Eusebio Sacristán knows Barcelona both as an opponent and from within, having spent part of his own coaching journey with the club’s B team. While managing Real Sociedad, he had plenty of success against the Barça, especially at Anoeta, with his high press and technical midfield always a combination that caused Barça plenty of problems. […]

Real Madrid dominated the first half thanks to Julen Lopetegui’s increasingly familiar possession-based strategy and assured performances from his midfielders. This changed in the second period, as Lopetegui made second half substitutions that lost them control of the game and allowed Espanyol chances to equalize the final 1-0 scoreline. Espanyol manager Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia, […]

Girona’s settled defensive performance proved too sturdy to beat, as Antonio Mohamed’s mid-game tactical changes were not enough to see his side complete a second half comeback. After their away win against Villarreal before the international break, Girona were looking to pick up back-to-back wins whilst also looking to claim their first home victory of […]

A rethink from Ernesto Valverde between the half-time break and the hour mark at Anoeta made for a marked change in the poise and purpose of his Barcelona side during their 2-1 fightback against Real Sociedad. After an attempt to rest key players ahead of Champions League action, Asier Garitano’s intelligent game plan forced Barcelona […]

Athletic Bilbao burst out of the gates with a high-octane press that unsettled Real Madrid’s seasoned technicians and raised the game to a frightening tempo. Julen Lopetegui embraced the chaos in the second half by bringing on Casemiro, Isco and Lucas Vázquez, but it only proved enough to salvage a 1-1 draw. Real Madrid arrived […]