Madrid, Jan 5 (NationPress) La Liga made its exciting return this weekend, showcasing victories for both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, albeit through different routes. Real Madrid triumphed over Betis with a score of 5-1, while Barcelona secured a 2-0 win against Espanyol in an away encounter.

Following these results, Barcelona preserved their four-point lead over Real Madrid, topping the league standings with 49 points compared to Madrid's 45 points. Villarreal sits in third with 38 points, and Atletico Madrid trails closely in fourth, sharing the same point tally but ranked lower due to goal difference.

As the weekend's matches come to a close, here are some key takeaways from Spain's football scene this weekend.

1. Joan Garcia makes his case

So far, Spain's coach Luis de la Fuente has resisted calls to include Barcelona's goalkeeper Joan Garcia in the national squad. However, if Garcia continues his current form, it may become difficult to exclude him from the World Cup roster, even if De la Fuente wants to prioritize Unai Simon, David Raya, and Alex Remiro, as reported by Xinhua.

Garcia excelled in his return to face his previous club, Espanyol, and despite receiving a hostile welcome from former fans, he delivered a series of remarkable saves that kept Barcelona competitive until late goals from Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski clinched the match.

While strikers often capture the spotlight, in this instance, Garcia truly deserved the accolades.

2. Gonzalo steps up for Real Madrid

Although Kylian Mbappe was absent from the Real Madrid squad that defeated Betis 5-1 on Sunday, young striker Gonzalo Garcia stepped up, scoring a hat-trick and proving that he can be a vital asset for the team.

Benefiting from some defensive lapses, Gonzalo netted a header, a long-range volley, and a back-flick to secure the three points for his team. Beyond his goals, Gonzalo's traditional 'number nine' role allows him to play centrally and support his teammates, setting him apart from the likes of Mbappe, Vinicius, and Rodrygo, who typically attack from wide.

3. Atletico Madrid's away struggles continue

Atletico Madrid began 2026 by dropping more points on the road, settling for a 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad, now led by new coach Pellegrino Matarazzo.

While Matarazzo will appreciate his team's fighting spirit, which could have led to a win with better finishing, Atletico's coach Diego Simeone must rue another disappointing away performance that leaves them 11 points behind FC Barcelona, significantly diminishing their title hopes.

4. A commendable act from Aspas

Celta Vigo enjoyed a comfortable 4-1 victory at home against Valencia, a team increasingly at risk of relegation. The match concluded with Hugo Alvarez scoring Celta's fourth goal, while Valencia goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala suffered a hamstring injury and was replaced by midfielder Pepelu.

Even with a chance to pursue a fifth goal, Celta's captain Aspas instructed his teammates to refrain from shooting in the final moments, demonstrating sportsmanship and respect towards a defeated opponent.