Revista Predictor: First scorer struggles as top sides win in La Liga
Monday 11 December 2017 08:27, UK
It should have been a week when the pundits picked up points on the #RevistaPredictor, but those first goalscorers are proving tough to identify. David Garrido has more from Matchday 15...
Five of the top six teams featured in this week's games, and ultimately those games went the way that many expected. Surely our motley crew of experts could maximise this opportunity? Not to be. Only one correct first scorer, only two scorelines exactly right...
MATCH 1 - Real Madrid 5-0 Sevilla
The build-up had been about Madrid having to field an inexperienced and not exactly water-tight defence and also struggling for goals. That two of those defenders (Nacho and Achraf) started and finished the rout against a woeful Sevilla does not negate that latter point, but, thankfully for the home fans, Cristiano Ronaldo managed to double his La Liga tally in just one game, scoring twice - the same number as he had managed in 10 previous matches.
All the goals were scored in the first half, and every pundit except Rob Palmer (who forecasted a 2-2 draw) picked up a solitary point for saying the hosts would win. It could be a vital shot in the arm for the defending champions - they needed a result like this.
MATCH 2 - Valencia 2-1 Celta Vigo
Reaction achieved for Valencia, but Marcelino's men had to fight for this one...and why did no one pick Simone Zaza to break the deadlock?! Maybe that knee injury is not that serious then...still, Iago Aspas made it four goals in four games to give Valencia a proper game, and it took a Dani Parejo penalty to get them back on the winning trail after last week's surprise loss at Getafe.
Four points to Jon Driscoll for getting the 2-1 bang on, while Rob and Kevin Keatings get nothing for predicting a Celta win and a draw at Mestalla respectively. With Valencia, Atletico and Real Madrid winning, the chasing pack are showing they are still up for the title fight, with two more games to go before Christmas.
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MATCH 3 - Villarreal 0-2 Barcelona
Here was a chance for Barcelona to slip up, and it was a very even encounter until Dani Raba got himself sent off on the hour for his challenge on Sergio Busquets, and in fact, Villarreal had threatened particularly through Roberto Soriano. Nevertheless, the red card meant it was only a matter of time before Barcelona netted - they went close a number of times before Luis Suarez got the opener (allowing David Phillips to pick up six points for first goalscorer and another for the win) and then Lionel Messi put the seal on it.
This was a useful wake-up call for Barca, just to make sure they do not get complacent and indeed are in tune ahead of the first Clasico of the season on December 23. Three hard-earned points here, and one point apiece for myself and Kevin, but Jon Driscoll gets nothing from the clash at the Estadio de la Ceramica.
There is a little movement in the standings, but it's mainly the bottom three bunching up...
Kevin's lead is trimmed to seven points by Jon, while David P is only bottom on alphabetical order. It's tight at the sharp end.
Now to those of you who submitted your predictions on Twitter and did well - so a big shoutout to @GazJDH with a huge 18 points: he got correct goalscorers in Zaza and Luis Suarez, the exact result right at Mestalla and correct match outcomes at the Bernabeu and the Villarreal game, while @ZaidAbuRub managed 14 points for everything spot on except the score in the last two matches. Very well done indeed.
See you on Friday for Matchday 16 and the next round of chosen games - we'll reveal them on @SkyRevista.
