La Liga Team Of The Week: Round 10
The result of the week most definitely came at the Mestalla, where Valencia were handed five of Real Madrid's best, a result that sees them take a four point lead at the top of the table.
Osasuna and Villarreal were the other big winners, thumping Real Betis and Levante, respectively, 3-0.
Getafe picked up an equally impressive 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, while Atletico Madrid and Sevilla dished out a true classic, Los Colchoneros just shading a seven goal thriller.
Elsewhere, Real Zaragoza were undeserving winners against a superior but wasteful Almeria side, Diego Milito chipping in with a clinical finish.
Deportivo and Mallorca shared the spoils on Wednesday, as did Recreativo Huelva and Racing Santander.
Thursday evening's two games also failed to produced results. First, fifth placed Espanyol dropped to sixth following a surprisingly tame scoreless draw with Real Murcia, before Barcelona stumped one and all by failing to show up at Valladolid. That means we head into the weekend with Real Madrid firmly in the driving seat.
Goalkeeper
Victor Valdes (Barcelona): Was the only Barca player who could have walked off the Valladolid pitch with his head held high. But for at least six quality saves from him, there is no telling what fate Frank Rijkaard's boys might have met with.
Defenders
Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid): What can you say about him! He has been the most consistent defender in Spain this season, and continues to improve both defensively and offensively. Another complete display.
Rafa (Real Valladolid): Officially known as Rafael Lopez Gomez, the 22-year-old Spaniard had the game of his life against Barcelona. He was always on the limit, and over it a few times, but got the job done. Ronaldinho, Messi, Krkic - nobody got past him.
Lucas Matias Licht (Getafe): A quality display against the pace, guile and experience of Joseba Etxeberria as Laudrup's boys pulled off a deserved win over Athletic Bilbao.
Midfielders
Maxi Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid): One is tempted to pick the strikers from a seven goal thriller, but it was the Argentine who impressed most after being handed a start ahead of Jose Antonio Reyes and Simao Sabrosa. That he scored the all-important fifth goal hardly hurt his cause.
Casquero (Getafe): The battle-scarred 31-year old had a stellar season under Schuster last time around, and is now beginning to lead their renaissance under Laudrup. Kept Orbaiz and Iraola very quiet, and came up with the all-important first goal.
Jonathan Sesma (Real Valladolid): Pulled the strings in the middle of the pitch for large parts of the game, practically blanking Iniesta out, and making the Barcelona rearguard look very ordinary more than a few times. Could have and should have scored the match-winner.
Guti (Real Madrid): Ran the show against Valencia, with due support from Diarra and Gago, both of whom deserve as much of a mention. That Los Che inexplicably fielded five offensive players in front of Albelda hardly hurt.
Forwards
Robinho (Real Madrid): Consistency had been his problem last season, one which he is close to overcoming. Or so it seems on the back of three telling contributions, against Olympiakos, Deportivo and now Valencia. Miguel simply did not know what hit him. Neither did Valencia.
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid): Scored two more to take his season's tally up to eight (five in La Liga), but impressed just as much with his movement. Was always running into dangerous positions, and was found hogging the attention of some Valencia player in all the other goals.
Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal): The former Manchester United and Parma man makes the list for the third time this season after impressing against local rivals Levante. Chipped in with a goal as Villarreal went joint second with a 3-0 win. Six goals put him second behind Messi in the 'Pichichi' race.
Honourable Mentions
Diarra and Gago have already been mentioned, but pretty much the entire Madrid cast deserves credit for a perfect outing. Except Metzelder, maybe.
Them apart, in attack, Daniel Guiza was again in goalscoring form as Mallorca went eighth. He joined Rossi on six goals, as did Luis Fabiano with a brace against Atletico, albeit in a losing cause. Osasuna strikers Dady and Carlos Vela hammered Betis, while Uche (Getafe) starred against Athletic.
There were a eight clean sheets across the league, and a number of quality defensive performances. The likes of Pascal Cygan (Villarreal), Cesar Cruchaga (Osasuna), Mario (Getafe), Daniel Jarque (Espanyol) and Alvaro Mejia (Real Murcia) all accomplished themselves well.
In midfield, Felipe Melo (Almeria) produced the goods in a losing display, while Jose Andres Guardado (Deportivo) turned match-winner, giving us a few flimpses of his potential.
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