How the month of January went in the Liga BBVA

With January coming round, it remained all to play for in the 2014/15 Liga BBVA. Big wins, outstanding individual contributions and the odd surprise here or there were the highlights of a month that enjoyed no fewer than five matchdays, taking in weeks 17 to 21.

Highlights

If there was one team that up to this point had been grabbing the headlines, it was Real Madrid. With as many as 22 wins in a row, los blancos were streaking towards the record of 24 successive victories held by Brazilians Coritiba FC. However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side proved unable to beat it, deprived of the privilege after losing against Valencia CF on matchday 17 of the Liga BBVA, a great display from los ché meaning Madrid came away from Mestalla with a 2-1 defeat.

Despite the reverse, Real Madrid were still left with a new Spanish record for consecutive wins, ahead of the 18 triumphs on the spin posted by FC Barcelona under Frank Rijkaard in 2005-06. Such an incredible record saw Madrid crowned the season’s ‘winter champions’ with 48 points, four clear of closest challengers Barça. Atlético Madrid and Sevilla FC completed the UEFA Champions League placings, while Valencia and Villarreal CF would have been the division’s UEFA Europa League qualifiers if the campaign had ended after matchday 19.

Star of the month

Forward Antoine Griezmann was without doubt the month’s outstanding performer, scoring a total of five goals inside just three of his five appearances in January, to register figures that were nothing short of stellar. With Diego Simeone beginning to give the winger a more prominent role, he responded to the faith shown in him by his coach with goals. Griezmann, who was named as Liga BBVA player of the month for January, scored doubles against Levante UD and Rayo Vallecano, as well as finding the net once against SD Eibar on matchday 21.

Best coach

With four wins and just one defeat, Unai Emery was the Liga BBVA’s top boss during Janauary, as was reflected in his selection as BBVA coach of the month. The Sevilla supremo managed to steer his side to fourth place at the league’s halfway stage. Only Valencia were able to live with Sevilla in the top flight in January, securing an excellent victory over los hispalenses.

Best goal

Karim Benzema was the scorer of January’s best goal, a strike that bears all the Frenchman’s hallmarks and came against Real Sociedad on matchday 21 of the Liga BBVA. After playing a great one-two with Isco Alarcón, Benzema fired the ball into the top corner with a magnificent drive from the edge of the area, rounding off a game that finished 4-1 to los blancos.

Outstanding team

Perhaps not one of the leading lights of the Liga BBVA, but January was their best month in terms of numbers. We are talking about Córdoba CF, a team that couldn’t adapt to life in the top league and who will play next season in the Spanish second tier, the Liga Adelante. Nonetheless, it was in the first month of 2015 when the Andalusians had a purple patch with consecutive victories against Granada CF and Rayo Vallecano, a draw against Eibar and a narrow loss against Real Madrid in a game where they deserved much more. In fact, those seven points allowed los blanquiverdes to finish the first round of the Liga BBVA in fourteenth position, a placement that made them dream of survival from then on.

Strange Fact

The one thing that always stands out in January is the transfer window. During these thirty days some moved on to try their luck at other teams while many others arrived bringing goals, experience, seniority and above all, that extra bit of quality to the Liga BBVA. Among these players it is worthy to mention the return of some legendary footballers like Fernando Torres, who went back to his old home, Atlético Madrid, after seven and a half years mainly in English football but also in Italy. Other worthy mentions go to Quique Sánchez Florés who returned to Getafe CF after ten years along with the return of other classic Liga BBVA players like Kalu Uche and Iván Ramis, both signed by Levante.

Revelation

If Córdoba reaped their best results in the month of January, one might hope that one of their players was also the revelation. And so it is: Andoni Florín takes this well-deserved piece of recognition after his fine debut in the first team. The Romanian began the season with Córdoba but wouldn’t feature until week 17. He grabbed the opportunity in the Liga BBVA, scoring the second in his side’s victory against Granada. In all, he played five matches during this month and scored two goals that were worth four points to his team.

Latin America also stands out in the Liga BBVA

What really shines in the Liga BBVA is the sheer quantity of Latin American stars who play their football on Spanish soil. Choosing the best among them is a difficult decision but one of them is always going to stand out from the rest in his top form.

We’re talking about, who else, Leo Messi, who scored a total of eight goals in only five games. The Argentine, having not played his usual headline act in the first game against Real Sociedad, found his best form and shone, scoring in all the other games notching up one double and one hat-trick.