Features
JUE 25.06.2015
February in the 2014/15 Liga BBVA season consisted of four matchdays during which there was no let up in terms of new records being set, curious stats and goals, many goals. A grand total of 40 enthralling matches took place between matchday 22 and 25 that left the leaders in danger of losing first place, the top scoring Spaniard extend his lead and a striker that scored his first hat-trick as a professional among many things.
Highlights
February would be the month when Real Madrid left the door open for FC Barcelona to close the gap at the top. After maintaining a high level of performance in December and a great run in November, the Whites, with some doubts, definitively went flat and allowed their eternal rivals to get dangerously close to first place. Madrid, after being defeated by Atlético Madrid and drawing against Villarreal CF, remained first by just two points ahead of the Catalans, who would overtake the Madridistas one game later in March.
Indeed, the defeat against the red and whites was a huge blow to the confidence of the side then managed by Carlo Ancelotti. Diego Simeone’s men convincingly won 4-0 on matchday 22 and broke a negative run of failing to beat the Whites since 1999 at the Vicente Calderón.
Elsewhere, Leo Messi played his 300th game with FC Barcelona in the Liga BBVA on matchday 23 against Levante UD, in a match in which the Argentine scored another hat-trick. On the same day, Kiko Casilla reached his 100th game in the same competition also in triumphant style as he saved a decisive penalty from Málaga CF midfielder Nourredine Amrabat in the meeting with RCD Espanyol.
A week later, Málaga, who had just lost at home against Los Pericos, made up for it by beating Barça 0-1 to seal their first win at the Camp Nou in 16 years.
Star of the month
Alberto Bueno was the star in February. The winner of the BBVA prize for player of the month, provided his best moment on matchday 25 when the striker scored all four of his side’s goals as Rayo beat Levante 4-2. The Madrid forward killed the game off in less than 15 minutes, managing to surpass his previous record for goals in a season and making him the highest scoring Spaniard in the league with 12 goals.
Coach of the month
Once more Nuno Espírito Santo received the BBVA prize for best coach in February. The coach, who managed to get his team, Valencia CF, into the Champions League places, was one of the most recognised during the season after the great campaign his side had. During the mentioned 30 days, the side managed by Nuno won all four of their games, allowing them to remain fourth and move to within just one point of third-placed Atlético Madrid.
Best goal
The most standout goal from these four rounds of games was scored by Damián Suárez on matchday 22 as Elche CF played Rayo Vallecano. It was in the 22nd minute when the Uruguayan full-back took advantage of a loose ball and from more than 30 metres placed the ball into the top left-hand corner of Antonio Rodríguez 'Toño's’ goal with a great strike.
Outstanding team
If the coach of the month was Nuno, the team of the month had to be Valencia. For their numbers, their goals, their statistics, Los Che were by a distance the team with the best results from February after winning all four games. After six consecutive victories at Mestalla, the Valencians hadn’t lost at home since November 30 and had 34 points which put them alongside Atlético Madrid as the club that had won most points at home.
Strange fact
David Barral scored his first hat-trick as a professional player during matchday 22 of the Liga BBVA during the match between Levante and Málaga. By doing so, the striker from Cadiz was the main man in the winning of three vital points for his side on their road to survival.
At the final whistle, the game became Levante’s 100th win in the top-flight of Spanish football. Barral, meanwhile, became the first Spanish player to score a hat-trick last season in the Liga BBVA.
Revelation
If there was a revelation that caught the attention during these 30 days it was Álvaro Vázquez. The Getafe CF striker took the spotlight during February, scoring four of his nine goals from the 2014/15 season. The month was especially sweet for the Catalan forward as two of his goals were decisive in victories that distanced Los Azulones from the relegation zone.
Latin America also stands out in the Liga BBVA
The Argentine Pablo Piatti was especially important during February for hs coach, Nuno and his team Valencia. The winger played in all four games in this month and scored four goals, at an average of a goal a game. That allowed Piatti to become a key part in the Valencia attack, as his goals were key to beating Real Sociedad with a double and Córdoba CF against whom he scored his side’s last goal of the game.
© LALIGA - 2015