Monday 28 September 2015 17:34, UK
In his weekly column, Sky Sports' Spanish football expert Guillem Balague looks at Villarreal's rise to the top of La Liga, as well as answering questions on the title race after Lionel Messi's injury and Valencia's troubles…
For the first time in their 92-year history Villarreal are top of La Liga.
And it is a miracle because, as we have explained many times, Villarreal, who had never even played a top-flight game until 1998, is a town of just over 50,000 inhabitants.
During the summer the club lost 10 players and signed 11. They've been very clever in how they have gone about their business because they've hardly spent any money.
The club's net spend is just £2m because of the sales of Giovani dos Santos, Javier Aquino, Gerard Moreno, Luciano Vietto, and Ikechukwu Uche.
For more or less the same cost - including the sale of Aleix Garcia to Manchester City - they've managed to bring in Roberto Soldado, Denis Suarez, Cedric Bakambu, Samu Castillejo and Samuel Garcia.
Where they have also been clever is in the loan market. For example, they have brought players in on loan for no cost such as goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and forwards Leo Baptistao and Adrian Lopez.
Through the manager Marcelino this is a team that has a very clear idea of what they have to do. They work really hard without the ball and run a lot. There are no superstars so everybody has to be part of attack and defence.
They like to get the ball forward quickly but they also have the ability to pass the ball around and slow the game down if they need to.
Up to this season there was always a smaller squad at the club. There was rotation but everybody knew what their best team was. Now it's a team where every single place is up for grabs.
There is a lot of competition and perhaps it is even the best squad they've ever had. They have had a better 11 in the past when Juan Roman Riquelme was around but the squad is much stronger this season and that may reflect into a more consistent season.
It's great to see Villarreal, who play the same way throughout the lower teams, at the top. The club has had an idea of the football they want to play for more than 15 years. They are now starting to see the reward of that and it's wonderful to see.
Guillem answers your questions…
Who's favourite for the La Liga title now Lionel Messi is injured? Connor
GUILLEM SAYS: Lionel Messi's two-month absence will show that Barcelona have quite a small squad. Let's see how they respond to that and see if they pick up any more injuries because you are forcing more on the players. They are getting less rest and perhaps there will be more tension on them without Messi on the pitch.
Luis Enrique's side have not been scoring freely so Barca will need the likes of Luis Suarez and Neymar to step up.
I still think Atletico Madrid have got a chance despite losing to Villarreal. It could be that it's a very close title race between the top three of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
It could be very close in the last month and then it will depend on individuals. How will Messi finish the season? How will Cristiano Ronaldo end the campaign?
At the moment we are seeing a Ronaldo that is going in bouts of form. He's gone three games without scoring and I wonder if this is the new Ronaldo, scoring lots of goals in not so important games and missing in the rest. I hope not but that's what it looks like this season.
Do you think FC Barcelona will leave La Liga after the independence? @M7amad777s
GUILLEM SAYS: No they won't. We will have to see what happens with independence but certainly it's been left very clear by everybody that Barcelona will be in the league and want to be. Also, I can't see the Spanish league allowing or wanting them to leave. I'm pretty sure they will be continuing in La Liga.
Why are Valencia struggling? AJ
GUILLEM SAYS: Valencia are struggling for different reasons. There are a lot of criticisms towards Nuno. For instance, against Espanyol the rotations didn't work, but it is more than that.
This is a weaker squad than last season. Nicolas Otamendi has left and that's down to the fact this season Valencia had to pay for the loan deals with obligations to buy that they put together last summer. That meant they could not invest any more money this summer.
They put all their eggs in one basket, which was to get to the Champions League. Now they are in the Champions League they have not been able to improve upon their squad. That's certainly a problem but there is also a lot of discontent.
The fans are certainly not happy with the fact that Jorge Mendes has been brought in by Peter Lim and he is bringing in all his own players. It feels like the club has gone away from the fans.
With the injuries at Barcelona will the club look at recalling Halilovic? Daniel Dowle
GUILLEM SAYS: They won't be calling back Alen Halilovic. He's on loan with Sporting until the end of the season and they will keep him there to continue his development.
Do you think this could be the most open La Liga for a long time or will it still end up being a two or three horse race again? @willywizzer
GUILLEM SAYS: At the end of the day, in every league it is money that counts. Since 2004 the Premier League and La Liga have had the same number of winners. At the end of this season it will be the top three again in my opinion.
How many players does David Moyes need to sort his attacking options out? Gavin Smith
GUILLEM SAYS: David Moyes needs much more than attacking options. He certainly needs better players but he also needs to understand how the Spanish league works. He also needs to understand the necessity to reinforce the midfield and the importance of control mixed with all the things he wants to put in the side. Real Sociedad will never be a David Moyes team but he can improve them enough to keep working.
Are Barca right to appeal the decision of inducting Turan considering Spanish football laws? @Usamaakhwaja
GUILLEM SAYS: They did ask for Arda Turan back because of the Spanish football laws but FIFA insisted the punishment would last until the end of the season.
