A new match day means it is time for a new iteration of LaLiga Overtime, the section in which we go over the defining moments of the domestic competition. This week, LaLiga Overtime will focus in Oihan Sancet, Robert Lewandowski, Brais Méndez and Kirian Rodríguez.
LaLiga Overtime – Match Day #6:
Athletic Club follow Sancet’s rithm:
Athletic Club have started the 2023/2024 campaign on a roll. The team managed by Ernesto Valverde ranks fourth in the LaLiga standings after scoring 13 points in the first six matches of the season. The latest of their wins took place this friday in the derby against Alavés, a match in which Oihan Sancet stood out as the protagonist.
The Pamplonese was the leader of ‘the lions’ at Mendizorroza. Up against the ‘Babazorros’, Sancet had an outstanding performance from the right flank of ‘El Txingurri’s’ midfield, as the dribbles he performed were a headache for his opponents. Over the course of the match, the U21s international completed 84% of his passes (41/49), managed two key passes, performed a successful dribble and generated a clear chance.
Athletic’s number ‘8’ would put the cherry on top of his performance in the 76th minute. A good backwards delivery from Iñaki Williams, who is currently playing his best football ever at Basque club, reached Sancet, who turned it into a piece of art worthy of being remembered in LaLiga Overtime. A long post strike that would impact the goalpost before entering Antonio Sivera’s goal. The first goal of the season for Sancet and a new victory for Athletic, who want to go back to playing European football this season.
Do not give Robert Lewandowski up for dead:
Football has a short memory. Like Dory in Finding Nemo, the average football fan follows a clear tendency of remembering very little, disparaging players who have given us great moments for plenty of years after a few subpar matches. Not even the greatest of players can escape from this historic collective amnesia. The most recent example has been Robert Lewandowski.
The Polish striker did not have a good start to the season. Physically, he was not at 100%, but the main problem was the lack of partners in Barças forward line. The 4-4-2 formation drawn up by Xavi left Robert on his own against the opposing defense. But everything changed in the last day of the transfer market. The arrivals of João Félix and Cancelo gave Barça a new offensive dimension and, above all, new associates for the Polish forward.
Up until that moment, the reigning LaLiga top scorer had scored a goal in three matches, the definitive 3-4 against Villarreal, but the arrival of both Potuguese players has massively increased Lewandowski’s offensive production. The return to a 4-3-3 system has allowed Barcelona’s number ‘9’ to revive and, in the last three matches (Osasuna, Betis and Celta) has participated in six goals (four goals and two assists).
This matchday, Barça were on the ropes against Celta de Vigo. Rafa Benítez’s side had played an exceptional 80 minutes that put them 0-2 up. At that moment, Lewandowski appeared. First with an improbable lob, a karate kick to beat Iván Villar after an excellent pass from João Félix. It was a duo that had clicked to perfection.
Minutes later, he would receive a pass from the other João, Cancelo, to draw the match and Barça would eventually come from behind to take the lead for the first time this season. At the moment, the Polish international is the top scorer with five goals (tied with Bellingham and Morata) and the player who has generated the most goals with eight. And that’s why no one should ever be left for dead, least of all Robert Lewandowski, who has earned his place in LaLiga Overtime.
Brais Méndez ‘plays for those who know about football’:
Brais Méndez ‘plays for those who know about football’ is what Real Sociedad’s social networks cry out every time the player from Mos puts in a great performance. An expression that has its origins in Vigo and that has become one of the most recited phrases among the ‘txuri-urdin’ parish.
In a team in which Takefusa Kubo takes the headlines as a result of his electric playstyle, Brais Méndez is cheered on by the fans thanks to his calmness and quality on the pitch. Both are part of a combination of opposites. Speed and moderation, rock and roll and classical music or Kubo and Brais Méndez are unconventional pairings, though, the latter is a joy to watch.
Against Getafe, the Japanese and the Galician joined forces to create the first goal of the match. An individual action by Real Sociedad’s number ’23’ (nutmeg included) set up Kubo to score the first goal of the day at Reale Arena. These were the third assist for Brais and the fourth goal for the Asian winger. Everything seemed lined up for an easy win, but Getafe would turn the match around with the goals of Aleñá and Borja Mayoral.
Real Sociedad faced a tough second half. Their opponent sitting back greatly hindered the options of Imanol Alguacil’s pupils. But it was when they needed him the most that Brais Méndez put the team on his back. He would, firstly, draw a penalty that Oyarzabal sent to the back of the net to even out the score. Afterwards, he would score the goal that completed the comeback as a result of David Soria’s poor positioning.
After turning the match around, the ‘magician of Mos’ had one more trick up his sleeve. He sent an aerial pass (that ended up in Mikel Merino’s boots) to the back of Getafe’s defensive line. The magical pass resulted in the goal that closed the game out for Real Sociedad, although Latasa would put some fear into the home squad after scoring one last goal for Getafe.
In a press conference after the match, Alguacil described the Galician midfielder’s performance: “When he is in shape, with flow, he is a outstanding player”, is what the ‘txuri-urdin’ manager had to say about one of the protagonists of this week’s LaLiga Overtime. It is because of his ‘flow’ that we constantly repeat that Brais Méndez ‘plays for those who know about football’.
The tears of a fighter:
The second of August 2022, life changed for Kirian Rodríguez. The midfielder of Unión Deportiva Las Palmas announced that he suffered from a Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymphocytes that protect our body from contracting infections and illnesses. After months as the protagonist of a touching story, Kiran confirmed in January of this year that he had fully overcame the illness and could return to the pitch. Kirian and UD Las Palmas finished last season on a high after earning promotion to the First Division.
The team directed by García Pimienta has had a rough start to the season. In their first five matches, the club from the Canary Islands only managed to score two points. But the main pending task for Las Palmas is their lack of scoring, as they had only been able to score a goal, the penalty that Jonathan Vieira transformed in the first match day.
This week, the ‘Pío-Pío’ would hosted another team that got promoted last season, Granada. Over the course of the match, García Pimienta’ s pupils stumbled upon Mika Mármol being sent off while Granada applied pressure in order to steal the three points. It was the 90th minute and the match seemed ti be destined for a draw, but then, Kirian showed up.
The player born in Tenerife received a pass from Sory Kaba and sent a left foot strike to the top corner of the goal, thus unleashing the joy of the Canary fanbase. Just like that, Las Palmas had won their first match of the season. An epic and sentimental victory due to the way it took place and who its protagonist was. Kirian broke down into tears in the celebration of his goal as a result of everything he went through.
After the match, with tears still in his eyes, the midfielder stated that, although he was born in Tenerife (a historic rival of Las Palmas) the fans of the yellow side “are his people”. Three points that mean much more than just that, they represent a story of overcoming, they are the reward of the man that never gave up.
A goal and a picture that enter LaLiga’s history, the tears of a fighter. The crying of Kirian proves that we should never give up, even if the situation seems complicated, as the reward for our efforts will come.
Translated by Nuño Alonso.
Main image: Edit by Pablo Benítez.
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