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# TOP of the Weekend
- URL: https://the-overrated-player.ghost.io/top-of-the-weekend-5/
- Published: 2026-10-14T18:41:01.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-14T18:41:01.000Z
- Author: The Overrated Player

### La Liga Matchday 8

It has been a drab few weeks without club football as we had to make do with the mind-numbingly long international break. That is now firmly behind us as the Primera Division was back on with matchday eight fixtures.

### **Perfect start**

League leaders Barça breezed past a disjointed Getafe outfit to make it eight wins out of eight; a perfect start. Jose Bordalas is known for his cynically pragmatic approach, but Getafe were undone by an early Anthony Gordon deflected shot and a defensive error that led to a goal by the reborn G. Jesus.

After the break, Jules Kounde scored an ugly third (which bore a resemblance to his fashion choices) after bundling in a cross from Lamine Yamal. Barcelona look impressive, but tougher tests await, like the Clasico on the 25th of October.

### **Beautiful Betis**

Atlético Madrid sit second with a 19-point haul, thanks to a late winner by Christian Romero, after Alaves had Angel Perez sent off with 30 minutes to go. In a game that looked like ending even, the Argentine rose far post to head the largely Argentine team ahead. Another soulless win, paint would watch Atléti dry.

What Atléti lack in entertainment, Betis possess in bucketloads. A five-star performance in a 5-2 win over Osasuna secured third place for Manuel Pellegrini’s charges, with Isco Disco at the heart of it all.

Two goals and a mesmerizing shift from the wee stalwart lit up La Cartuja, as Osasuna struggled to keep up with the green and white army. Equal on points with Atléti, Betis have the makings of a team that will vie for the coveted UCL places this season.

### **What’s with Madrid, and dodgy refs?**

In the capital, there were fireworks as Madrid faced Villarreal, and more of the same with regard to officiating. Los Blancos scored the only goal of a tense game in minute 62 via the boot of their most expensive signing ever, teenager Yan Diomande.

The Bernabeu celebrated his first goal, but the mood inside the stadium would change soon after. Vini Jr, benched for this tie after travelling to Australia and India during the international break, was introduced in the 52nd minute. 20 minutes later, he seemed to have given his team much-needed breathing space, only to be adjudged to have pulled Canadian Nathan Saliba’s hair in the lead-up to the goal: Red card!

While the decision was warranted, referee Isidro Diaz had a shocking performance, littered with errors. In the end, seven Madrid players had been booked for 8 fouls on the opposition. For context, Villarreal committed 13 fouls and were carded twice. This follows a disturbing trend where almost every Madrid infringement leads to a caution. Vini is now out of the Clasico, adding salt to wounds.

### **Much needed shake down**

RFEF needs that sorted out, especially when replays of some challenges showed absolutely no contact (like Konate on G. Moreno). This whole furore happens while Madrid’s Supremo Ayatollah Florentino Perez handed a 50,000-page dossier to UEFA documenting Barcelona’s payments to the deputy chief of Spanish referees for almost two decades. 

The Negreira case will bumble on in tandem with the La Liga season. Elements of the claims remain rife even in the present day. If that is to be put to one side, the RFEF needs a referee overhaul. The standard of officiating has tangibly declined in many top leagues, which is a pity, considering how much finance and technology goes into it all.

### **Further afield**

In another crazy season, there are seven top-flight teams on eight points, from Celta in 9th to Osasuna in 16th place! This is very reminiscent of last season, where a couple of wins at the end of the season could catapult a team from relegation fears to European contention; a riveting phenomenon.

Elche, Valencia and Malaga sit in the relegation places, but even they are on six, five and four points respectively. Nothing is a foregone conclusion in this Primera Division season, and we are here for it!