Barcelonas Bilbao reception suggests they will suffer out of court too, Raphinha proves his worth, Nacho is the best reserve defender in Europe - plus what Jude Bellingham on the front pages of Madrid press means... 10 THINGS WE LEARNED from LaLiga

By Pete Jenson for MailOnline21:00 13 Mar 2023, updated 21:00 13 Mar 2023

Barcelona won at Athletic Bilbao but received a frosty reception from home fans

Xavi noted the reception after the game and said he was surprised by it

Nacho proves worth to Real Madrid once again with strong defensive showing

Barcelonawere not affected by off-the-field scandal as they won away at Athletic Bilbao to go nine clear at the top. Not thatXaviis going to enjoy them becoming the team people love to hate.

Real Madridwarmed up forLiverpoolwith a Vinicius-inspired win that keeps them second but they are starting to believe thats as good as it will get.

Down at the bottom Sevilla triumphed thanks to their stand-in keeper. Oh and get the open top bus out of the garage!

Its time for the first parade of the season referees have now sent players off 101 times in Spain, some achievement that.

Heres 10 things we learned from LaLiga.

Xavi watched his side win 1-0 yet again to extend their lead at the top of La Liga to nine points

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Barçagate means the club will suffer out of court too

Athletic supporters threw counterfeit bank notes on to the pitch bearing the word Mafia alongside the Barcelona club crest.

There were also chants of to the second division (the equivalent of Going down, going down). I was surprised by this atmosphere of hostility towards Barça at San Mames, said Xavi.

He is probably going to have to get used to it. Other clubs will not take kindly toaround 7m paid across 20 yearsto someone who was at the time vice-president of the Referees Committee.

If there is no explanation the ill-feeling will linger for a while yet, despite the current players having nothing to do with something that stopped in 2018.

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It will be tough to emulate Ferguson

Before the game Xavi was asked about following in Fergies footsteps and doing two decades as Barça coach. It would be nice but I dont think its possible, he said.

After Barcelonas 11th 1-0 win of the season on Sunday he was asked several questions as to why they team couldnt win games by greater margins.

Can you imagine Sir Alex putting up with that for 20 years? Xavi is already exhausted after a season and a half in the job.

His sixth goal of the season didnt just give Barcelona victory; it also made him the clubs second top scorer level with Pedri.

He also has five assists and it might be time to admit hes been worth the money. That wont necessarily mean Barcelona would turn down an offer for him this summer such is their financial plight.

... and so have Christensen and Marcos Alonso

The two former Chelsea defenders both made crucial blocks as Barcelona held on at the end against Athletic.

They too have proved good signings in a defence that has still only conceded eight goals in LaLiga. The Spaniard is going nowhere.

Christensen, like Raphinha, will go if the price is right but not because he has not been a huge success.

VAR was never going to stop at just correcting big errors

VAR was meant to be for flagrant errors but that seems to have been forgotten. Now there is someone with a telescopic lens who sees all. This week we suffered, next week it will be someone else.

Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde was typically concise post match after his teams late equaliser was scrubbed off by VAR for a borderline handball some way back in the build up to the goal. It was harsh.

No better place to get sent off than in LaLiga. Unless youre Casemiro

Former Swansea midfielder Roque Mesa was the lucky man. He became the 100th red card so far this season in La Liga.

Clocking up the century in Spain was some feat as the Premier League has barely got beyond the 20 mark. Mesa was not the only one off in Valladolids draw with Elche.

Martin Hongla went early too in a second half that lasted 58 minutes because of the melees around the red cards.

Its all a far cry from Casemiros experience in Spain. There was a stunned response to news he had beensent off in the Premier League again thats twice in 19 games for him in England. It was two in 222 matches in La Liga. They called him the invisible man.

Nacho is Europes best reserve defender

We know moneys tight. Yes its tight at Madrid too, just not as well-publicised, Olympic-level, tight the way it is at Barcelona. But Nacho needs a new contract.

The man who can play any defensive position in his sleep but never nods off when hes defending stormed forward to set up Real Madrids third goal on Saturday.

Hes out of contract in the summer, surely theyll renew him? He looks set to face Liverpool this week.

Its the Champions League or nothing for Real Madrid

You could tell on Monday that Madrid felt they were a little further out of the title race Jude Bellingham was on the front page of Madrid-leaning Diario AS.

His signing is closer was the story without much news of anything really having moved on. It was still preferable to thinking about that nine-point gap at the top.

Madrid must win in Europe because its going to be tough for them to win at home.

Vinicius is La Ligas most decisive player

If there hope that Madrid can turn things around in the domestic league and cup over the coming weeks then Vinicius probably holds the key to it 11 of his 19 goals have been to break the deadlock in games.

He remains the most decisive player in Carlo Ancelottis line-up and possibly in the competition.

Dimitrovic too good not to be first choice

Marko Dimitrovic sat watching the first 37 minutes of Sevillas win over Almeria from the bench.

Then Bono suffered a neck injury and on he came for only his third league appearance of the season.

The 31-year-old Serbian was inspired and earned his team the three points a reminder that he is one of the best keepers in Spain and far too good to rarely play.

Xavi watched his side win 1-0 yet again to extend their lead at the top of La Liga to nine points

Barcelona received a frosty reception at San Mames Stadium amid their latest off-field scandal

Raphinha proved his worth to Barcelona with a decisive performance - the goal also brought him level with the clubs second top scorer

Roque Mesa became the unlucky player to be the 100th to be sent off in La Liga this season

Nacho is Europes best reserve defender and is more than deserving of a new contract at Real Madrid

The front page of Mondays Madrid-leaning Diario AS had a very familiar face on the front

Vinicius Jr. is LaLigas most decisive player - as he has shown time and time again this term

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