La Liga Player Rankings After Gameweek 25, Feb. 27-Mar. 2
The latest round of games in Spain produced some interesting matchups at the top end of the league, with Barcelona's win putting them right back in the title challenge three weeks ahead of El Clasico.
We've taken a look at every match over the past few days in La Liga and analysed the performances of the players to update our player rankings, which take into account recent form and output for the top-flight stars.
This week there are two new faces and no change at the top, where Lionel Messi still reigns supreme.
Mentions
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Out of our top 20 rankings goes Villarreal's Denis Cheryshev, who has had a fantastic season but has been out of the team lately as Marcelino realigns his priorities from league to cups. He didn't play against parent club Real Madrid at the weekend due to a clause in his contract. Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos is also out after his long injury sees him still sidelined.
On the list for future inclusion, should performances continue to impress, are:
Sergio Asenjo, Villarreal
Sergio Garcia, Espanyol
Jonathas, Elche
Vicente Iborra, Sevilla
Michael Krohn-Dehli, Celta Vigo
Dani Parejo, Valencia
Gerard Moreno, Villarreal
Jose Gaya, Valencia
20. Jordi Alba, FCB
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New entrant
He has been on our radar for most of 2015 after a big upturn in form, and Jordi Alba finally breaks into our top 20.
The Barcelona left-back was one of the best performers this weekend, flying down the left flank to great effect against Granada and providing his team-mates with a string of chances in the area after his driven crosses and intelligent cutbacks.
Defensively strong and always an outlet down the flank, Alba impressed greatly and has been a vital part of Barcelona's great form this year.
19. Mario Mandzukic, ATM
3 of 21
Change: -3
Mario Mandzukic was surprisingly left on the bench for Atletico Madrid's crunch game at Sevilla. The striker came on for the last 15 minutes but couldn't make much impact.
18. James Rodriguez, RMA
4 of 21
Change: -7
Still injured, still falling. This is James' last week in our 20 barring an unexpected comeback.
17. Pablo Piatti, VAL
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New entrant!
Valencia's Pablo Piatti was in our top 20 earlier in the season, but a sticky patch of form was followed by injury as he left us in the first half of the campaign.
He's deservedly back after a tremendous recent run of games where he has been integral to Los Che's attack, creating chances and spaces for team-mates with his great running on the ball and intelligent movement off it.
At the weekend, he scored one and forced another own goal to help Valencia beat Real Sociedad 2-0, taking a big stranglehold on fourth place in the process.
16. Grzegorz Krychowiak, SEV
6 of 21
Change: +3
Polish midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak refuses to leave our 20! Every time he drops, he produces a big performance and dominates the centre of the park, as he did this weekend for Sevilla against Atletico Madrid.
He and Vicente Iborra—also on the verge of our 20 lately—outworked and out-thought Atleti's central zone, certainly providing their team with the better territorial advantage and passes into the final third. A strong character who made plenty of big challenges in the middle, Krychowiak was the base for his team's attempts to win the game.
It didn't happen. The game ended 0-0, but this was a good performance from Krychowiak nonetheless.
15. Diego Godin, ATM
7 of 21
Change: +3
While Krychowiak dominated the centre of the park, Diego Godin was rock solid at the back for Atletico in the face of quite an amount of pressure from Sevilla's attack.
The movement of Carlos Bacca and the passing of Ever Banega produced a few hairy moments for Atleti, but Godin was able to repel the worst threat with his consistent reading of the game and ability to make clearances.
He helped keep the clean sheet, and his team remain in third, but Atletico are out of the title race barring an amazing run.
14. Marcelo, RMA
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Change: +1
Marcelo continued his recent good form with another solid shift at left-back for Real Madrid as they drew 1-1 with Villarreal.
It wasn't his most spectacular of performances, and perhaps the Brazilian might have gotten forward to better effect on another day, but he was consistent with his passing, a good link player down the flank and happy to overlap his midfielders.
Defensively, he wasn't overcome by the pace and running of Joel Campbell, and Real stayed top of La Liga.
13. Koke, ATM
9 of 21
Change: -1
Koke returned from injury at the weekend but only made the bench for Atletico Madrid against Sevilla. He came on for the final 25 minutes for the unimpressive Gabi but didn't help swing the game in his side's favour too much.
12. Ignacio Camacho, MGA
10 of 21
Change: +1
Ignacio Camacho was back in at the heart of the Malaga midfield and produced his usual impressive display to help win the game 3-2 against Getafe.
Camacho was robust and determined in the centre, sat deep to win the ball back against the Getafe counter and distributed it easily, letting partner Sergi Darder roam forward more out of the duo.
The Spanish international was strong in the air and stopped Getafe's intended comeback in the latter stages of the game.
11. Luis Suarez, FCB
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Change: +3
The biggest performer of the weekend in terms of our top 20, Luis Suarez inspired Barcelona to a 3-1 win over Granada, scoring one, assisting another and setting up a third with a blocked shot of his own.
His movement and intensity were at odds with the lethargic and surprisingly slipshod nature of the team as a whole, but the Uruguayan was able to escape the Granada defence on several occasions to great effect.
His goal was composed and taken well, while the selfless side of his game was shown with his late assist for Messi.
10. Arda Turan, ATM
12 of 21
Change: -1
A slight drop for Arda Turan, who struggled to get into the game for Atletico at times as Sevilla dominated possession for long stretches.
The Turkish winger was frustrated with decisions going against him during the game and was booked for berating an official and substituted around the hour mark after a fairly ineffective game.
It's a rare occurrence when he doesn't impact on big games, but this wasn't his weekend.
9. Isco, RMA
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Change: +1
Back to Real Madrid now, and creative midfielder Isco was again an important part of the team in the 1-1 draw with Villarreal, but he couldn't ultimately help his team to victory.
Against right-back Mario Gaspar, he struggled a little in direct confrontation, but when dipping infield and getting hold of the ball in space, he was a big threat. A number of balls into the box created good openings for his team, and that was evidenced by his team continually seeking him out.
He was subbed late in the game for Asier Illarramendi.
8. Karim Benzema, RMA
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No change
Not one of Karim Benzema's most effective games. The striker made all his usual running off the ball and was available to receive passes and link play, but a combination of slow Real buildup and his own touch being off at times saw chances pass by.
He was subbed late in the game and did not have much of an impact inside the penalty area.
7. Nicolas Otamendi, VAL
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Change: -1
Nicolas Otamendi started the game in good form for Valencia against Real Sociedad, making a good block on the edge of the box and making a few tackles to stop sporadic attacks from La Real, but he injured himself making another challenge shortly before the break—in fact, it was a team-mate who seemed to cause the injury in the end.
He was subbed at the break and may face a spell out.
6. Cristiano Ronaldo, RMA
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Change: +1
Cristiano Ronaldo netted his 30th league goal of the season at the weekend in 22 appearances—that's a goal every 65 minutes of league action over the course of the campaign, a tremendous rate.
The forward was relentless in his search for goals against Villarreal, rattling off a huge 13 shots during the match per WhoScored.com, but was frequently at fault for trying his attempts when others were better placed or the route to goal was blocked.
Elsewhere, his running off the ball and a few dribbles directly at the heart of the defence were impressive, and he slowly continues to return toward top form.
5. Antoine Griezmann, ATM
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No change
Antoine Griezmann played the lone forward role for Atleti against Sevilla but was left frustrated with the lack of service and scuffed the best opportunities that fell his way in the box.
The French attacker has been in great form of late, but this match didn't really run his way, with his team leaving him isolated in attack too often to rely on his pace.
He was subbed for Mandzukic late on.
4. Neymar, FCB
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Change: -1
Another game for Neymar where he hasn't really impacted on the match, as he was mostly a bystander in the 3-1 win over Granada.
The Brazilian enjoyed a great run of form a few weeks ago but has tailed off considerably since then, not contributing to the scoresheet or indeed to his team's best attacking moves this weekend.
He was stationed a little wider at times than he usually prefers in an attempt to get hold of the ball in space, but his impact was minimal.
3. Diego Alves, VAL
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Change: +1
One of the quietest games Diego Alves will ever have in La Liga resulted in a 2-0 win for Valencia over Real Sociedad.
He barely had any saves of note to make, though did take a handful of set pieces well in the air and distributed the ball well on several occasions, sparking counter-attacks for his team.
A clean sheet and a move into the podium makes Alves the first goalkeeper to place this season in our rankings.
2. Toni Kroos, RMA
20 of 21
No change
Toni Kroos dominated and dictated the match again for Real Madrid, at least when they were in possession of the ball against Villarreal.
The German was always looking to pick up the ball in space and play it in behind the Villarreal central duo, picking gaps between the lines for Isco to run onto or Ronaldo to drop back into. His set pieces were again a huge threat as Kroos consistently delivered quality into the area.
He also made a large number of challenges himself in the middle of the park to help keep Real on the front foot.
1. Lionel Messi, FCB
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No change
Lionel Messi didn't have his most brilliant game of the season against Granada, but he did enough to trouble the back line consistently and fashioned a few openings for his team.
The Argentine got on the scoresheet again, his 27th of the season in La Liga, with a tap-in from close range in the latter stages of the game (though he was offside at the time, and not spotted by the officials).
Messi remains clear at the top and has been Barcelona's most important figure in 2015.
