September 9: After Real Sociedad's 3-2 Win and Getafe's 1-1 Draw with Celta, La Liga Standings Updated: Real Madrid Third, Three Teams Still Unbeaten

After the final matches of La Liga Matchday 4, Getafe drew 1-1 with Celta and Elche lost 2-3 to Real Sociedad. The standings were updated: Barcelona lead with 12 points after four wins in four games, Alaves are second with 10 points from three wins and one draw, Real Madrid sit third with three wins and one loss for 9 points, and Deportivo La Coruna are fifth with 8 points from two wins and two draws. Only these three teams in La Liga remain unbeaten.

How frustrating was Real Madrid's defeat? Anyone who watched the match understands. They lost 0-1 away to Real Betis, and Mbappe missed a penalty in stoppage time that could have equalized.

The numbers are clear: Real Madrid have three wins and one loss with 9 points and a 10-3 goal difference. They have the same points as Betis, but Betis are ahead because of the goal-difference advantage.

What hurts more is that Betis, the team Real Madrid lost to, are also on 9 points and sit fourth. In other words, Real Madrid are surrounded by the '9-point group': Barcelona have pulled away with 12 points, while Betis and Deportivo La Coruna are chasing closely behind.

Some fans joked: 'This is not just Real Madrid falling to third; they are being taught a lesson in the standings by Alaves and promoted side Deportivo La Coruna.'

Barcelona defeated Valencia 5-0 away in this round, making it four wins from four games in the new season, scoring 17 goals and conceding only two.

A 17-2 goal record — what does that mean? They average 4.25 goals scored and 0.5 goals conceded per game.

Barcelona are not only leading the standings, they are also the only La Liga team with a perfect record so far. It is no surprise to see them among the unbeaten teams, but their ability to make 'unbeaten' look absolute is what makes them frightening.

One fan directly asked in the comments: 'How many rounds can Alaves and Deportivo La Coruna's unbeaten runs survive against Barcelona?'

That is a difficult question to answer.

Alaves beat Osasuna 5-2 this round, moving to 10 points from three wins and one draw, only two points behind Barcelona.

Ten points after four rounds with a 10-3 goal difference. This start can no longer be described simply as a 'dark horse' — it is a genuine title-challenge pace.

Even more impressively, Alaves are the only non-giant team unbeaten like Barcelona. Seeing Alaves standing alongside Barcelona in the unbeaten list raises the question: is La Liga's landscape quietly changing?

Some longtime fans looked back through history: when was the last time Alaves ranked second in La Liga? The answer is — never.

Deportivo La Coruna defeated Villarreal 3-2 away this round, remaining unbeaten after four games with two wins and two draws, and sit fifth with 8 points.

A promoted team, sitting one place behind Real Madrid after four rounds, only one point behind them and level on points with fourth-place Betis.

The word 'unbeaten' attached to Deportivo La Coruna is even more surprising than when attached to Alaves. After all, they have only just climbed back from the second division.

Fans joked: 'Real Madrid are under pressure now — if even a promoted team remains unbeaten, where can the Galaxy Battleship put its reputation?'

The value of Deportivo La Coruna's 8 points comes from two wins and two draws. Their away victory over Villarreal is the best proof.

At 3:30 a.m. Beijing time on September 8, Elche hosted Real Sociedad, producing the most dramatic script of La Liga Matchday 4.

Real Sociedad delivered a blow to Elche in the first half.

In the 11th minute, Soler provided a brilliant pass and Oyarzabal scored with a first-time volley from a tight angle in the box to make it 1-0 for Real Sociedad.

Two minutes later — yes, you read that correctly, in the 13th minute — Oyarzabal won the ball high up the pitch and assisted Yangel, who finished with a low shot from the right side of the box for 2-0.

Leading 2-0, with Oyarzabal scoring once and assisting once, Real Sociedad looked set to comfortably take the win.

But the second half changed everything.

In the 64th minute, Sucic scored, but after reviewing VAR the referee judged that Martin, as the last defender, handled the ball in the previous attacking phase. The goal was disallowed and Martin was shown a straight red card. Real Sociedad were down to 10 men and pushed to the edge.

Elche's comeback came quickly and fiercely.

In the 67th minute, Chust played a brilliant pass and Lemar scored a long-range wonder goal outside the box to make it 1-2.

In the 74th minute, Morente's mishit shot turned into an assist for Nino, who scored from close range to level the match at 2-2.

Just as 10-man Real Sociedad seemed ready to drop two points away from home, Oyarzabal provided a fine pass in the 90th minute, and Sucic drove into the middle of the box before smashing home the winner for a 3-2 victory.

Oyarzabal scored once and assisted twice, Sucic had a goal ruled out before scoring the winner, and Martin's red card left Real Sociedad a player short — the match had more twists than a football movie.

Real Sociedad finished with 7 points and moved up to ninth, temporarily stopping their previous slump.

The statistics tell the story: Elche had 58% possession, 10 shots on target and four yellow cards; Real Sociedad had 42% possession, six shots on target and one red card. Despite being a man down and losing possession and shots on target, they won 3-2 through efficiency.

For Elche fans, only the word 'heartbroken' can probably describe the feeling.

The Getafe match started earlier, at 1:00 a.m. Beijing time on September 8 at the Alfonso Perez Stadium.

In the 21st minute, Satriano scored from a close-range finish to give Getafe a 1-0 lead.

Getafe were 15th before the match but had strong home form — they won their first two home games of the new season and had four consecutive home wins across seasons, making them a typical home-strength side. Their only previous goal this season had been scored by Unal, and Satriano broke the deadlock this time.

For Celta, the new season had brought two draws and two losses without a win, with one goal scored and four conceded, placing them fourth from bottom. Both defeats came at home, while they drew 0-0 away against Valencia and Real Sociedad. They had gone unbeaten in four consecutive away matches across seasons but had still not scored away. Goalkeeper Radu kept two clean sheets in four games and had won Man of the Match honors.

Celta urgently needed to end their scoring drought and chase their first win of the season.

In the 57th minute, Starfelt headed in from Hugo Gonzalez's assist to make it 1-1.

The match ended 1-1. Getafe extended their unbeaten home run with a draw but missed a chance to create more distance from the relegation zone; Celta earned their third away draw and continued searching for their first win of the season.

After the match, Getafe had 3 points and Celta had 2 points, with both teams still struggling in the lower half of the table.

Barcelona leading with four wins and 12 points is beyond dispute.

Alaves sitting second with three wins, one draw and 10 points is where debate begins.

Deportivo La Coruna fifth with two wins, two draws and 8 points pushes the debate to its peak.

A defending champion, a team that had never finished in the top two of La Liga, and a promoted side — this unbeaten group pushed Real Madrid down to third.

Real Madrid fans were unhappy: 'We have three wins, one loss and 9 points, the same as Betis, and our goal difference is better. Why are we third?'

The answer is the tiebreak rules. Real Madrid have 10-3, while Betis have 5-5. In theory, Real Madrid's goal difference is 7 and Betis' is 0, so Madrid should rank above Betis.

But that is how the table is currently arranged: Real Madrid third, Betis fourth.

La Liga's tiebreak rules for teams level on points prioritize head-to-head record over goal difference. Real Madrid lost 0-1 to Betis this round, so they lose the head-to-head advantage and remain third despite having the better goal difference.