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体坛英语新闻:Four things we learned from matchday 22 in Spain

更新时间:2024-03-28 19:33:23

  MADRID, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Matchday 22 in Spain was marked by serious injuries suffered by Osasuna defender Tano and Barcelona's Aleix Vidal, both of whom will miss the rest of the campaign, but it also showed us several points of interest at the long road continues to the end of the campaign.

  1) Dani Ceballos could be great

  Not so long ago Betis's 20-year-old midfielder Dani Ceballos was a target for FC Barcelona before the revelations of a series of badly written insults directed against the club and the Catalan region put a rapid end to their interest.

  Watching him play it was obvious why Barca thought about signing the youngster whose talent was clear to see. Unfortunately his immaturity was even more evident as Ceballos passed games at times more interested in trying to fool referees or provoke rivals that play football.

  The arrival of Victor Sanchez as Betis coach appears to have brought about a change in attitude and the past two months have seen Ceballos lead from the front, not only at the heart of Betis' creative play, but also as a ball winner, marker and all round runner. In short Ceballos appears to have grown up; he still goes down under the slightest of challenge, but if he continues to mature, he could still grow up to become a great player.

  2) Years don't affect the old Fox Aduriz

  Saturday saw Athletic Club Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz score an 89th minute goal to give his side all three points against Deportivo la Coruna, 19 minutes after setting up Iker Muniain for his side's equalizing goal. It was the perfect way for him to celebrate his 36th birthday.

  In his third spell at the club where he began his career, the veteran striker nicknamed The Fox because of his wiles in and around the penalty area, has matured with age and what he may have lost in pace he makes up for with his knowledge of all a striker's arts (including some of the dark arts), his charisma and leadership on the pitch.

  He has eight goals in the Liga Santander this season and nobody should forget the 5 goals he scored against Genk in a single game in the Europa League in November.

  Athletic have high hopes 19-year-old forward Asier Villalibre will develop into Aduriz's heir in to the San Mames Stadium, but until he does, there is still plenty of life in the Fox.

  3) De Gea may come, but don't write off Keylor Navas

  If Real Madrid took all three points from their visit to bottom of the table Osasuna, it is in part down to their firepower in front of goal, but nobody should forget the performance of goalkeeper, Keylor Navas.

  In his second season as first choice at Real Madrid, Navas has every reason to feel slightly mistreated: no longer had he seemingly replaced Iker Casillas as first choice then the club tried to sign Manchester United's David de Gea, only for the deal to collapse in the last moment. As a result Navas was first choice as they won last season's Champions League.

  He suffered an ankle injury in the summer and started the season injured, which perhaps he was slightly below his best before Christmas and the murmurs about De Gea or Thibaut Courtois have started again.

  However, just as he is under most pressure the likeable and humble Navas responded with a series of vital saves in Pamplona, showing he doesn't just possess the talent, but also the personality to be number one in the Real Madrid goal.

  4) Referees have to up their game

  Nobody is saying that it is easy to be a referee, with players doing their best to fool you and TV replays analyzing your every decision, but this weekend saw a series of bad mistakes in the Liga Santander.

  Trujillo Sanchez failed to see a clear handball which would have given Valencia a win away to Betis, while Vicandi Garrido failed to see a clear favor while would have put Malaga 2-0 ahead away to Villarreal, just a minute before a questionable decision allowed Villarreal to equalize from the penalty spot.

  Meanwhile Hernandez Hernandez and his official were fooled into giving a penalty by a clear dive by Atletico Madrid's Yannick Carrasco and Aduriz's winner against Deportivo la Coruna may have been fractionally offside.

  That is four major errors in nine matches, not good enough if LaLiga wants to be the best in the world.