Robert Lewandowski is untouchable despite drawing another blank, Ilkay Gundogan is finding his Man City form at Barcelona… as an ex-Middlesbrough flop helps Girona keep up the pace – 10 THINGS WE LEARNED from LaLiga

• Ilkay Gundogan is recovering his top form – but he’s playing in an unfamiliar spot
• An ex-Boro man is thriving at Girona while Robert Lewandowski is struggling
• IAN LADYMAN: Liverpool are two players short for another great period – It’s All Kicking Off

This was supposed to be the weekend when Diego Simeone finally won away at Barcelona, instead for the 18th time in succession he came away winless.

It’s not all good news for Barcelona with Robert Lewandowski still out of sorts and Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s back not improving. 

Elsewhere Girona are still flying and were briefly top of the table at the weekend.

Sevilla are still grounded despite the recent appointment of Diego Alonso as their manager. 

Here are 10 things we learned from this weekend’s La Liga action.

Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid’s rotten record against Barcelona continued on Sunday

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Lewandowski’s numbers are poles apart

In his first 17 games last season Lewandowski had scored 17 goals. This time it’s just eight and he has only scored two in his last seven league games. 

Yesterday, he shinned one wide early on and with a first-half headed chance and appeared to clear the ball perhaps thinking he was offside. 

The 35-year-old striker is still untouchable though as again Xavi changed the forwards either side of him and left him on to finish the game, goalless.

Robert Lewandowski hasn’t found his second season at Barcelona as easy as last campaign 

Xavi takes Cholo’s crown

Diego Simeone used to be king of the 1-0 victories – not anymore. Xavi has now overseen 1-0 wins for Barcelona in 23 matches since taking over, and that includes three times against Simeone.

Ter Stegen injury concerns continue

Barcelona are considering recommending surgery to Ter Stegen, according to Marca. 

The German goalkeeper’s hasn’t played since the last international break and his back problem seems to be getting no better. 

On the bright side for the team, stand-in Iñaki Peña’s two saves at the weekend to keep out Atletico were worthy of the man he had replaced.

Xavi is the king of 1-0 victories, having grinded out 23 of them while in the Barcelona dugout

Barca are reportedly considering recommending surgery for injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen 

Gundogan finding City form

Xavi may have found his midfield. Ilkay Gundogan played between Frenkie de Jong and Pedri and they dominated Koke, Rodrigo de Paul and Marcos Llorente. 

Gundogan is not overly fond of the holding position but with Oriol Romeu’s form some way off the level hoped for, he is the best option for the position.

Ilkay Gundogan is finding a semblance of his Man City form although he isn’t overly fond of the holding role 

Xavi wants Cancelo ahead of Joao Felix

All the talk was of Joao Felix after Barcelona’s win but if the club can only afford to keep one of their Portuguese loanees next summer than coach Xavi is under no illusions about who he would prefer – Joao Cancelo will arrive on a permanent deal from Manchester City and then if it’s possible to sign Joao Felix too, that deal will follow.

There’s little doubt that Xavi would prefer to take Joao Cancelo over Joao Felix if he could only have one permanently 

Sevilla’s new-manager bounce still hasn’t arrived

It’s six games and counting for Sevilla coach Diego Alonso. He still hasn’t won since taking over with five draws and one defeat. 

Sevilla saved their season in the last campaign by winning the Europa League – just winning a league game looks difficult for them now.

Stuani briefly sends Girona top of the charts

When Cristhian Stuani left Middlesbrough in 2017 he was already 30. 

Nobody would have predicted that he would still be scoring goals at the highest level eight years later. 

His late double on Saturday put Girona back on the summit although Madrid’s later win moved them back to second.

Ex-Middlesbrough man Cristhian Stuani left the Riverside when he was 30 in 2017… six years later, he fired Girona back to the top of La Liga (though Real Madrid since pipped them)

Nico’s new deal comes with a catch

Nico Williams has signed a new deal at Athletic Bilbao until 2027 although the 55m euros release clause hardly looks designed to ward off interested parties. 

The 21-year-old scored in Athletic’s 4-0 win on Saturday to keep them fifth.

Kroos control leaves team-mates in awe

You know the assist is good when everybody runs to the player who made it instead of to the goalscorer. 

Brahim Diaz put Real Madrid ahead against Granada but for a while he was celebrating alone as players mobbed Toni Kroos for the brilliant pass that set him up.

Ex-City wonderkid holding his own at Madrid

Brahim Diaz has now scored three goals so far this season for Real Madrid and each one of them have been the opening goal. 

The former Manchester City youngster is still not going to start when everyone’s fit but if he’s happy to be one of Madrid’s strong substitutes then he has a place at the club for seasons to come.

Ex-City wonderkid Brahim Diaz has scored three times for Real Madrid this year 

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

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It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

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