La Liga Player Rankings After Game Week 23, February 13-16
Gameweek 23 of La Liga looks as though it could turn out to be a pivotal one, at both ends of the table, after some exciting matches and telling results, including defeats for Atletico Madrid and Villarreal, and vital wins for the likes of Elche, Valencia and Real Madrid.
Our updated player rankings for Spain's top flight reflects this latest round of matches, identifying which individuals stood out for their clubs, put in less-than-effective performances or simply kept up the status quo.
This week's top 20 has two new faces in, but no change at the top, unsurprisingly.
Mentions
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Two drop out of our top 20 from last week, strikers Mario Mandzukic and Luciano Vietto of Atletico Madrid and Villarreal respectively. Neither were able to fire or were given service as their teams both lost 2-0, with Mandzu starting and Vietto on the bench before coming on.
Others on the watch-list who didn't quite make the cut to replace them:
Jordi Alba, Barcelona
Sergio Asenjo, Villarreal
Diego Godin, Atletico Madrid
Jonathas, Elche
Vicente Iborra, Sevilla
20. Sergio Garcia, ESP
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New entrant
Espanyol's much-improved run of form isn't solely down to Sergio Garcia, but the forward has certainly been a huge part of it.
His clever running, ability to beat defenders with the ball at his feet and then his end product once around the penalty box make him the perfect outlet for Espanyol on the counter-attack, pulling defenders wide before driving into space.
Captain and veteran, his work rate shines through as much as his quality and his performance against Malaga was top drawer, with his goal capping a 2-0 win.
19. Marcelo, RMA
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New entrant
After weeks of being on the verge of our top 20, never quite having the opportunity to crack the entrance, Marcelo finally sneaks in after another big performance on his return to the Real Madrid team against Deportivo La Coruna.
The left-back was in fine form, breaking down the flank both inside and outside his man in front, offering support in the build-up and quality assistance in finding the right pass in the final third.
His raids forward were supported by a solid performance in defence, something which has gone unnoticed at times this season.
18. Denis Cheryshev, VIL
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Change: -2
Villarreal rested plenty of their big starters once more, with Denis Cheryshev on the bench ahead of a Copa del Rey semifinal second leg. He came on after the break and initially provided a good run and cross, but took a head injury and had minimal impact in the rest of the 2-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano.
17. Grzegorz Krychowiak, SEV
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Change: +2
A strange weekend for Grzegorz Krychowiak, who moves up two places as others fell below him and out of the 20.
The Polish midfielder was dominant and strong in the centre for Sevilla against Cordoba, scoring the first goal after a corner in the 3-0 win, but was later on sent off. A misplaced pass saw Krychowiak attempt to win back the ball, but he over-extended and only succeeded in thrusting his studs into the knee of his opponent for a straight red.
Naturally, he'll be expected to slide down somewhat over the next week or two, which is a disappointment as he had played well up until that point at the weekend.
16. Jose Gimenez, ATM
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Change: -2
Diego Simeone left Jose Gimenez on the bench again for Atletico in the 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo. It is perhaps worth pointing out that his replacement, Miranda, still looks rusty and was not impressive in the loss.
15. Sergio Ramos, RMA
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Change: -2
Sergio Ramos remains out injured and continues his slide down our rankings as a result.
14. Luis Suarez, FCB
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Change: +1
A 25-minute cameo sub appearance was all Luis Suarez got at the weekend, but he certainly made an impression in Barcelona's 5-0 win over Levante.
The Uruguayan was lively in his running as ever and scored a spectacular overhead kick to wrap up the win, his fourth league goal of the campaign.
13. Isco, RMA
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Change: +4
Isco returns to his placement from two weeks ago, having fallen hard last week after the derby defeat. This time around he proved his worth to the Real Madrid side in the absence of the likes of James Rodriguez, as he was the creative hub in the 2-0 win over Deportivo.
The Spanish international opened the scoring with a superb curling shot into the far corner, but was similarly impressive in his all-round approach play, linking midfield to attack and working hard off the ball.
He was subbed for the final 10 minutes with the game won.
12. Ignacio Camacho, MGA
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No change
Ignacio Camacho was in the Malaga side defeated 2-0 by Espanyol, but although he did his defensive duties well and held up the away side on the counter at times, he could do little about his side's ineffective front line.
Rather than some matches where we see Camacho charge forward from deep to be an option in the second line of attack, the midfielder held his position far more in this game, breaking up play and recycling from deeper.
He won the ball back numerous times for his side, but Malaga really lack a scoring presence at this point to make use of a good midfield.
11. Arda Turan, ATM
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No change
There was no change for Arda Turan as he missed the game for Atletico Madrid against Celta Vigo, but those below him failed to impress.
10. Koke, ATM
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No change
Just as with Turan, Koke missed the Celta defeat for Atleti. Both wide players were noticeably missed.
9. Karim Benzema, RMA
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No change
No movement either way for Karim Benzema either. The French striker scored and was instrumental in his side's 2-0 win over Depor, linking play fantastically well at times and doing a great job of finding the right pass to let others take on a clear shot.
He was unlucky not to score once or twice more, but again it was a big performance to help his side return to winning ways.
8. Cristiano Ronaldo, RMA
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No change
Cristiano Ronaldo certainly isn't back to his best, or anywhere close, but he at least arrested his recent slide at the weekend and put in a worthy performance of the Real Madrid shirt.
The Portuguese star obviously should, and 99 times out of 100 would, have scored one chance where he missed the ball from two yards, but another effort was ferociously struck against the woodwork with the keeper beaten.
Ronaldo made his runs off the ball, created openings for himself and thought he should have had a penalty. Much better, and he'll soon return to scoring ways.
7. Antoine Griezmann, ATM
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Change: -1
Antoine Griezmann played from the flanks for Atletico Madrid at the weekend, a consequence of the team losing Turan and Koke but having an excess of centre-forwards, where Griezmann has been excelling this year.
The French attacker made a couple of early runs down the left before switching to the right, but he didn't really have the big impact on the game that Atleti would have hoped, especially with his delivery.
Atletico lost 2-0 to Rayo and suffered a big blow in their title hopes.
6. James Rodriguez, RMA
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Change: -3
James Rodriguez's injury means he won't feature for Real Madrid for some time, and continues to slide.
5. Diego Alves, VAL
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No change
Rarely will Diego Alves have had an easier afternoon than he did at the weekend.
Valencia beat Getafe 1-0, only thanks to a penalty, but they completely dominated territory and chances and Alves had a single tame effort on target to collect.
His clean sheet was almost lost in the last seconds when a cross was turned over by Pablo Sarabia, but by and large, he had nothing to do and stays in fifth.
4. Nicolas Otamendi, VAL
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Change: +3
Part of the reason for Alves having nothing to do was the return to the starting XI for Nico Otamendi, with the Argentine rock solid in defence once more and commanding in his leadership of the team.
Otamendi won the ball back nice and high up the field whenever Getafe looked like threatening, with the few sporadic spells of possession in the final third they enjoyed ended when Otamendi inevitably read the play and stepped out of his line to intercept.
A comfortable, but strong game from him.
3. Toni Kroos, RMA
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Change: +1
Toni Kroos takes advantage of James' absence by leapfrogging his team-mate into the podium spaces, having put in a controlled and consistent performance for Real Madrid against Depor.
The German saw out the 90 minutes in quietly excellent fashion, consistently receiving the ball, turning and moving on play in another direction, always available to his team-mates to take over and begin the next phase of Real's domination.
He wasn't playing defence-splitting balls all game and certainly has another level to go up, but he helped his team significantly to getting back to winning ways.
2. Neymar, FCB
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No change
This is probably as high as Neymar is going this season, barring injury to our No. 1 pick, and he's been in the No. 2 spot for two weeks now.
The Brazilian was in fine form for Barcelona once again as they dismantled Levante, scoring the first goal either through fortune or design with a spinning, first-time shot which looped over the onrushing goalkeeper and just over the line. There was nothing fortuitous about his run, though, timed perfectly around the back of the defence onto the cross.
Elsewhere in the game Neymar's running off the ball, ability to beat defenders and link play with his fellow forwards continued his rising confidence and stock in La Liga.
1. Lionel Messi, FCB
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No change
There isn't a more in-form or deadly player on the planet right now than Lionel Messi of Barcelona.
Restored totally to his top confidence, fitness and form, the No. 10 is revelling in his hybrid playmaking/scoring role, either from the right in a normal game or centrally as against Levante, where he scored another hat-trick in the 5-0 drubbing and set up Neymar's goal for good measure.
Since the loss to Real Sociedad in January when Messi came on as sub, Barcelona have won all 11 games, with Messi scoring 14 in 10 matches in that period.
