La Liga Player Rankings After Gameweek 21, Jan. 30-Feb. 2
Gameweek 21 in La Liga saw a handful of big scorelines, with four goals or more scored in four of the 10 fixtures. Again, it was a weekend in which the best sides showed their consistency, with all of the top four taking victories.
Further down, though, half of the bottom six also picked up wins, really shaking up the bottom half of the top flight in Spain.
We've analysed each game and assessed the performances of the players within, adding their displays to reconfigure our latest player rankings for La Liga.
Mentions
1 of 21
There's a reason that the top 20 are the top 20: They consistently show the most quality. That was the case this week when almost all of our ranked players put in impressive performances—no one dropped out of the 20 this time.
That means the two players really banging on the door, Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid and Marcelo of Real Madrid, have to wait for their opportunity to return to the list.
Elsewhere, we're keeping an eye on the following:
Sergio Asenjo, Villarreal
Jonathas, Elche
Mario Mandzukic, Atletico Madrid
Aritz Aduriz, Athletic Bilbao
20. Grzegorz Krychowiak, SEV
2 of 21
Change: -5
A bad weekend to not be in the team! Midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak missed out for Sevilla, and with most of our top 20 impressing, he drops significantly this week.
19. Raphael Varane, RMA
3 of 21
Change: +1
Raphael Varane continued in his place at the heart of the Real Madrid defence, and he was once more strong and impressive in the 4-1 win over Real Sociedad.
The French defender is really showing just why he deserves to be the regular starter for Real, alongside Sergio Ramos, with consistency and composure two key elements of his game.
With his side dominating much of the game after La Real's fast start, it wasn't one of Varane's more busy games, but everything he did was proactive, intelligent and carried out to perfection.
18. Luciano Vietto, VIL
4 of 21
No change
Villarreal striker Luciano Vietto put in a good shift against Barcelona, scoring once to put his team ahead again with an opportunistic finish and generally working hard with his off-the-ball movement in the final third. His side were eventually on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline.
Vietto probably would have jumped a place on any other weekend, but someone from the same game was even more impressive and leapfrogs the Argentinian, thus meaning no change despite overtaking Krychowiak in our standings.
Vietto continues to show signs he can be one of the league's top strikers if he improves his finishing, and his movement makes up for a lack of pace.
17. Luis Suarez, FCB
5 of 21
Change: +2
Striker Luis Suarez was excellent for Barcelona against Villarreal, showing all of the best sides of his game—except for putting the ball in the net.
His nonstop movement across the front line gave Villarreal countless problems, with his trickery and aggression combining to see him take on his man, create space and set up chances for others with regularity.
All Suarez was missing was a goal—and in truth, he should have hit the back of the net with at least one of his chances. Even so, he assisted Lionel Messi's winner in excellent fashion.
16. Denis Cheryshev, VIL
6 of 21
No change
Like team-mate Vietto, winger Denis Cheryshev played well for Villarreal against Barcelona, but he doesn't jump a place on account of someone else performing even better and overtaking him.
Cheryshev was a great outlet for Villarreal during the game, with his pace and direct running a real threat to Barca. His goal was well taken, putting his side ahead at the time, and he created chances for others with his ability to drag defenders out of position.
After starring against such big opposition, don't be surprised to see him gain plenty of column inches over the coming weeks as people wake up to what a talent he has been this year.
15. Antoine Griezmann, ATM
7 of 21
Change: +2
Atletico Madrid rocked up to Eibar's awful pitch, in awful conditions, and they battered them into submission in the opening half hour or so.
Much of that was, once again, due to Antoine Griezmann's industry and tremendous quality from the attacking line, roving centrally and left to find pockets of space and delivering quality with his final pass or finish.
He scored one and made one early on, setting his side on the way to a 3-1 win.
14. Arda Turan, ATM
8 of 21
Change: -4
Just like Krychowiak, midfielder Arda Turan takes a hit after not being in the Atletico Madrid team this weekend.
13. Isco, RMA
9 of 21
Change: +1
Midfielder Isco was, once again, superb for Real Madrid this weekend, quite possibly their third-most impressive player on the day as they beat Real Sociedad, 4-1.
His invention and creativity on the ball saw him continuously run La Real's midfield and defensive line ragged, taking on players at will with his terrific close control and finding passing opportunities through the smallest of spaces.
This performance would have been enough to move him up a couple more spaces on any other weekend, but he'll have to settle for one this time.
12. Jose Gimenez, ATM
10 of 21
Change: +1
Jose Gimenez continues to show he is the new preferred partner for Atletico Madrid's Godin in the centre of the defence, playing ahead of Brazilian defender Miranda.
Atleti didn't come under too much pressure from Eibar in the 3-1 win until late on in the match, but Gimenez dealt with everything thrown his way and showed all of his usual traits: aggression on the ground, good reading of the game and composure in possession.
He and Godin look like a fantastic long-term partnership for club and country.
11. Ignacio Camacho, MGA
11 of 21
Change: +1
Ignacio Camacho's return to the Malaga team after injury has coincided with an upturn in performances and results for the team...except there's nothing coincidental about it at all.
The midfielder holds the entire structure of the team together, battling away in the centre of the park to win the ball back for his team quickly and pressing high whenever he has the chance. He even looks to break forward from deep to get to the edge of the box at times.
If he had more consistency in his short-range passing, he'd be one of the very best around, but a lack of movement and pace in attack sometimes hinders him.
10. Sergio Ramos, RMA
12 of 21
Change: -1
Sergio Ramos drops one place this time around, but it's not due to his own performance, rather that of a team-mate who was so good he pushed Ramos down a spot!
The centre-back was his usual self, aggressive and quick to make challenges, powerful in his defending and even getting a goal at the other end of the pitch.
He gave away a few silly fouls and was unable to win the initial header which led to Real Sociedad's goal, but overall, it was a decent performance, and he wouldn't have moved up or down most weeks.
9. Koke, ATM
13 of 21
Change: -1
Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke hasn't really clicked into gear and hit his best form since the restart after the winter break, playing solidly most of the time but not showing his very top qualities which make him one of La Liga's best youngsters.
Against Eibar, the rubbish conditions no doubt played a part, stopping any quick passing and making challenges in midfield a little dangerous to consider doing.
He was not really heavily involved and was subbed with 10 minutes or so to go.
8. Karim Benzema, RMA
14 of 21
Change: +3
Karim Benzema was one of La Liga's best players over the weekend. He was certainly Real Madrid's top performer and the reason Ramos got bumped a place in our standings.
The French striker finally scored for the first time in an age last weekend. Now, he suddenly cannot stop, hitting two against Real Sociedad. The first was a great striker's goal with movement and anticipation to go with a first-time finish, before a goal any kind of player would be proud of: a curling, first-time strike into the top corner.
Benzema's link play, work rate and nonstop movement made him key to Real's win and keeps them top of the table.
7. Cristiano Ronaldo, RMA
15 of 21
Change: -1
Forward Cristiano Ronaldo missed Real Madrid's win through suspension. He will similarly miss the midweek game against Sevilla.
6. Nicolas Otamendi, VAL
16 of 21
Change: -2
Valencia played their match on Monday night against Malaga, knowing a win would put them back in the top four...but instead fell to a 1-0 defeat.
Centre-back Nicolas Otamendi had a particularly tough time of things, struggling to deal with numerous balls over the top of the defence. One of which led to the only goal of the game, and several others had to be dealt with by those behind him.
Otamendi has been excellent for most of the season, but of late, he has had a few dodgy games. You have to wonder whether Nuno's continual changing of the starting tactical system is interfering with the consistency of one or two players.
5. Diego Alves, VAL
17 of 21
Change: +2
While Otamendi was struggling, Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves dealt with almost everything that got past his defence. Malaga forward Samu Castillejo's early glancing header gave him no chance, but thereafter, Alves made several big saves to keep his team in the game.
Standing up big in one-on-one situations, making a couple of reaction saves and taking high balls in the area when he could, Alves put in a real all-round performance to try and keep Malaga at bay, who were rampant and dominant for much of the game—especially in the first half.
With the forwards misfiring, Valencia lost 1-0.
4. Neymar, FCB
18 of 21
Change: +1
Neymar continued his recent hot scoring streak with another goal this weekend, scoring one of Barcelona's three in the 3-2 win over Villarreal.
His dribbling, acceleration into space and willingness to get shots away were facets of his performance once again. Though it wasn't as electric a performance as against Atletico Madrid, for example, Neymar worked hard, linked well and generally continued his fine recent form.
It's 15 league goals for the season now for the Brazilian forward.
3. Toni Kroos, RMA
19 of 21
Change: -1
Midfielder Toni Kroos was a perfectly reasonable performer for Real Madrid against Real Sociedad, but he once more changes places with a team-mate as they battle for podium positions.
Kroos was controlled, composed and involved from the centre of the pitch, but he didn't really have cause to get hugely involved other than receiving the ball and distributing it—fine, given his role, but certainly not spectacular.
He remains hugely impressive but certainly played out this game in comfort.
2. James Rodriguez, RMA
20 of 21
Change: +1
No surprises to see James Rodriguez bounce back up to No. 2, after being one of La Liga's standout performers this weekend in Real Madrid's win.
The Colombian midfielder made brilliant use of space as he darted infield from the flank, receiving the ball on the turn countless times and opening up La Real's back line with his incisive, clever passes—especially when Benzema and Co. provided him with diagonal runs.
James scored one and almost surely would have had another had Gareth Bale not taken the ball off of him and missed.
1. Lionel Messi, FCB
21 of 21
No change
No change at the top once more as Lionel Messi again put in a stellar display and came up with the big moment to win the game for his team.
Messi shone in an end-to-end game in which Barcelona edged Villarreal, with Messi acting once more as playmaker from deep—as well as a penetrative runner behind the back line. His goal was superb, a right-footed finish into the top corner from 20 yards.
Elsewhere, he was his usual effervescent self, with the defence struggling to contain him, and ultimately, he was the difference.
