LA LIGA FIVE THINGS

SOLARI RAISES TENSION WITH ANOTHER ISCO SNUB

REAL MADRID coach Santiago Solari isn’t afraid to put the cat among the pigeons when it comes to team selection.

Despite the club’s injury crisis in attack Solari benched Spain playmaker Isco, for the 11th time in the 11 league games he has spent at the helm, along with defender Marcelo.

Instead he opted to play youthful duo Fede Valverde and Sergio Reguilon in a 2-1 win against Real Betis on Sunday.

The decision nearly backfired when Valverde spurned a fine opportunity after he was played in on goal, and Real looked like they were going to draw.

In the second half, Solari brought on B team forward Cristo Gonzalez and then midfielders Dani Ceballos and Brahim Diaz while chasing the game, ahead of Isco and Marcelo.

COUTINHO VINDICATES HIMSELF

Having performed poorly in Barcelona’s 2-1 defeat by Levante in the Copa del Rey on Thursday, Ernesto Valverde handed Philippe Coutinho a start against Eibar on Sunday.

It was a valuable chance for the Brazilian, who has been left out of the side in recent weeks, and Coutinho took it with both hands. The former Liverpool playmaker set up Luis Suarez for the opening goal and pulled off various tricks to dazzle the Nou Camp as Barcelona strolled to a 3-0 victory.

Coutinho’s return to form means he will once again be fighting for a place in the side with Ousmane Dembele, to be the third man in the forward line alongside South American double act Suarez and Lionel Messi.

HOMETOWN HAT-TRICK HERO POWERS RAYO RISE

Vallecas-born and bred striker Raul de Tomas hit a hat-trick to earn Rayo Vallecano a 4-2 win over Celta Vigo on Friday, the Madrid minnows’ third consecutive victory.

The win over Celta takes Rayo two points from safety with 19 from 19 games, nine of those coming in their last three matches.

YOU CAN’T GO HOME AGAIN

Dani Ceballos returned to the Benito Villamarin, where he developed as a player with Real Betis, scoring a lastminute winning goal for Real Madrid, but described it as a bittersweet night.

The midfielder was whistled by angry home supporters when he came on as a substitute, who have not forgiven him for leaving to join the European champions in July 2017.

INAKI’S LONG WAIT

You wait ages for a goal and then two come along at once. Inaki Williams had not scored a goal at home since December 2016, but finally broke that streak with a special double to help Athletic Bilbao sink title hopefuls Sevilla 2-0 on Sunday.