La Liga Week in Review 01/16

Garreth shows love to the Bernabeu, and finally receives some back.

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

Who's rising and who's falling in the world of Spanish soccer? Find out below.

 
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Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) 

Over the past week, rumors were aplenty that Rafa Benitez’s dismissal deeply angered the Welshman, to the point he was pondering a summertime exit from the Bernabeu.

Under Benitez, Bale was featured in his preferred central role on the pitch. With the change in manager, he was concerned it would result in him returning to the wing. In his first game as manager, Zidane kept the status quo, resulting in Bale possibly having his finest all-around display since joining the club.

Gareth scored three goals in a 5-0 victory over Deportivo de La Coruña, leaving the pitch to a standing ovation from the Real Madrid faithful (hell has frozen over) and departing the stadium with the match ball under his arm, signed by his teammates. It was his second hat-trick in four games and his 10th goal in seven. For good measure, his 7 assists are tops in La Liga as well.

If Bale can keep up this form and Cristiano can regain his shiny scoring boots, Madrid could pose a real (no pun intended) threat for La Liga title in the second half.

White House Down: Real Madrid's Faithful Turn on the President's Box.

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

Incompetent. Lacking foresight. Dominated by the people we hate.

These were just some of the words splashed over all of the papers describing a president and the white house he rules with an iron fist.

Only this time, they weren't coming from a Donald Trump rally, or your “patriotic” friend on Facebook cluttering your timeline with impending armageddon.

Barcelona won Saturday's Clasico 4-0, seemingly undressing Real Madrid in the process, leaving their flaws exposed for all of the world to see. From the second the ball was kicked off from the center circle, Barcelona were in control.

La Liga Week in Review 10/21

With Lionel Messi out, Neymar has stepped his game up for Barcelona.

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

It was a wild week in Spanish soccer's top classification, with some megastars soaring and others falling back to Earth. Who's rising and who's falling in La Liga?

Find out below.  
    
 
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Neymar (Barcelona) 

When Leo Messi and his boat load of goals went down via injury, the team as a whole was asked to pick up the slack. Taking it to heart, Neymar has pretty much done it all by himself.

With Barcelona’s defense struggling again against Rayo Vallecano, and a 1-0 deficit to climb out of, Neymar transformed into his Brazilian national side version. During the next 48 minutes, Neymar would go on to score four goals, effectively ending any hope of a heroic upset.

La Liga Week in Review: 9/2

By Justin Sherman (@JShermOfficial)

It was a bounce back week for Welshman Gareth Bale, and a week of (relative) struggles for the world's two top players.

Here's who is rising, and who is falling, in the top tier of Spanish soccer.