Gomes who finished near post a minute after the first tally, and the second a powerful header off a corner kick by Otamendi before Atlético could get their bearings.
From that point forward the visitors controlled the match but managed only one goal, a 29th minute Mandzukic header off a parry by Diego Alves from a Tiago Mendes shot.
If the Spanish champions controlled the match, other than the initial blitzkrieg, why am I talking about the Valencia bandwagon? They are a tier below the top three in the league this year, but their average squad age is under 24. In addition, after years of financial difficulties they are on the verge of being financially sound again and have two fiery, defensive, players; center back Nicolás Otamendi and keeper Diego Alves
The 26 year-old Argentine,Otamendi is one of the few Spanish defenders physically imposing enough to handle Mario Mandzuikic. More importantly, the South American has a French-looking hairstyle and hikes his shorts up high. After he crushes players while skying for a header, he then yells at his opponents for having the gall to get their back in the way of his knee.
Diego Alves, in comparison, makes Otamendi look calm with his nuclear bomb intensity. Twice during the match the Brazilian keeper yelled at Atléti players for brushing him after claiming the ball. It’s no surprise then that I was able to hear Alves’ primal scream from my futon in Houson after his penalty save in the 45th minute that kept his save percentage on shots from the spot around an absurd 50%.
Los Che may qualify for the Champion’s League this, but in 2 seasons, don’t be surprised if they’re the outsider pushing Barcelona and Real for the title, not the Rojiblancos.
Celta Vigo Crash back to Earth
Coming into weekend Celta Vigo was undefeated in the league and level on points with Real Madrid. The Galician club had reached this position while playing attractive football; using the full width of the field, patiently switching sides on their opponents until an opportunity presented itself. Rather than holding the middle of the field, like Barcelona does, the center of the pitch was treated the same way Iowa is treated by a banker flying from LA to NYC, a place to skip over.
When Villareal handed Celta a 3-1 defeat at home in the Balaídos, it was clear that those tactics are not more than just a wrinkle that Eduardo Berizzo believes will give his club an edge. They are a necessity if they are to takes points from bigger clubs.
In a match where Celta had 67% possession(whoscored.com) Villareal was clearly the better team. Os Celestes looked good early on, knocking the ball around their back line which, in contrast to how most Spanish sides play, was flat when they had possesion. The width mitagated the press from Villareal’s strikers, since it was too much ground for them to cover effectively. This allowed their fullbacks the space to initiate the attack by linking up with their wingers. When they ran into a wall on one flank, they would quickly switch fields, and run at the other.
Had they only used this tactic, they may have picked up points. Unfortunately the temptation to play the ball to their central midfielders, was too strong. Seemingly every time Celta’s midfield had possession of the ball in the center of the pitch Villareal was fast to disposses them and attack on the break, allowing them to by-pass Celta’s formidable man-marking defense.
Credit to Celta for playing an entertaining style, many clubs would have taken limited resources and produced anti-football, but they don’t have the horses to stay at the top of the table for much longer.
Move along, nothing to see here
Rayo Vallecano promised to “play football” with Barcelona and they did, losing 2-0 to the Blaugrana at the Estadio de Vallecas. Messi and Neymar scored a minute apart from each other in the first half then Barcelona took their foot off the gas and passed the ball around until time ran out.
Los Blancos, on the other hand, threw the hammer down on the accelerator and did not throttle back until Ronaldo had a hattrick and Benzema a brace in 5-0 beating of Athletic Club. The faithful at the Bernabeu loved it and so did the players. After CR7’s first, Ronaldo, James and Marcello all did a little dance together and every finish was all smiles from there on out. Such was the spirit of giving that when Ronaldo was through on goal, rather than beat the keeper , he laid it off to Benzema who slotted it home for his second.
With Eibar next week for the Catalan Giants and Levante for the European Champions, the next close league match for these two won’t be until the Clásico on the 25th.
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