Analysis: Four things we learned in Spain’s matchday 4

MADRID, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) — La Liga goes into the international break after the fourth round of games of the season leaving FC Barcelona top of the table, while Kylian Mbappe finally scored his first league goals for Real Madrid. Here are some things we have learned this weekend in Spain.
1. Great start for Barcelona shouldn’t hide problems at the club
FC Barcelona enjoyed an easy 7-0 win at home to Valladolid as the newly promoted side produced a display reminiscent of someone who viewed the visit to Montjuic rather like a reluctant child considers a trip to the dentist – ie something that has to be endured once a year.
It’s hard to remember that just a week ago Valladolid made Real Madrid work hard, because in Barcelona they caved in with barely a fight, with Raphinha scoring a hat-trick.
It has been an excellent start under Hansi Flick, but much tougher times lie ahead and Barca’s financial problems means Dani Olmo (impressive though he is) is their only new signing, with Barca still lack depth in defense and midfield.
It’s been a good start but the test is when they have to play two games a week every week.
2 Mbappe off the mark
Mbappe scored his first two La Liga goals for Real Madrid in their 2-0 win at home to Betis in what will no doubt be a relief for him and his new club before the break.
The first saw him run onto a neat backheel from Fede Valverde and the second was from the penalty spot as his side improved on recent flat performances.
Real Madrid do still have a ‘Toni Kroos’ shaped hole in midfield and struggled to play the ball out from the back, but with their forward line and Jude Bellingham due back soon after the break, they are always going to create chances, especially at home.
3 Atletico get lucky in Bilbao
Angel Correa’s 93rd minute goal gave Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win away to Athletic Bilbao and ended the home side’s unbeaten run in the San Mames Stadium that had lasted for over a year.
Correa took advantage of a dreadful error from home defender Inigo Lekue to run through on goal and score.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone saw the goal as vindication of his tactics of getting 10 men behind the ball all game, but he should also know that his side (who have spent more money than anyone in Spain this summer) got very lucky against a rival that controlled much of the ball.
While it’s true Atletico defended well and Conor Gallagher impressed against a rival still lacking last season’s spark in attack, you have to suspect Simeone’s conservative nature will end up costing them points in the title race.
4 A welcome (international) break
Most players and coaches will be happy to see the arrival of the international break after an intense start to the season.
The 2024-25 campaign started just over a month after the end of the European Championships and the Copa America, meaning that players whose sides went a long way in those tournaments, kicked off La Liga woefully short of fitness after missing out on pre-season training.
That has been obvious in the slow start of many big names such as Nico Williams, Vinicius Jr and even Mbappe.
The lack of fitness isn’t helped either by the problems of playing in Spain in the height of summer, while the fact the transfer window only closed a day before the fourth round of matches also means that the teams most coaches put out in August will be different to those we see in September.
All in all that presents a good case for starting later and closing the transfer window earlier. ■