A new start for Santiago Solari’s Real Madrid was ended by Eibar while Argentinean football’s reputation took a near fatal blow with a SuperClasico disgrace

WINNERS

Eibar

Inflicting a 3-0 victory to the three-in-a-row Champions League winners. The first ever victory against Real Madrid, as well as inflicting new coach Santiago Solari his first defeat as manager of Los Blancos.

What a memorable day for the minnows of Eibar, who put three past the giants within 60 minutes, thanks to goals by Gonzalo Escalante, Sergi Enrich and Kike Garcia, and produced one of the biggest upsets of this season.

[fve]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=364f2WwzLI4[/fve]

Tottenham

When Spurs are this good, it’s easy to get carried away and see them as a title-winning team. It was a complete demolition of Chelsea at Wembley, with Dele Alli scoring his sixth goal in five derbies against the Blues, and Harry Kane getting on the scoresheet once again.

The best possible way to send a message to everyone in the Premier League and also a warning to Inter, their next opponent in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Ousmane Dembele

No other player has won more points with his goals than Dembele in La Liga this season (seven points with five goals). A solid statistic for a player often criticised by the press for a poor attitude off the pitch. The Frenchman showed up at the Wanda Metropolitano, rescuing a fundamental point for Barcelona in a very difficult game. Yes, Sevilla are now top of the league, but Barcelona are still alive and kicking.

Chievo

Finally Chievo have a point in this Serie A, after being in minus figures as punishment for accounting irregularities. New coach Mimmo Di Carlo has replaced Gian Piero Ventura in the best possible way, with a truly surprising draw away at Napoli. A massive result for Chievo, who are still 11 points from safety, but can now try and climb back up the Serie A table with a different spirit.

LOSERS

The SuperClasico

One of the most obscene spectacles football could offer. It should have been one of the best. Horrendous stuff from Buenos Aires, with River Plate fans ambushing the Boca Juniors team bus on its way to El Monumental. After some Boca players were injured, the game was eventually postponed, after FIFA and CONMEBOL initially wanting to go forward with it.

Unbelievable, sad, and angering. A wasted opportunity and a horrible example to the world of everything that is wrong with this sport, both at a tribal fan level, and at an institutional one.

Real Madrid

“We need to score more goals and concede less.” This was the revolutionary solution that coach Santiago Solari brought forward to cure Real Madrid. The truth is, it feels like after winning so much the team lacks the motivation to carry on with the pace of recent years. Cristiano Ronaldo is missed, but Madrid are better than this, regardless.

Maurizio Sarri

It’s not like we needed Chelsea’s first defeat this season to know he’s a stubborn coach, but Sarri’s style comes with these matches. He wants Jorginho to play as holding midfielder, meaning N’Golo Kante isn’t the defensive man in the middle. Sarri is great, but struggles to have a plan B, and this was always Napoli’s biggest problem. Will it carry on to be an issue at Chelsea too?

Niko Kovac

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President Uli Hoeness assured the press that Kovac will remain the Bayern coach, but the numbers don’t lie: the Bavarians have put together just two points in their last three games, and are now nine behind Borussia Dortmund in the league table. Simply not good enough. Will Hoeness stick with the Croatian if Bayern don’t beat Benfica in the upcoming Champions League game?

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