La Liga Kicks Off
Mariano Díaz Shines as Alaves Secures 3-0 Victory Over Getafe in La Liga Opener
La Liga kicked off Europe's top five domestic league season on Saturday, with Alaves beating a 10-man Getafe 3-0 in Spain, according to AP News. Mariano Díaz was the star of the match, scoring one goal and setting up two more. Getafe played shorthanded from the 42nd minute after a red card.
Spain's top flight is the first of Europe's big five leagues to return, arriving less than a month after its national team won the World Cup, Yahoo Sports noted. The Premier League, Serie A, and Ligue 1 will all begin next weekend. Germany's Bundesliga follows the week after.
Mariano Díaz Dominates in Alaves Win
Mariano Díaz put in a man-of-the-match performance for Alaves. He scored one goal and assisted on two others, helping his side cruise to a comfortable 3-0 victory. Getafe had no answer once they were reduced to 10 men in the first half, according to AP News.
Playing against a depleted Getafe side gave Alaves room to attack freely. The final scoreline was a strong statement for the newly promoted or returning club heading into the new season. It sets a positive tone as La Liga gets underway, BDT Online reported.
La Liga Opens Before Barcelona and Real Madrid Return
Neither Barcelona nor Real Madrid played in the opening weekend. Both clubs are sitting out due to late returns from the World Cup. Barcelona will play their first match against Elche on August 23, according to AP News.
Real Madrid will travel to Espanyol later in August for their opener. Sevilla will host Rayo Vallecano in the second match of the weekend, Yahoo Sports noted. The absence of Spain's two biggest clubs means the early spotlight falls on sides like Alaves.
Spain Leads Europe Back to Club Football After World Cup
La Liga returning first is no accident. The Spanish league has long scheduled an early start to the season. This year it carries extra meaning, coming less than a month after Spain lifted the World Cup trophy, according to Daily Gazette.
The Premier League, Italy's Serie A, and France's Ligue 1 are all set to begin next weekend. Germany's Bundesliga will follow the week after that. Europe's full slate of top football will be running within two weeks, The New Enterprise reported.
Getafe's Red Card Proved Costly From Early On
Getafe's night unraveled quickly. A red card in the 42nd minute left them playing with 10 men for more than half the match. Defending a 3-0 deficit with one fewer player made any comeback almost impossible, Messenger-Inquirer reported.
The dismissal gave Alaves a huge numerical advantage at a critical moment. From that point on, Getafe had to park the bus and hope. Díaz made sure that strategy would not work, adding his assists after the red card to seal the convincing win, according to Daily Item.
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