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Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla and Valencia are not ready to challenge top three, says Guillem Balague

'But they are making steps in the right direction'

Stephane Mbia Etoundi of Sevilla
Image: Sevilla are still a work in progress, says Guillem

If Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are the three top teams in Spain, then what of the other contenders?

In today’s blog I shall take a look at three sides - Valencia, Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao – who are trying to challenge the top three this season…

Lacking magic

Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian midfielder Douglas Costa (R) vies with Athletic Bilbao's forward Iker Muniain
Image: Muniain is struggling for space

Athletic Bilbao only have a small squad and even their manager Ernesto Valverde was surprised they were able to maintain their high tempo and intensity for the whole of last season. That high tempo allows them to recover the ball early and when they’ve got the ball they have the pace that allows them to exploit spaces.

Physically and mentally the team has been affected by qualifying for the Champions League group stages when they beat Napoli. They peaked in that match and since then the results have been poor, losing to Barcelona, Granada and Rayo before the goalless draw with Eibar last weekend.

The high intensity and physicality has gone and without that they are lacking any magic up front. This is a team limited by a philosophy that is enriching at the same time as it makes life difficult for them.

Nowadays everybody goes to San Mames and defends very deep and without any space, the likes of Iker Muniain and Unai Lopez (who will replace Ander Herrera in the long term, but isn’t ready yet) cannot do what needs to be done. Their ability to open up defences with special passes has been limited.

Work in progress

Sevilla changed their system against Atletico Madrid and Unai Emery is being accused of all kinds of things after they lost the game. Remember, this is the guy who took Sevilla to the top of the table for a few hours, barely a few days ago!

It’s worth pointing out that Atletico Madrid also changed their formation for Saturday’s game by leaving out Antoine Griezmann, so Emery is correct when he says the winning coach was always going to be right and the loser was always going to be wrong. His plan was for Sevilla to defend in the first half and then try to surprise Atletico in the second, but it didn’t work out for him.

That suggests the team is still a work in progress and the manager also points out that they are competing with clubs who can spend 100 million euros on players, rather than 10 million!

It’s good to see Sevilla and Valencia making steps towards challenging, even though I don’t think they will get there this season
Guillem Balague
Limitations

Valencia play a very physical game with lots of dynamism and pressure high up the pitch. That means when they have three games in a week they don’t have enough players to have an impact from the bench. They don’t have enough quality from the bench to replace Dani Parejo or even Andre Gomes. The midfield, in particular, suffered physically in the 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad at the weekend.

Those are the limitations of a team that is only now starting to challenge and I think the top three will remain as the top three this season. I’m sure we’ll see Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the top spots again, but it’s good to see Sevilla and Valencia making steps towards challenging – even though I don’t think they will get there this season.

Guillem answers your questions...

Got a question for Guillem? Then send it in using the feedback form below, and then look out for his answer next week...

Hi Guillem, what is it about Cristiano Ronaldo that makes him so deadly nowadays? Pete McKenzie

GUILLEM SAYS: Ronaldo is a number nine now. Of course he plays in every position and he is free to do that, but he is able to economise his efforts and focus on scoring goals now. He doesn’t dribble as much as he used to, he runs off the ball and off defenders and he makes the moves of a number nine more often than not – even though he can do other things. That means he has become, in my eyes, the best number nine in the world.

Against Sevilla, Koke added a goal to his five assists for the season. How vital is he going to be for club and country in the future? Ollie

GUILLEM SAYS: He is key and everybody is aware that, as Xavi has said, he could end up being his replacement in the national team. However, I think we should keep an eye on Atletico's Saul, as I mentioned in this column last season. He is an all-round midfielder, who can score, cross, defend and recover the ball. He is only 19 and it is not easy to get into this team at that age, but he has got everything you need to be a top midfielder. He and Koke, in central midfield with someone like Tiago is something we are going to see more of this season.

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