It was a weekend in which the two Madrid giants showed why they will likely battle it out for the La Liga title until the bitter end.
A weekend when an old favourite returned from halfway around the world to his spiritual home.
And a weekend when a manager who fared well in the Premier League but was given little time to shine showed what he can do to allow his new team to dream of survival.
The Quique Sanchez Flores effect
Spaniard Sanchez Flores knows all about the ruthless nature of a football manager.
This was, after all, the boss who guided Watford to a respectable 13th-place finish in the Premier League and the FA Cup semi-finals in 2016 before being promptly fired.
He then returned again two seasons ago and was sacked after just 10 Premier League games – no wonder that approach saw the Hertfordshire club relegated that season.
Back in La Liga with Getafe, Flores showed this weekend that he still has plenty of acumen to take on a small club and give them belief.
In fact, the La Liga highlights were clear to see as he masterminded a 4-0 win over Cadiz to take them to within two points of escaping the drop zone.
Flores has achieved clear progress in recent weeks, with Getafe now improving quickly.
Before the international break, they managed to pick up their first win of the season by defeating a solid Espanyol side, and they put in an encouraging display in a 1-0 away defeat to Europa League holders Villarreal.
This weekend though was their best showing of the season so far as they made easy work of fellow strugglers Cadiz.
Mathias Olivera put Getafe ahead with seven minutes on the clock, and Jorge Cuenca doubled their lead in the second half with a fine header.
Enes Unal headed home his fourth goal in as many games for 3-0 and there was even time for Jaime Mata to score the best goal of the game, finding the bottom corner with a perfect volley as Getafe finished with a flourish.
Don’t bet against them surviving with Flores at the helm.
Xavi returns to heroes welcome – and suffers
Not with the result of course.
He celebrated his first game in charge at the Nou Camp with a slim derby victory over Espanyol which allowed their fans to claim bragging rights over their city rivals.
A Memphis Depay penalty shortly after the restart was enough. Whether Leandro Cabrera actually brought down the Dutchman to concede the spot kick is debatable but he made no mistake to convert and ensure the SBOTOP La Liga betting odds were, quite literally, spot-on.
Xavi and the home fans were left to suffer right up until the final whistle, mind.
Indeed, Espanyol hit the post twice and could easily have won the game having wasted numerous chances in the second period.
The anxiety was clear in the closing minutes when a De Tomas header cannoned off the post as Barca just about managed to drag themselves over the finishing line and ensure a dream start for Xavi.
His task is no easy one with Sergio Aguero reportedly due to announce next week that he will hang up his boots following a heart issue.
Also, talented youngster Pedri has suffered an injury relapse with reports suggesting he may not be available for selection until 2022.
Real back on top
Carlo Ancelotti’s side knew the drill.
Win at Granada and they would return to top spot, even if only temporarily.
Leading the line once more were Karim Benzema, who remains as talismanic as ever with 14 goals and eight assists so far, and their second-best hitman this term in Vinicius Junior – who has come of age with nine goals and five assists.
Only one of them was on target but that hardly mattered as Real made their superiority count.
Goals from Marco Asensio and Nacho gave them an early lead before Granada’s Luis Suarez pulled a goal back just before half-time.
Vinicius Junior restored Los Blancos’ two-goal advantage shortly after the restart with Monchu then sent off for the hosts, surprise Europa League quarter-finalists last season, in the 67th minute.
Ferland Mendy wrapped up the win for the visitors, adding a fourth and that was that.
Interestingly, Ancelotti’s team has scored 37 so far – an improvement on the 26 managed at the same stage under Zinedine Zidane last term.
This win was the first of nine matches they will play in 31 days between now and December 22, a period that has the potential to make or break their season.
With Atletico also claiming a key victory, their battle for top spot could well go down to the final day of the season once more.
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