Real Madrid trounced Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup leaving Xavi‘s future as coach in question.
It was a first trophy at the club for Jude Bellingham, and an 11th for Carlo Ancelotti. Back in LaLiga there were only seven league games played with leaders Girona failing to win away at bottom club Almeria.
Elsewhere Sevilla and Villarreal both stumbled again as two of Spain’s ‘European’ clubs continue to flirt with relegation.
Here are 10 things we learned from Spanish football this weekend.
Players are getting worse under Xavi
At Sevilla Jules Kounde was a world beater, but he now looks like one of the worst defenders in LaLiga. Ronald Araujo’s form has also fallen off a cliff. Ilkay Gundogan looks a shadow of the player at Manchester City, and Frenkie de Jong is going backwards – it all points to the coach.
Ronald Araujo (left) was sent off during Barcelona’s Spanish Super Cup defeat by Real Madrid
Xavi reacts too late and with too little
Barcelona fans were left wondering why with five possible changes Xavi made no substitutions at half-time.
Real Madrid looking like scoring from every attack but it was same again for the second period.
Different shirt for Joao Felix but same story
He didn’t start the final because he has lost the confidence of the coach. And when he came on although there were flashes of brilliance the moments of magic never ended in goals.
It’s still so much promise and so little end product for the Atletico loanee, who similarly failed to make an impact at Chelsea.
A brilliant player, Xavi is yet to master that as a manager with his Barca players getting worse
Joao Felix is still yet to produce on a consistent basis – once again failing with his end product
Ancelotti is an expert at keeping everyone grounded
As they donned their ‘Campeones’ shirts at the end of the game it was easy to forget that Madrid had done no more than win the Spanish version of the Community Shield – okay so they had done it with some style.
Carlo Ancelotti knows how to keep everyone’s feet on the ground. ‘Vinicius did it; Bellingham did it; I don’t like it,’ he said of a couple of second half back-heel flicks from Madrid’s stars.
It was a gentle telling-off for perceived showboating. No one will get too carried away with Ancelotti at the helm.
And Vinicius knows who’s boss
‘He has to keep us in line but sometimes I like to do things I learned in Brazil,’ said Vinicius after the game.
In his post-match press conference he added: ‘I’m no saint, sometimes I do one too many tricks.’
Despite their 4-1 win over their eternal rivals, Real boss Carlo Ancelotti remained grounded
Despite his devastating display, hat-trick hero Vinicius Jr admitted he showboated a little bit
Real Madrid DON’T need Mbappe
Florentino Perez said it wasn’t the night to talk about Kylian Mbappe. He knows with Vinicius, Rodrygo and Bellingham there will be no crisis at the club if the PSG forward doesn’t arrive in the summer.
Back in the Champions League… but Sevilla are relegation candidates
Sevilla started the season in the Champions League but they will end it in the second tier if they don’t improve.
They have not won at home since September and new coach Quique Sanchez Flores has lost three of his first four in charge. They started well but Alaves deserved their 3-2 victory.
Real Madrid are continually linked with Kylian Mbappe – but they don’t need the PSG forward
Sevilla are just above the LaLiga relegation zone after losing 3-2 at home to Alaves on Friday
Victor Orta will be the busiest Sporting Director in Spain this month
He has already brought in 18-year-old attacking midfielder Stanis Idumbo Muzambo from Ajax, and Lucien Agoume has arrived on loan from Inter. A striker is desperately needed.
Mariano Diaz is yet to score this season, Rafa Mir scored on Friday but wants a move away and promoted youth team forward Isaac Romero might not be the answer.
Villarreal looking nervously over their shoulder
Another Spanish European team in a bad way are Villarreal who have the worst points return at this point of the season in their top-flight history.
On their third coach of the season they have let in 15 goals in their last five games. They also desperately need to do some deals before February.
Victor Orta (right) has bought players to Sevilla, but they need more if they’re to avoid the drop
Villarreal (pictured in red) lost 3-0 at Las Palmas on Saturday to deepen their relegation fears
Girona suffer first wobble
Drawing with the only team in LaLiga who are yet to win this season was not what we expected from Michel’s team on Sunday.
With flying wingers Sabio and Viktor Tsygankov both rested on the bench Girona gave the worst first 45 minutes of the season.
They improved in the second half but had Alexi Garcia sent off and only Almeria’s attacking shortcomings (only nine goals all season) saved them from defeat.