Jude Bellingham silenced his small group of critics, Barcelona saved by their youth system and Angel Correa is the world’s greatest squad player – 10 THINGS WE LEARNED from LaLiga

• Jude Bellingham’s stunning assist showed he’s more than a ‘tap-in merchant’
• The youngsters were key as Barcelona beat Sevilla 1-0 at the Nou Camp
• Click HERE to listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s ‘It’s All Kicking Off’

Jude Bellingham burst Girona’s bubble, Real Sociedad romped home in the Basque derby and Barcelona put a pre-match directors dinner spat behind them to beat Sevilla.

Match day eight in Spain also brought a comeback from Atletico Madrid thanks largely to their brilliant stand-in striker, and there was a clear winner of fan of the week. 

Here are 10 things we learned from this weekend’s La Liga action.

Jude Bellingham was the star of the show again as Real Madrid burst Girona’s bubble

Blind blunders costly

In front of watching Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman Daly Blind made the mistakes that helped give Real Madrid the perfect start against Girona. 

The home side could already have been 2-0 up but Yangel Herrera had sent a free-header over and Viktor Tsygankov had hit the post. 

Then Blind’s defending helped the visitors take an unassailable advantage. Girona are still in the European places and that’s probably why their supporters were still in good voice even after the third goal went in.

Not just a tap-in Charlie

Jude Bellingham has now scored seven goals in eight games in all competitions but the critics can use even achievements as sticks to beat you with and some had questioned his ability as a midfielder because of Ancelotti playing him as a second striker. 

There were even suggestions he’d been lucky to score so many goals from close range. His brilliant outside of the foot assist to set up Joselu against Girona was Modric-esque and might keep the critics quiet… for a while.

Sevilla offside with Barca snub

There were no visiting directors at the pre-match meal or in the directors box of the Olympic Stadium before and during Barcelona’s win over Sevilla after they decided to boycott the game and issue a pre-match statement stating the club’s: ‘total indignation and repulsion for the practices carried out by the ex-officials of FC Barcelona charged in the Negreira case, practices that allegedly constitute a crime.’

It was showy from Sevilla but was it really necessary? The practices stopped five years ago. Let the courts decide and take the right action. Posturing achieves very little now.

Barca saved by their youth system

As they beat Sevilla 1-0 on Friday Fermin aged 20, Balde aged 19, Gavi 19, and Lamine Yamal aged 16 were all key in the win. 

As the money disappeared some scoffed: let’s see your Masia now. But Barca’s kids have been their salvation, more even than their imaginative finances.

Young stars like Gavi (right) have been Barcelona’s salvation in troubling times 

And the jury is still out on latest twist in Barca’s Ref-gate scandal

While we’re on the subject the story behind Barcelona now being charged with bribery. The judge investigating the case is struggling to find evidence of payments to referees (necessary for a corruption conviction) and has therefore changed tack to a bribery charge that needs only proof of ‘intent to influence’. 

It does however depend on categorizing the referees’ vice-president in question as a civil servant. Law experts in Spain say it’s a classification of his role that just wont wash.

Basque derby no contest

Real Sociedad’s superior strength in depth saw them run out comfortable derby winners. They have the numbers now and were able to rest Kubo in midweek. He came back and was man of the match as they beat Athletic Club. 

Ernesto Valverde’s team don’t have the same wealth of talent and sorely missed the suspended Oihan Sancet.

Correa – the world’s greatest squad player

Okay so there is some competition for this but it’s hard to think of anyone who steps in so effectively. 

In his nine seasons at Atletico he has never really been first choice but he has always delivered and with Alvaro Morata suspended and Memphis Depay injured he started and scored twice as Atletico won to go fourth.

Angel Correa scored twice as Atletico Madrid came from 2-0 down to beat Cadiz in a thriller

400 not out for Oblak the great

That’s how many times the Slovenian keeper has now played for Diego Simeone’s side. He was beaten twice on Sunday but saved well in the second half from Chris Ramos to ensure he marked the special game with a win.

Cadiz won’t struggle this season

With the aforementioned Ramos up front, the reliable Conan Ledesma in goal and so much talent in between the two Cadiz ought to avoid another relegation scrap this season. 

They were two up in the first half and might have taken something from the game had they not conceded within the first minute of the restart.

And the fan of the week

Jon Azanza is a dyed in the wool Athletic Bilbao fan who just happened to be caught in a sea of blue and white on Saturday. As his team was trounced in the Basque derby he looked on arms folded, still smiling, as thousands of home fans around him did the Poznan.

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