Aimar Steers Valencia to the Top of the Table
Valencia midfielder Pablo Aimar orchestrated a 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid that sent his side top of the first division on Saturday, while a strike from Ronaldinho allowed Barcelona to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Osasuna.
Valencia midfielder Pablo Aimar orchestrated a 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid that sent his side top of the first division on Saturday, while a strike from Ronaldinho allowed Barcelona to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Osasuna.
Argentine international Aimar turned in a masterful performance as he set up all three Valencia goals, two of which were scored by substitute striker Mista.
Ronaldinho saved Barcelona's blushes with a deflected shot that stopped his side from slumping to its first defeat of the season.
Visitor Osasuna had taken a thoroughly deserved lead when skipper Cesar Cruchaga nodded in from a corner early in the second half but Ronaldinho popped up to equalize 16 minutes later when his low shot spun off defender Jose Izquierdo and into the net.
Saturday's results left Valencia top of the table on 10 points, one point ahead of Deportivo Coruna which plays bottom club Albacete on Sunday.
Barcelona is in third spot on eight points, one ahead of Real Madrid which makes the trip to play goal-shy Malaga on Sunday.
Osasuna, which has made a confident start to the season, move up to fifth, level on points with Real.
Just as Atletico looked to be getting on top at the Calderon, Valencia midfielder Aimar burst into action.
He exchanged a neat one-two with Mista before cutting back a pass to the advancing Vicente who cracked home high into the net on 68 minutes.
Less than 10 minutes later he provided the scoring pass for Mista to rifle home his side's second and he capped a magnificent performance with a perfect through-ball to set the striker up for another well taken goal deep into extra time.
Osasuna eclipsed Barcelona in the opening exchanges at the Nou Camp as it put together slick passing moves and rapid counter-attacks.
The Catalans struggled to find their rhythm and did not mount a serious attack until the 23rd minute when midfielder Luis Enrique sent a miscued shot over the bar after Patrick Kluivert and Javier Saviola had combined well to pry open the Osasuna defense.
Despite the presence of Ronaldinho, who joined the club for $33.89 million from Paris St. Germain in the off-season, Barca looked surprisingly short of ideas in attack.
The Brazilian was rarely able to wriggle free from the attentions of Uruguayan midfielder Pablo Garcia and without any recognized wingers on the pitch Barca was unable to get behind the Osasuna defense.
It came as no surprise when Osasuna took the lead early in the second half after Cruchaga outjumped Philip Cocu following a well-struck corner from Patxi Punal and nodded in past Victor Valdes.
Barca coach Frank Rijkaard immediately decided to reshuffle his pack by sending on wingers Ricardo Quaresma and Marc Overmars soon after.
The move paid off within minutes and it was Portuguese midfielder Quaresma who provided the cross that led to the Ronaldinho goal.