Real Madrid do just enough against Huesca and Iago Aspas as a blessed exception

Huesca made their debut in the Bernabéu and showed themselves to be a decent, well-ordered side. They didn't take anything home with them, but it's excellent for LaLiga for the bottom club in the table to play as they did. They'll struggle to stay up, after such a poor start to the Championship, but if they carry on playing like this, who knows. Of course, in addition to playing well, with a defined plan which saw them score twice, they showed the world that they are alive, and definitely haven't thrown the towel in. The more than 2,000 fans who had made the journey from Huesca to watch their side make their debut in the Bernabéu can head home satisfied. Without any points, but the trip was worth it.

I'm not sure the Real Madrid fans can feel the same way, having left their houses to see the team they love. Yes they picked up the points, but they were forced to watch the indifference of Bale, who was whistled, lapses in defence and a generally lackadaisical approach from the team, except for the final stage, when the shame of the situation saw them put the pressure in a tired Huesca side, who had nothing more to give, and which saw Real Madrid get the winner. The good points: the first half from Brahim, Benzema's entire game sealed with a stunning goal at the end and little else. Luca Zidane played in goal and wasn't at fault for anything, but I doubt his father is doing him a favour rushing him into the side.

But this weekend's main story wasn't at the Bernabéu or from any of the big sides' matches, but at Balaídos, where the tears of Iago Aspas touched us all. It's often said that players these days don't feel their team's colour's and to some extent it's true. Most come and go, making sure they do their job, and that's that. The emotional reaction Iago Aspas had, on his return, winning a game for his beloved relegation-threatened Celta is proof that there are other ways of experiencing football. It's almost exclusive to players who have come up through the ranks at a club, as Álvaro Benito reminded us on the radio show Carrusel. But they exist and they are blessed exception.