Cristiano Ronaldo usually gets the plaudits at Real but it’s Carlo Ancelotti who is setting records this week. The Italian is the third coach to win 12 or more consecutive games in the 112 year history of the club, and during that span his side have scored 47 goals. It’s now being reported that his current deal - which runs out at the end of next season - will be extended.
But it wouldn’t be La Liga without at least one Ronaldo reference. Despite ending his run of 13 successive goalscoring appearances against Liverpool, he still has 22 goals in all competitions in 2014/15 - three more than Liverpool have in total - and is honing in on a European great.
70 - @Cristiano needs one more goal to equal Raul’s all-time goalscoring record in the Champions League (71 goals). Precipice.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 4, 2014
Not such good news for Real Sociedad and their former manager Jagoba Arrasate, who was sacked after a home defeat to Malaga which leaves them in 19th place. Under Arrasate last season they finished seventh in the table but bottom of their Champions League group, and this stat makes grim reading for the former boss.
17 – Jagoba Arrasate won as many games as he lost for Real Sociedad in La Liga (14D). Sacked.
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 3, 2014
Whether it gets better or worse for Sociedad could depend on former Everton and Manchester United boss David Moyes, who is one of the favourites to take over the post. At 348 days, the Scot became Manchester United’s shortest serving manager since 1927, but if appointed, according to this graphic you could argue Sociedad are getting a better manager than Champions League winner Louis Van Gaal.
Surging Valencia are in second and just a point behind leaders Madrid after 10 games, and they may have revealed their recipe for success following a 3-1 win away to Villarreal. After centre-back Shkodran Mustafi bagged a brace in the victory, Valencia have now scored seven times from set pieces in La Liga this season - that’s 30% of their total goals. Unsurprisingly, Mustafi made WhoScored.com’s team of the week. Athletic are the next opponents to try and defend the set piece of Valencia when they travel to the Mestalla on Sunday.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid | 10 | 27 | 24 |
| 2 | Valencia | 10 | 14 | 23 |
| 3 | Atletico Madrid | 10 | 10 | 23 |
| 4 | Barcelona | 10 | 19 | 22 |
| 5 | Sevilla | 10 | 7 | 22 |
| 6 | Celta Vigo | 10 | 6 | 19 |
| 7 | Malaga | 10 | 4 | 18 |
| 8 | Villarreal | 10 | 2 | 14 |
| 9 | Eibar | 10 | -1 | 13 |
| 10 | Getafe | 10 | -6 | 13 |
| 11 | Athletic Bilbao | 10 | -5 | 11 |
| 12 | Rayo Vallecano | 10 | -6 | 11 |
| 13 | Espanyol | 10 | -2 | 10 |
| 14 | Almeria | 10 | -4 | 9 |
| 15 | Granada | 10 | -11 | 9 |
| 16 | Deportivo La Coruna | 10 | -9 | 8 |
| 17 | Elche | 10 | -12 | 8 |
| 18 | Levante | 10 | -23 | 8 |
| 19 | Real Sociedad | 10 | -5 | 6 |
| 20 | Cordoba | 10 | -10 | 5 |
