After a thrilling October, November had two mouth-watering fixtures on offer:
the clashes between the top four teams in LaLiga.
The Wanda Metropolitano was dressed to the nines for the first derby in the capital.
There were few goal opportunities in a tense match. Both defences proved stronger than attacks;
there was no movement on the scoreboard and Barcelona took advantage of the situation
to go 10 points ahead of their two rivals.
"They've got a good lead. The team gave everything today, each player did his best. We weren't able
to win the match, but if we keep playing to our best possible capabilities, we can catch up with them."
Barça visited the Mestalla on the following Matchday, for a game between two unbeaten teams.
It was a thrilling and controversial game. Jordi Alba equalised after Rodrigo Moreno's opening goal,
ending Los Ches run of 8 wins and continued the Catalan club's reign at the top of the table.
"We've made an incredible start to the season and we've no reason to change our mentality.
Work, effort and humility are the attributes which will help us go all the way this season."
The four top teams only dropped points in the month of November in the games between each other.
There was now some distance between them and their closest rivals in the race for a place in the Champions League.
Among the clubs battling for a Europa League spot, Celta stood out:
3 goals in 2 games from Iago Aspas, kept the sky blue's dreams alive.
The surprise package of the season, Girona, were unbeaten in the month of November,
drawing with Betis and Real Sociedad and beating Levante at the Ciutat de València stadium.
Lower down the table, Eibar made great strides managing 6 of a possible 9 points.
Mendilibar's side beat Betis and then Alaves in a Basque derby, enabling the team to climb away from the drop zone.
Things were very different in A Coruña and for the three teams who occupied the relegation spots.
Deportivo could only manage one point from their three matches but were still 5 points ahead of Malaga,
who did, however, beat the Galicians when the two teams met up.
Las Palmas, could only muster one point all month; and Alaves on just 6 points, despite gaining their first home
points against Espanyol in the Mendizorroza, replaced Gianni De Biasi with Abelardo in the Babazorro dugout.
After the first third of the season was completed, Barça were clear leaders.
Valencia, who were in tremendous form, second, 4 points ahead of Atletico and Real Madrid.
The fight for a European place was hotting up, while Malaga, Las Palmas and Alaves remained in the relegation zone.
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