> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://the-overrated-player.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # TOP of the Weekend - URL: https://the-overrated-player.ghost.io/top-of-the-week/ - Published: 2026-09-17T18:44:12.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-17T18:44:12.000Z - Author: The Overrated Player ### **La Liga Weekend Roundup** We are six games deep in La Liga, with some top-flight teams producing eye-raising results. It's shocking just how well Barcelona are playing without a typical number nine, clapping a hapless Racing Santander for 7 in the driving rain at the leaky Spotify Camp Nou. The protracted flirting with Atléti’s Julián Álvarez over the summer and subsequent failure to recruit the Argentine would have been cause for alarm at the Catalan club, but enter Raphinha. The man with a face that can squeeze through a keyhole has been unlocking defences for fun and has now amassed nine goals and three assists; a tremendous return. He was a shock exclusion from the Ballon d’Or 30-man shortlist, but on this evidence, the Brazilian noodle is coming for his cake. ### Peaking too early, Hansi? Ably assisted by Lamine Yamal and a supporting cast of summer signings that have settled in well in the shape of "Clare Balding" Anthony Gordon, Gabby Jesus and that microphone Karim Adeyemi, Barca have scored an astonishing 28 goals and will take some stopping. The only worry for Hansi Flick will be whether his team can keep up their exploits. Peaking early, especially on the continental front, has been a spot of consistent bother for over a decade. Their main “rivals” (if that can be said of a team with seven more La Liga titles and 3x the number of UCL titles), Real Madrid, seem to be on one of their usual slow starts. Their autumn lethargy is well documented, as are their peaks in the spring. Madrid have been able to go 2-0 up vs Inter in the UCL, 3-0 up vs Rayo in matchday 5, and 0-2 up vs Elche in the 6th matchday of La Liga. ### All that and a bag of chips In all the games, they have managed to let the trailing teams back into the game, and in the last tie vs Elche, seemed to be headed for a 2-2 draw until giant forward Carlos Espi spared Mourinho’s charges their blushes. He netted in extra time to ensure *Los Blancos* left the Manuel Martínez Valero with *tres puntos*. Espi, on this evidence, is becoming a Blanco cult hero, and with every goal, looks more like a top value signing. His switch from Levante UD for €25 million, the equivalent of a bag of chips in today’s inflated market, is looking like the bargain of the summer. A squad still trying to arrive at their best 11 and with a sprinkling of youth all over the park, Madrid have not managed games well, but they score for fun to mask this frailty. The lack of a tempo-controlling midfielder is still apparent, but the team can only get better at keeping leads and snuffing out opposition hope, so this is a minor worry, even after their public pursuit of such a player in Rodri. ### This is a warning, Vinicius What will give Mourinho sleepless nights, though, will be his selection of Brazilian winger Vini Jr. A lot more has been asked of him defensively this season, but Vini will need to pace himself as he looks to get into the final third bereft of oxygen to the brain and has been dropping finishing disasterclasses so far this term. In the Elche game, he registered an astonishing 4 big chances missed, looking like he was playing in skinny jeans. The balance seen when Espi, Mbappe and Diomande Yan play together should be a warning shot to the Brazilian. His new deal, marketability as a commercial asset and Mourinho going a bit soft with age are the only things separating him from the bench. ### Sinking submarine Atléti and Sevilla sit third and fourth, both on 13 points, leaving the table with a very familiar feel, with the four big boys toughing it out at the top. A traditional La Liga team that will have to try to make its way up the table in a hurry is Villarreal. The Yellow Submarine has collected just two points so far and is sitting second from bottom in 19th place. A samosa has more points than Villarreal! Their defence needs to be sorted out as they leak goals to no end. Heading into the last weekend of league football before the depressingly long international break (due to the FIFA World Cup), a thrilling face-off between the aforementioned top four is looming. Sevilla host a rampant Barcelona side at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán this coming Saturday, hoping to put a spanner in the works of Hansi Flick’s well-oiled machine. They will have to dig really deep to ensure their fans have something to cheer about after the one-and-a-half-hour duel. ### Noisy neighbors Super Sunday sees Atléti host their cross-town rivals Real Madrid at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. The away team will hope to keep pace with the Blaugrana, who have opened up a three-point lead in the standings. I imagine it will be a raucous reception for the Blancos; the Mattress Makers are known to be a loud bunch, but I expect Madrid to win by the odd goal. As fans, we welcome this feast of football. May the best teams win.