Four things we learned in Spain's Matchday 4 (Analysis) - Madrid News
by Maria Thomas
Updated Sep 06, 2022
1. What is happening with the VAR?
Before the season, the referees informed that the VAR would only intervene for clear and obvious errors and that there would be fewer soft penalties given for slight contact in the penalty area, reports Xinhua.
That is all well and good, but Dani Carvajal's early foul on Fekir in Real Madrid's win over Betis was a clear contact that the referee didn't give and the VAR didn't correct. It's hard to understand why.
There is a rule that any handball in attack which leads to a goal has to be given, but Umar Sadiq's equalizer for Real Sociedad against Atletico Madrid clearly came after he headed the ball only with his arm and into the net. Again the VAR failed to correct a clear error.
The problem with these two errors is that neither was subjective. There was no debate about Carvajal making substantial contact with Fekir or Sadiq's handball, and inexplicable "errors" like this reduce confidence in the competition as a whole.
2. Worrying times for Lopetegui at Sevilla
Sevilla enjoyed 20 good minutes at home to FC Barcelona and could have been 2-0 ahead before Raphinha put Barca ahead in the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, but once falling behind Julen Lopetegui's side had no answer.
Barca cut Sevilla to pieces, finding spaces all over the pitch and could have won by considerably more than just 3-0.
The result leaves Sevilla with just one point from 12 and with the crowd losing their patience with Lopetegui.
It's clear losing defenders as Diego Carlos and Jules Kounde -- who moved to Barca -- has severely weakened Sevilla's entire defense and Lopetegui needs a solution fast, but with Manchester City next up in the Champions League, things could get worse before they get better and patience isn't a virtue seem often in football.
3. Villarreal on fire
Villarreal continued their excellent start to the season to confirm pre-season predictions that they are top-four candidates at least.
Unai Emery's side breezed past Elche 4-0 on Sunday and are currently third, behind Real Madrid and Barcelona.
As well as looking fluid and dangerous in attack, Villarreal are well balanced and are the only side not to have conceded any goals this campaign and with no Champions League to distract them, this could be Villarreal's season.
4. Crisis at Cadiz
Cadiz's 3-0 defeat away to Celta Vigo on Friday night means they have kicked off the season with four defeats from four games in which they have conceded 10 goals and scored 0.
Sergio Gonzalez's side look vulnerable in defense and lightweight in attack, where the 37-year-old veteran Alvaro Negredo is still starting.
Although Cadiz were always expected to suffer, what makes their worst ever start to a season slightly surprising is that it comes after an excellent recovery under Sergio in the second half of last season.
The coach insists he is to blame, but a look at their summer transfer activity shows that apart from right back Joseba Zaldua, they have failed to sign players with top-flight experience and at the moment, they are paying for it.
September 06, 2022 Other Madrid
- ___ up (becomes more solid) Crossword Clue USA Today
- Young boy Crossword Clue USA Today
- What square footage is a measure of Crossword Clue USA Today
- Utilize Crossword Clue USA Today
- Untrue claim Crossword Clue USA Today
- Underground part of a plant Crossword Clue USA Today
- Under Crossword Clue USA Today
- Uintah Band people Crossword Clue USA Today
- Tons Crossword Clue USA Today
- Toaster pastry type Crossword Clue USA Today
- They're longer than EPs Crossword Clue USA Today
- Tex-___ cuisine Crossword Clue USA Today
- Teach Crossword Clue USA Today
- Take a turn in mini-golf Crossword Clue USA Today
- T. ___ Crossword Clue USA Today
- State capital in Melba Pattillo Beals' 'Warriors Don't Cry' Crossword Clue USA Today
- Stage of the sleep cycle Crossword Clue USA Today
- Spirit in a lamp Crossword Clue USA Today
- Song superfans are more likely to know Crossword Clue USA Today
- Small amount of moisturizer Crossword Clue USA Today
- Slime Crossword Clue USA Today
- Singer Lennox Crossword Clue USA Today
- Shoyru or JubJub Crossword Clue USA Today
- Seek consent Crossword Clue USA Today
- Round piece of bread Crossword Clue USA Today
- Reflective sphere Crossword Clue USA Today
- Red Planet beings Crossword Clue USA Today
- R&B ballad Crossword Clue USA Today
- Qaumi Taranah language Crossword Clue USA Today
- Prayer to Allah Crossword Clue USA Today
- Possessive pronoun Crossword Clue USA Today
- Points or assists, for example Crossword Clue USA Today
- Play nice Crossword Clue USA Today
- Ostrich relative Crossword Clue USA Today
- No later than Crossword Clue USA Today
- Music contest that Celine Dion won in 1988 Crossword Clue USA Today
- More or less Crossword Clue USA Today
- Moisturizing shampoo ingredient Crossword Clue USA Today
- Messy reaction to something shocking Crossword Clue USA Today
- Many service dogs, breedwise Crossword Clue USA Today
- Legislators make them Crossword Clue USA Today
- Leak drop by drop Crossword Clue USA Today
- Lead-ins Crossword Clue USA Today
- Journalist Ifill Crossword Clue USA Today
- Houston baseball player Crossword Clue USA Today
- Hourglass grains Crossword Clue USA Today
- Hotel units Crossword Clue USA Today
- Historian ___ X. Kendi Crossword Clue USA Today
- Has a hot Tyrannian pepper omelette Crossword Clue USA Today
- Gems with a jelly variety Crossword Clue USA Today
- Garden tubes Crossword Clue USA Today
- Gallery display Crossword Clue USA Today
- Forest's makeup Crossword Clue USA Today
- Food drive item Crossword Clue USA Today
- Dalmatian features Crossword Clue USA Today
- Container next to a cash register Crossword Clue USA Today
- Connect the ___ Crossword Clue USA Today
- City home to the Griot Museum, for short Crossword Clue USA Today
- Cal State Fullerton mascot Tuffy the ___ Crossword Clue USA Today
- British bathroom Crossword Clue USA Today
- British bar Crossword Clue USA Today
- Backless shoe Crossword Clue USA Today
- Baby shark Crossword Clue USA Today
- Awesome Crossword Clue USA Today
- Atsukan or tobikirikan Crossword Clue USA Today
- Aliens (Abbr.) Crossword Clue USA Today
- Acclimate Crossword Clue USA Today
- Accessories for Garba dancers Crossword Clue USA Today
- Absurd situation Crossword Clue USA Today
- Abbreviation in cookbooks Crossword Clue USA Today
- ___'s So Unusual' (Cyndi Lauper album) Crossword Clue USA Today
- The Girl in the Other Room' jazz pianist Crossword Clue USA Today
- That was an overshare!' Crossword Clue USA Today
- Obviously' Crossword Clue USA Today
- Jurassic Park' creature, for short Crossword Clue USA Today
- Info to come later' abbreviation Crossword Clue USA Today
- I figured it out!' Crossword Clue USA Today
- Como ___?' ('How are you?') Crossword Clue USA Today
Related Articles
- Brain Teaser for Geniuses: Find 8 among the 0s within 15 Seconds?
- Only Sharp Eyes Can Spot the 5 Mistakes in the Kitchen Picture in Just 12 Seconds
- Jeremy Doku Religion What Religion is Jeremy Doku? Is Jeremy Doku a Christianity?
- Sebastian Stan Religion What Religion is Sebastian Stan? Is Sebastian Stan a Catholic Christian?
- Kelsea Ballerini Ethnicity, What is Kelsea Ballerini's Ethnicity?
- Jason Weaver Ethnicity, What is Jason Weaver's Ethnicity?
- Joe Kelly Net Worth in 2023 How Rich Is He Now?
- Who are Arik Armstead Parents? Meet Guss Armstead and Christa Armstead
- Drake Jackson Girlfriend 2023, Who is Bri Kahanu?
- Jay Norvell Ethnicity, What is Jay Norvell's Ethnicity?