Betis seize the throne as Villarreal tumble
Nine games in, the Spanish First Division has a new leader: Real Betis, who won at C. Leonesa while Villarreal slipped to fourth.
A week ago Villarreal ruled the Spanish First Division. Now they look down from fourth, and Real Betis sit on the throne. Football turns like a bullfighter's cape.
Betis went to C. Leonesa and won 2-0, their seventh victory in nine games, and the table shows them top on 21 points with a goal difference of +7. Athletico Madrid matched those 21 points by winning 2-1 at Leganés, but their goal difference reads +6, and so the green-and-white flag flies highest. The old boy who has carried them since August, the side that sat second with 18 points after eight games, now has a summit to defend.
Barcelona and Villarreal both have 19 points from ten games, and both were held: Oviedo 0-0 Barcelona, Girona 1-1 Real Madrid. Vigo, on 17 points from nine, drew 0-0 with A. Bilbao.
At the bottom the earth gives way. Sevilla lost 1-0 at Vallecano and lie 19th on seven points. C. Leonesa, beaten by the leaders, are last on five. Oviedo, who held Barcelona, drew 0-0 again at Real Sociedad but remain 18th on nine.
And then Levante 5-4 Alavés: nine goals, a night of fire and chaos, and three points for Levante.
Ponferrada climb from 13th to 8th with their 1-0 win over Valencia, who fall from 9th to 12th. In Seville they will say the season is long. In Villarreal they will say it too, more quietly.