La Liga Player Rankings After Weekend of September 26-28
The most recent La Liga weekend fixture list saw plenty of big performers once more, but there was also a midweek round of games to take into account since our last player rankings from Spain.
Although we'll take into account their midweek performances from Gameweek 5, most of the emphasis comes from the more recent games.
Here are our latest player power rankings from La Liga, with the same leader as last time but plenty of change beforehand.
20. Sergio Canales, RSO
1 of 20
New entrant
Sergio Canales has been in and out of the Real Sociedad team according to need at the start of the season, but there's no doubt they look a more threatening outfit with him in the starting line-up.
His most recent outing came from the left side of the attack against Valencia, and he was the most creative player on the field, matched only perhaps by team-mate Xabi Prieto. His running and work rate remain impressive, and he seems to be stronger on the ball than last year.
Consistency in form and fitness could see Canales finally become the player he should be this year: exciting and, above all else, effective.
19. Nolito, CEL
2 of 20
New entrant
Celta Vigo continue to impress at the start of this campaign and could be capable of challenging for a European place as the season goes on.
Nolito has been key to their good start, creating and scoring either from the centre or the left side of attack, darting infield and dropping into space before looking to mount quick moves and exploit slow defences.
He scored at the weekend to take his tally to four and help Celta up into sixth place, still unbeaten.
18. Neymar, FCB
3 of 20
New entrant
Neymar wasn't at his best at the weekend against Granada, stumbling about on the ball at times and not able to take on men as he wanted—but he still came up with three goals during the game.
It's an example of how he has been so far: involved and decisive but not quite finding top form or fitness after injury just yet.
His hat-trick against Granada was a combination of opportunism and clinical finishing, taking him to six for the season, but there is still much more to come from him. That's a pretty scary thought for the rest of La Liga.
17. Toni Kroos, RMA
4 of 20
New entrant
Toni Kroos has settled nicely into his midfield role with Real Madrid, not really launching any fireworks with his performances but very much looking to control the game, dictate the play of his side and find the right balance alongside Luka Modric and James Rodriguez, both of whom just miss out on our top 20.
Kroos has been the most consistent of the three so far, mixing his technique and vision on the ball with good work rate and defensive awareness and playing a supply-and-support role to the forwards ahead of him.
Another good performance against Villarreal this weekend was rewarded with a hard-fought win.
16. Paco Alcacer, VAL
5 of 20
Change: -1
Paco Alcacer has been in good form at the start of this season but struggled to make much of an impression at the weekend as his side faltered and failed to find their rhythm against Real Sociedad.
He did claim an assist with a good knock-down header for his team's goal in the 1-1 draw, but other than that, he was an isolated figure for far too long who was hurried in possession in the second half on the rare occasion he was found by the midfield.
His frustration was on show with a couple of poor free-kicks near full time as he tried anything to get a shot away.
15. Denis Cheryshev, VIL
6 of 20
Change: -8
A bit of a steep drop for Denis this week after his frustrating performance in midweek and the fact that he couldn't play at the weekend.
His running off the ball and his direct threat in possession were in evidence, but he provided no end product during the week against Eibar.
Against Real Madrid, from whom he is on loan, Villarreal opted not to pay the release fee to enable Denis to play.
14. Bruno, VIL
7 of 20
Change: -2
Denis' midfield team-mate and captain Bruno was good but not spectacular in the defeat to Real Madrid.
In the first half, he was overrun by the movement around him, not helped by an ineffective defensive performance by central partner Manu Trigueros, and though he was more involved after the break, he couldn't find the killer pass to set up clear chances.
He was also a little reluctant to get forward past the edge of the box for fear of Real's counter-attack threat—but his own side needed that unexpected additional body to break down the European champions.
13. Jeremy Mathieu, FCB
8 of 20
New entrant
Jeremy Mathieu just missed out on a place in the top 20 last week, but he was one of La Liga's best performers over the course of the weekend and jumps right into the thick of things now.
He was a leader and an aggressive winner of the ball, and he showed good pace to keep up with Youssef El-Arabi and Co. on their counter-attacks against Granada.
Mathieu has been the defensive force presiding over Barcelona's excellent start to the season, keeping six clean sheets in a row.
12. Iker Muniain, ATH
9 of 20
Change: +1
Athletic Bilbao have found it tough going this season, not really managing the results they want and winning only one game from six so far.
Iker Muniain has been one of their top performers, though—one of their few players to show creativity and invention on a regular basis and maintaining his consistency over the start of the year.
Goals have been a problem for Athletic, so they'd like a little more from Muniain in that regard, but he is working hard, has changed positions frequently and needs some of his attacking team-mates to step up too.
11. Xabi Prieto, RSO
10 of 20
Change: +3
We saw Canales earlier, but his performances have been eclipsed so far by his more experienced team-mate Xabi Prieto.
The Real Sociedad captain has been leading by example with his team struggling for consistency, often only getting going in games once they are already behind.
Prieto's mix of endeavour and technique sees him find gaps between the opposition and set away his team-mates into the box while giving La Real a solid central base to work from.
10. Ander Iturraspe, ATH
11 of 20
Change: -1
Ander Iturraspe was heavily involved against Eibar but not quite at his best level, and he couldn't inspire the team to victory in a 0-0 draw.
As always, he brought a blend of intelligent defensive work and reliable, recycling use of the ball moving forward, but without a No. 10 for part of the game in a 4-4-2, Athletic Bilbao lacked penetration through the centre of the pitch.
Perhaps Iturraspe could have done more on this side to present additional problems for the opposition, but it was another fairly good display, nonetheless.
9. Koke, ATL
12 of 20
Change: +1
Atletico Madrid put in their best display of the season at the weekend, beating Sevilla 4-0, with Koke an instrumental performer in their victory.
The wide attacking midfielder was heavily involved throughout, working hard off the ball and really looking dangerous as he threaded his passes around to the front line.
He picked up an assist and scored a goal, highlighting his importance to the team.
8. Sergio Busquets, FCB
13 of 20
Re-entrant
Sergio Busquets hasn't had his most testing week ever, facing two opponents who conceded possession and ground to Barcelona and looked to counter-attack only infrequently, but his presence and controlled ability on the ball continue to make him the perfect holding player for his side.
Rarely does he waste the ball, he's always available to receive and recycle possession, and he is aggressive in helping his side win back control of the midfield when opponents break at pace.
His ability to slot in at centre-back during matches also helps in transition phases.
7. Cristiano Ronaldo, RMA
14 of 20
Change: -1
Cristiano Ronaldo drops a place this week, but that has more to do with his team's display and the performances of others around him than his own form.
Real Madrid got themselves into a comfortable lead against Villarreal at the weekend and then sat back and looked to counter-attack after the break, which they didn't really get to do too often. Ronaldo was left an onlooker for most of the game.
He had, however, already played his part, scoring his 10th goal of the season.
6. Sergio Ramos, RMA
15 of 20
Change: +2
Raphael Varane has come into the Real Madrid side to partner Sergio Ramos in defence, and they instantly look a better outfit at the back.
While the Frenchman just misses out at the moment, having not played as many games, Ramos is established in this top 20 and put in another commanding display against Villarreal.
Clearances, reading the game, leadership and bringing the ball out of defence—all were on show from Real's man at the back.
5. Andres Iniesta, FCB
16 of 20
Change: -3
Andres Iniesta wasn't able to help Barcelona break down Malaga during the week and so fell a couple of places despite being heavily involved in the match. He was then rested for the weekend game against Granada.
He's been one of the best players in La Liga until now, but the return of Xavi meant Iniesta wasn't missed this time around.
4. Nicolas Otamendi, VAL
17 of 20
Change: +1
Another game, another big performance from Nico Otamendi for Valencia.
Los Che were well below the level they have shown this season in the game against Real Sociedad, with the midfield not holding possession of the ball and the attack thus blunted, so the defence came in for far more work than usual.
Partnering German Shkodran Mustafi instead of Ruben Vezo, Otamendi was as robust and reliable as he has been throughout the early stages of the campaign, even charging forward once or twice to aid counter-attacks as he tried to help his team to the win. Despite La Real's pressure, Otamendi held firm to secure a 1-1 draw at least.
3. Ivan Rakitic, FCB
18 of 20
Change: +1
Ivan Rakitic has not really been affected by Luis Enrique's early-season rotation plans, keeping his spot in midfield alongside either Xavi or Iniesta.
The Croatian produced another energetic and exciting performance against Granada, showing his ability to get into the box—a trait they missed last year from midfield—and scoring his second goal in a week while also playing his usual keep-ball game and being a creative outlet at times.
Rakitic is a perfect fit for Barca, playing right of centre in the three-man midfield, and looks their signing of the summer so far.
2. Miranda, ATL
19 of 20
Change: +1
Atletico Madrid hit top gear in attack at the weekend, but they remained similarly impressive defensively and kept another clean sheet in the 4-0 win over Sevilla
Miranda continued his excellent season with another reassuring display, cleaning up the side's infrequent attacks and even contributing to one of his own team's goals at the other end.
Miranda has been key to Atleti's start so far, with the reigning La Liga champions unbeaten and third-placed after six games.
1. Lionel Messi, FCB
20 of 20
No change
Lionel Messi tops our rankings once more after another performance that brooks no argument regarding his top spot at the weekend.
The same descriptive words and phrases apply once again: hard-working, opportunistic, creative, clinical and irrepressible.
The Argentine No. 10 tore Granada apart at times, scoring his 400th and 401st career goals, setting up Neymar and Munir for chances aplenty, and recording another two assists for good measure.
He has been the biggest talent in La Liga at the start of 2014-15 and has taken Barcelona to the top of the table by contributing 11 goals (scored and assisted) in six games.
Follow @karlmatchett.
