What has been going on in LALIGA this past week? Here are 10 of the top stories, from Real Sociedad's Basque Derby triumph to UD Almera's coaching change.
After a two matchday double header in LALIGA over the past week, here's all you need to know from around Spanish football.
Real Madrid are back on top of LALIGA EA SPORTS
There was a top-of-the-table clash in Matchday 8, as Real Madrid went away to high-flying Girona FC. The Catalan side had a few early chances, but Los Blancos weathered the storm to earn a 3-0 victory courtesy of goals from Joselu, Aurlien Tchouamni and Jude Bellingham. That result was Girona FC's first defeat of the season and it also puts Real Madrid back atop the league standings.
Bellingham is the outright leader of the Pichichi standings
By scoring yet again in the match against Girona FC, Jude Bellingham now has six LALIGA EA SPORTS goals this season, meaning he is the outright leader of the Pichichi standings, ahead of Takefusa Kubo, Robert Lewandowski and lvaro Morata, who are all on five.
Real Sociedad have fun in the Basque Derby
The vast majority of the 38,229 fans who packed the Reale Arena for Saturday's Basque Derby left with a smile on their face, as Real Sociedad thrashed Athletic Club 3-0, their largest win against their rivals since 2000. The goals from Robin Le Normand, Takefusa Kubo and Mikel Oyarzabal ensured it was a night of celebrations in San Sebastin.
A dream start to Assane Diao's Real Betis career
There is yet another academy graduate for Real Betis supporters to get excited about, and his name is Assane Diao. The winger only just turned 18 years of age in September and he has now scored in each of his first two LALIGA EA SPORTS appearances, against Granada CF last weekend and to open the scoring in Los Verdiblancos' 3-0 win over Valencia CF on Sunday. As far as dream starts go, it could hardly have been any better for Diao. Definitely a name to look out for in the future.
The Estadio Cvitas Metropolitano is a fortress
Atltico de Madrid have now won 12 home matches in a row, their best run of consecutive home victories in over a decade. On Sunday, it looked like that run might be coming to an end when they went two goals down to Cdiz CF, but ngel Correa led the team to a 3-2 comeback victory, scoring two himself while Nahuel Molina added the other.
Sergio Ramos suffers against his former foe
Sergio Ramos ensured a frustrating night on Friday, as the former Real Madrid captain visited FC Barcelona with his new Sevilla FC teammates. Despite producing a brilliant defensive performance for the majority of the 90 minutes, Ramos could do little as he turned in an own goal late on. That proved to be enough for Bara to win 1-0, making this a painful moment for the centre-back as he took on the side he'd battled in so many ElClasico contests over the years.
UD Almera move on from Vicente Moreno
There was a coaching change this week, as UD Almera and Vicente Moreno parted ways, with the team bottom of the standings. For the club's Matchday 8 game against Granada CF, the B team coach Alberto Lasarte took caretaker charge and the search for a new coach continues.
A high and a low for Luis Surez
The UD Almera vs Granada CF game finished 3-3, and it was a day of very mixed emotions for the home side's striker Luis Surez. At the end of the first half, in the space of five and a half minutes, Surez scored a hat-trick, with all three goals set up by his strike partner Largie Ramazani. However, the Colombian centre-forward sadly suffered a suspected fibula fracture in the second half of the game to make it a day of the highest high and the lowest low.
scar Valentn is the new captain of Rayo Vallecano
scar Trejo has announced via social media that he is handing over the captain's armband at Rayo Vallecano, with his midfield colleague scar Valentn now becoming the first captain at the capital city club.
Mario Surez announces his retirement
The Spanish footballing community came together to wish Mario Surez all the best in retirement, after the midfielder announced that he is hanging up his boots at the age of 36. With Atltico de Madrid, Real Valladolid, RC Celta, RCD Mallorca, Valencia CF and Rayo Vallecano, Surez participated in 236 LALIGA EA SPORTS and 110 LALIGA HYPERMOTION matches over his career, and was a champion in both competitions.