Spanish-based football writer Graham Hunter reflected on the glorious return of La Liga and the English Premier League's futile attempts at keeping pace with it on Wednesday's OTB AM.
The Scottish journalist and broadcaster Hunter joined OTB's Ger Gilroy and Premier League commentator Nathan Murphy to discuss the return of Spanish football on Wednesday morning.
As his masterful biographies of Spain's World Cup winners and the Barcelona team crafted under Pep Guardiola hint at, the former English-based football journalist has rarely if ever had cause to regret his decision to leave the Premier League behind for a closer look at La Liga.
"This isn't the forum for it perhaps and I want to be careful about how I choose my words," he explained, "but there are so many games in the English Premier League which are tosh, it's like watching paint dry.
"The lack of tactical intelligence, the lack of technique, the emphasis on running hard and jumping high, that's not for me at all. I think that that malaise is increasing."
An assessment of the English top flight that clubs such as Manchester City or Liverpool are an exception to in Hunter's opinion, the broader spread of quality football in Spain has been borne out in these opening weeks of life after lockdown.
"I thought that because La Liga in general preferred a pace of game that allows strategy to develop and skills to dominate rather than athleticism," he admitted, "that if there was any increased dip in athleticism post-lockdown, we might have a kind of slow-motion football. It hasn't been like that."
Instead, what has developed in the opening rounds of Spanish football during the COVID-19 pandemic is something close to the game being played at its very best.
"Santi Cazorla's control of a howitzer ball from his 'keeper," explained Hunter of an assist the former Arsenal midfielder executed for Villarreal.
"It traveled three-quarters the length of the pitch, went into orbit and twice around Jupiter, comes down and Cazorla just cushions it off his left foot and Gerard Moreno volleys it past the 'keeper."
Sensational goal to double Villarreal's lead! 🙌
The cushioned touch for the assist from Cazorla 🤤
Moreno's emphatic volley to finish 😍 pic.twitter.com/gEpLdDVNCC— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) June 28, 2020
Elsewhere, Lionel Messi, on what ultimately amounted to a disappointing night for Barcelona in their hunt for a third successive La Liga triumph, scored the 700th goal of his career with typical aplomb.
Career goal 7⃣0⃣0⃣ for Lionel Messi 🐐
A cheeky Panenka penalty to do it 🔥
🔴🔵 Barca lead Atletico 2-1 pic.twitter.com/sOfWayxTs6— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) June 30, 2020
On the Real Madrid side of things, Graham Hunter had explained in recent weeks why he believed Real Madrid were well set to kick on and capitalise upon any lethargy left in other clubs by the lockdown layoff.
With five wins from five so far, they have provided plenty to be excited about courtesy of Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio, particularly.
Just a casual backheel assist from Benzema, no big deal! 😍
Casemiro finishes and Madrid lead just before half time ⚪ pic.twitter.com/Vjhtl8ETbe— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) June 28, 2020
Karim Benzema...WOW! 🙌
The flick! 😱
The volley! 💥
Zidane's reaction! 😂 pic.twitter.com/LVALuZXZqx— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) June 18, 2020
Unbelievable from Marco Asensio! 😱
After 11 months out through injury, and just a few seconds after coming on, he does THIS with his first touch 😍 pic.twitter.com/1pWyGuzyY6— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) June 18, 2020
A game against Valencia that he had felt would result in the league's 'Goal of the Season' award going Real's way, it didn't take too long for Valencia's own Goncalo Guedes to make a case for the award himself.
A PHENOMENAL individual effort from Gonçalo Guedes! 🙌
Takes it from halfway, beats four players and then the keeper! 😱
After they had an early goal disallowed Valencia now have their lead 🦇 pic.twitter.com/HpUEpYrcNF— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) June 21, 2020
A snippet of what La Liga has had to offer, Hunter ultimately surmised that the Premier League just isn't comparable in terms of the football on offer.
"In terms of the quality of football," he declared, "La Liga has the best in the world."
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