La Liga Table 2015 Week 2: Standings and Final Scores After Sunday
Atletico Madrid sent out a warning to Barcelona and Real Madrid that they won't have this season's title race all to themselves. Atleti went top after thrashing Sevilla 3-0 in Seville.
Summer import Jackson Martinez capped the rout with a spectacular strike. But clever and pacy wide forward Antoine Griezmann was the star of the show.
Later, new-look Granada won in Getafe. Meanwhile, Eibar beat Athletic Bilbao to start Sunday's games rolling.
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Here are the full results from Sunday, followed by a look at the standings after the season's second week:
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| Sunday, August 30 | Eibar | 2-0 | Athletic Bilbao |
| Sunday, August 30 | Sevilla | 0-3 | Atletico Madrid |
| Sunday, August 30 | Valencia | 1-1 | Deportivo |
| Sunday, August 30 | Getafe | 1-2 | Granada |
| Sunday, August 30 | Las Palmas | 0-0 | Levante |
| Position | Played | Team | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | 2 | Celta Vigo | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| 2 | 2 | Eibar | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| 3 | 2 | Atletico Madrid | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| 4 | 2 | Barcelona | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | 2 | Real Madrid | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 4 |
| 6 | 2 | Villarreal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 7 | 2 | Granada | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 8 | 2 | Espanyol | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| 9 | 2 | Deportivo La Coruna | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | 2 | Valencia | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | 2 | Real Sociedad | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | 2 | Sporting Gijon | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 13 | 2 | Levante | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 |
| 14 | 2 | Las Palmas | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| 15 | 2 | Malaga | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| 16 | 2 | Rayo Vallecano | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 1 |
| 17 | 2 | Sevilla | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 1 |
| 18 | 2 | Real Betis | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 1 |
| 19 | 2 | Getafe | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| 20 | 2 | Athletic Bilbao | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
Atletico Thump Sevilla
Atleti boss Diego Simeone refreshed his strike force this summer with the purchases of Luciano Vietto and Martinez. But it was the performance of last summer's marquee buy that really stood out at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Griezmann was magnificent in a role that gave him more license to make central runs. He played a part in two of Madrid's goals, including teeing up Martinez for the third.
As usual, Griezmann's movement between the lines was a joy to watch. He just never, ever fails to put himself in a dangerous position.
The plaudits soon came in for Simeone's men, and rightly so.
ESPN's Dermot Corrigan described the significance of this victory:
While it's obviously early days, BBC Sport's Andy West lauded the trophy-winning potential of Simeone's deep and talented squad:
Atleti still have the same rock-solid and uncompromising defence. In front of that group, the same energetic and resourceful midfield still plies its trade, led by the underrated Gabi.
But it's up front where things look so much better this term. Griezmann is one of Europe's best attackers, while Martinez and Vietto were smart buys who add different ways to expose a defence to the mix.
Overcoming Barca and Real's star power is an almighty task. But Simeone has done it before. Now he's got a squad that can ruffle a few feathers again this season.
Problems for Los Che and Bilbao
Neither Valencia nor Athletic Bilbao have enjoyed the start of this La Liga season. The latter won a first trophy for over three decades by beating Barcelona in the Super Cup. But so far, Athletic can't get out of the blocks.
After being beaten 1-0 at home by Barca in the opening week, Bilbao left Eibar with nothing. Crafty left-footed midfield gem Saul Berjon opened the hosts' account from the penalty spot.
It was highly regarded centre-back Aymeric Laporte who gave away the penalty. AS reporter Nika Cuenca called his mistake "ridiculous."
In the second half, attacking midfielder Adrian Gonzalez deftly turned in an angled header after a Berjon corner kick.
None of Athletic's star performers, including striker Aritz Aduriz and supporting forward Oscar de Marcos, delivered. There's no fluency to Bilbao's movement or verve in their passing. Both those things must improve before this team can find the net.
Things certainly aren't firing for Los Che either. After being held at the Mestalla by Deportivo La Coruna, Valencia have made a mediocre start to the new season, per Corrigan:
West believes there will be changes if results don't improve soon:
In fairness, Valencia's cause wasn't helped by full-back, and former Depor man, Antonio Barragan getting sent off with the home side pushing for an equaliser late on. The 28-year-old picked up two yellow cards during the last 20 minutes for a pair of rash tackles.
This tame stalemate leaves Los Che ninth in the table.
Elsewhere, Las Palmas and Levante brought up the rear with a goalless snooze fest. The Guardian's Sid Lowe summed up the tepid fare perfectly:
He rightly identified Levante as the biggest culprits:
Thankfully, the memory of Atletico's fine showing in Sevilla makes it easy to forget this particular damp squib.
Atleti had to answer after both Barca and Los Blancos earned impressive wins this week. Now Simeone and his players have let it be known this season's title race can be a real three-way tussle after Barcelona's serene procession last season.
