Barcelona on top, World Cup looms: 10 things we learned this week in La Liga Santander

What has been going on in LaLiga this past week? Here are 10 of top stories, from players called up for World Cup to Basque’s teams’ rise into Champions League spots.

past week brought up final round of LaLiga Santander action before World Cup, with several eye-catching results, including a hard-fought comeback win for FC Barcelona. Here’s all you need to kw.

FC Barcelona go into World Cup break top of table

LaLiga Santander season has w paused for 2022 World Cup, with action in Spanish football’s top division t returning until New Year’s weekend. It’s FC Barcelona who’ll sit top of LaLiga Santander table during World Cup, as Blaugrana have taken 37 points from first 14 matchdays, while Real Madrid are just behind on 35 points.

Barça can also win without Lewandowski

Robert Lewandowski has undoubtedly been star man for FC Barcelona so far this season, as Polish striker has scored an incredible 13 goals across first 14 rounds. However, he received a first-half red card in team’s most recent match, against high-flying CA Osasuna. Barça were still able to win 2-1, though, with Catalan side showing great character to overcome that setback and collect ar three points.

Champions League football might be returning to Basque Country

re are t one but two Basque teams in Champions League positions as LaLiga Santander pauses for World Cup break. Real Sociedad defeated Sevilla FC 2-1 and Athletic Club overcame Real Valladolid 3-0 in Matchday 14, meaning former sit third and team from Bilbao are fourth at this moment in time.

Vedat Muriqi is in red hot form

Vedat Muriqi continued his red hot form in Matchday 14, scoring winning goal as RCD Mallorca defeated Atlético de Madrid 1-0 on Wednesday. That was his fifth consecutive league game in which he’d scored – hottest goalscoring streak in Europe’s top five leagues – taking his tally for campaign up to eight

Elche CF will move onto ir third coach of season

Given that Elche CF remain bottom of LaLiga Santander table, Los Franjiverdes are looking for solutions and y have decided that y’ll hire ar new coach for when campaign resumes. club started season with Francisco in charge before replacing him with Jorge Almirón, but Argentine has been dismissed too. A new coach will be hired during World Cup break.

Luis Enrique trusts in La Liga Santander talent

Spain coach Luis Enrique has named his 26-man squad for World Cup and vast majority of players currently ply ir trade in LaLiga Santander. 18 of those selected play for a Spanish club, with six different teams represented, namely Athletic Club, Atlético de Madrid, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Valencia CF and Villarreal CF.

stars of La Liga Santander will be in Qatar

Many or stars of LaLiga Santander will also be in Qatar. For example, Vinícius, Rodrygo and Raphinha will lead line for Brazil, Antoine Griezmann and Karim Benzema will do so for France, Luka Modrić will captain Croatia, Takefusa Kubo will bring flair to Japan’s squad, Ronald Araújo has recovered eugh from injury to make Uruguay squad, Kang-in Lee will represent South Korea, Thibaut Courtois is one of four LaLiga Santander players in Belgium team, Nemanja Gudelj is one of six Spain-based players called up by Serbia and Robert Lewandowski will lead Poland. 

Real Madrid will meet Liverpool again

We also learned this past week who Real Madrid, Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona will meet when UEFA competitions resume in 2023. Real Madrid have been paired with Liverpool in Champions League last 16, while FC Barcelona will take on Manchester United and Sevilla FC will face PSV in Europa League playoff round. Real Betis, Real Sociedad and Villarreal CF are all still alive in continental competition too, but have byes for next rounds in Europa League and Conference League.  

Copa del Rey is up and running

first round of 2022/23 Copa del Rey took place over weekend and 16 of 20 LaLiga Santander teams were involved at this st. 14 of m progressed to next round, with only UD Almería and Cádiz CF having ir cup dreams ended early. re were some big scorelines, with Villarreal CF even recording ir largest ever margin of victory by defeating Santa Amalia 9-0.

La Liga SmartBank isn’t stopping

Even though LaLiga Santander has w paused because of World Cup, re is still high-quality club football taking place in Spain as LaLiga SmartBank, country’s second division, is continuing. re are some blockbuster fixtures coming up, such as Basque derby between promotion chasers SD Eibar and Deportivo Alavés on vember 20th or Canary Islands derby between UD Las Palmas and CD Tenerife on vember 26th.