Spanish La Liga 2023/2024

[brehme1989]

what a striker Lewandowski is...

 

[wera]

The type to disappear one game and miss open goals

 

[Kramerica Industries]

I seem to recall there were rumors liking us to Nacho and potentially a 3-year contract in the summer of 2023? Would've been an insane contract in any case given his age with the term, but he's been in terrible form since 2024 began. Playing every game for Madrid because they're out of options - two CBs with torn ACLs and Rüdiger is also currently suffering from an injury, to say nothing of the club's refusal to make any CB signings in January - but he's leaking goals badly right now. Very much relieved we didn't end up going down that road.

 

[NimAraya]

I seem to recall there were rumors liking us to Nacho and potentially a 3-year contract in the summer of 2023? Would've been an insane contract in any case given his age with the term, but he's been in terrible form since 2024 began. Playing every game for Madrid because they're out of options - two CBs with torn ACLs and Rüdiger is also currently suffering from an injury, to say nothing of the club's refusal to make any CB signings in January - but he's leaking goals badly right now. Very much relieved we didn't end up going down that road.

We dodged a bullet there, but we made up for it by signing Cuadrado and Arnautovic and we are going to continue this trend by signing Taremi for the next season.

 

[Kramerica Industries]

We dodged a bullet there, but we made up for it by signing Cuadrado and Arnautovic and we are going to continue this trend by signing Taremi for the next season.

At least Cuntrado is a one year and Arna (...fuck) is two years; they aren't as terrible but still speak to a lacking degree of imagination.

 

[Universe]

We dodged a bullet there, but we made up for it by signing Cuadrado and Arnautovic and we are going to continue this trend by signing Taremi for the next season.

You forgot Sanchez.

 

[Il Drago]

I seem to recall there were rumors liking us to Nacho and potentially a 3-year contract in the summer of 2023? Would've been an insane contract in any case given his age with the term, but he's been in terrible form since 2024 began. Playing every game for Madrid because they're out of options - two CBs with torn ACLs and Rüdiger is also currently suffering from an injury, to say nothing of the club's refusal to make any CB signings in January - but he's leaking goals badly right now. Very much relieved we didn't end up going down that road.

Since you follow La Liga so closely how is Azpilicueta doing? Another player we're grateful he rejected us.

 

[Kramerica Industries]

Since you follow La Liga so closely how is Azpilicueta doing? Another player we're grateful he rejected us.

I can't speak as well to him or Atleti I'm afraid. I know Real Madrid particularly well because (for better or worse) I know a lot of Real Madrid fans, so I'm especially familiar with a lot of aspects of the club and see just about all their games.

Here's what I can gather about Azpi...per TM, he's played 948 minutes of La Liga action this year across 16 appearances, so that works out to almost 60 minutes per appearance. That's more than I would've thought from what I remember (or at least the games of theirs that I've seen). I know among CBs that Hermoso and Witsel have been constants. I know among RWB's that Llorente and Molina have been constants in the team, albeit to lesser degrees than the first two names I mentioned. It's had to be rotational minutes among RWB and RCB where Azpi has gotten his minutes, as Reinildo only recently returned from injury after a long-term absence while Gimenez has battled injuries and Savic is simply old and inconsistent compared to previous years.

Looking at this...

César Azpilicueta 2023-2024 Match Logs | FBref.com

Check out César Azpilicueta's records, goals, statistics and playing time for 2023-2024 Match Logs

fbref.com

In those 16 appearances, nine of them were starts, and the starts have come against Granada / @Real Betis / @valencia / Cadiz / Real Sociedad / @Celta / Mallorca / Almeria / Sevilla. Only three road starts vs. six home starts, and the highest ranked team on that list is 6th place Sociedad. Against the other teams in the top-5 of the table, he came off the bench in all four games (he came off the bench moments before Girona's winning goal in that game, though I can't remember if he had any blame to bear for that one).

Azpi recently suffered a meniscus injury and is out until April.

---

In general, if we're talking Atleti and we're talking threats and all that shit, the under-the-radar guy we need to be alert to (and thankfully I trust Pavard and [likely] Darmian to be up for it) is going to be Samu Lino attacking off the left. In particular, he has terrorized Real Madrid every time they've faced him this year. He doesn't have great first touch but he's excellent with his crosses and has good instincts at working his way into the box. Among fullbacks, he's 99th percentile in touches in the box this season. He's a threat. We know the main attention goes towards Griezmann and Morata, and rightfully so, but peeling back the orange a little further, that's one area we're going to need to be switched on at all times. Thankfully both Pavard and Acerbi are strong aerial players so that needs to be of help off that side.

EDIT - btw, where the fuck is Pajo at? (Can't tag him apparently.) He would be able to break down Atleti better than I could.

 

[YoramG]

Atleti finally lost a game today after what feels like years. Good to know they're not invincible.

 

[pupivn]

Atleti finally lost a game today after what feels like years. Good to know they're not invincible.

Their press is still good, wasted many chances, I fear for how do we close game and slow tempo.

 

[Kramerica Industries]

Atleti finally lost a game today after what feels like years. Good to know they're not invincible.

First home loss in 13 months today. I guess that should be encouraging to know the fortress can be breached. Hopefully we won't need to win the game but that rather just avoiding defeat will be good enough.

 

[Alex de Large]

Athletic worked some of the good old catenaccio for last 15 minutes and it worked.

 

[vasilios]

Well Girona, it was fun while it lasted

 

[Alex de Large]

Fuck Madrid are really the team to beat this season, they had none of they're 4 CB's and still manage to win. Rudiger, Militao, Alaba and Nacho are all out injured.

 

[CafeCordoba]

Statement win by Real. They showed the upstarts who's winning the title in the end.

 

[Besnik]

Real Madrid isn't convincing at all. There is a spark of brilliance at times but they're lacking so much in term of consistency. Same goes for other top teams in La Liga. Girona leading the stable for all these weeks is a proof that teams like Real Madrid, Barca, At. Madrid, Sevilla and others have been rather inconsistent/poor.

 

[Il Drago]

Bellingham out for 2-3 weeks

 

[Alex de Large]

Morata just got hurt in the Knee, the guy was crying, might be serious.

 

[wera]

We are so lucky I feel playing against Depay will be easier

 

[IM21]

atletico aint anything special, but we couldnt defeat Sociedad who are much worse, so who knows.