Features
VIE 26.06.2015
March is always a month that's crucial towards the outcome of the Liga BBVA, and so it proved this season too. Crunch matches, sparkling individual contributions and the odd surprise took centre stage over 31 days that featured three rounds of games, from matchday 26 to 28.
Highlights
March brought with it a change at the top of the table. Real Madrid lost on their visit to San Mamés in week 26, and FC Barcelona took full advantage to leapfrog los blancos by defeating Rayo Vallecano 6-1. Los azulgranas then strengthened their position in first place two matchdays later in El Clásico, seeing off Madrid 2-1.
The month also saw history made at Rayo Vallecano. With his double against Granada CF at Vallecas in week 27, Alberto Bueno overtook Jon Pérez Bolo to became los franjirrojos' highest ever scorer in the Liga BBVA with 26 goals.
It wasn't only a great month for the Rayo forward, as four teams enjoyed immaculate records in March. Athletic Club and FC Barcelona each won every game they played to take nine points from the nine up for grabs.
Star of the month
Víctor Machín 'Vitolo' clinched the BBVA Award for player of the month. The Sevilla FC man completed an excellent March in which he scored three times, claiming a double against RC Deportivo at the Estadio de Riazor and rounding off his side's win over Villarreal CF at the Estadio El Madrigal. March witnessed the definitive breakthrough of a player who had been performing well for several months.
Best coach
Athletic Club boss Ernesto Valverde received the BBVA Award for coach of the month. Valverde managed to steer the Bilbao outfit back into the race for Europe with three wins out of three, of which the stand-out victory came in the team’s first game of the month, against Real Madrid at the Estadio de San Mamés.
Best goal
SD Eibar's Saúl Berjón hit the goal of the month on matchday 26 away to Levante UD. Eneko Bóveda hung the ball into the area, and the Asturian acrobatically volleyed into the net from the penalty spot to make it 0-1 to los armeros.
Outstanding team
In March, Athletic Club pushed themselves right back into the battle for European qualification with victories on all three matchdays during the period. They began by beating Real Madrid at San Mamés courtesy of Aritz Aduriz's solitary goal, before the striker again put the Basques ahead at the Estadio de Balaídos en route to a 1-2 win over RC Celta. They then finished off the month with a 2-1 triumph against UD Almería, Xabier Etxeita and Mikel Rico netting.
Strange fact
Fernando Torres got the opener in Atlético Madrid's 2-0 victory over Getafe CF at the Estadio Vicente Calderón, an effort that saw the forward from Fuenlabrada score a home Liga BBVA goal for los rojiblancos for the first time in 2,897 days.
Revelation
Xabier Etxeita was one of the chief reasons for Athletic Club's positive fortunes in March. The young defender was a rock at the back for a side that conceded just two goals during the month and kept a clean sheet against Real Madrid. Etxeita consolidated a starting spot that he had won in mid-February, and he also popped up with the opening goal in Athletic's 2-1 win against UD Almería.
Latin America also stands out in the Liga BBVA
Luis Suárez was one of the stars of March. The Uruguayan began the month with a brace against Rayo Vallecano, getting FC Barcelona's first goal against Paco Jémez's men when the match was at its least straightforward for los azulgranas. Two matchdays later, he struck the winner in the Catalan club's match-up with Real Madrid to put daylight between Barça and los blancos in the Liga BBVA table.
© LALIGA - 2015