La Liga Team of the Week: El Clasico Stars and Fernando Torres Make the XI
The build-up to el Clasico dominated the weekend in Spain's top flight, with Barcelona eventually beating Real Madrid to go four points clear at the top of La Liga.
There were, though, nine other games this weekend in the same league! We've taken our usual look at each, analysed which players had the biggest impact and best performances and strung them all together in our regular Team of the Week feature.
We've got five players from el Clasico, but which ones join match-winner Luis Suarez in being picked?
GK: Sergio Rico, Sevilla
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We start with stand-in Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico, in the team and impressing again as Sevilla picked up their third win from three recent matches against Villarreal.
The 21-year-old make a few handy saves and, even though he rode his luck in the first half with the woodwork coming to his rescue and his central defenders making a few blocks, he was impressive with his aerial handling and certainly warranted his clean sheet with the saves he did make.
The gap opens wider between fifth and sixth.
DF: Nicolas Otamendi, Valenci
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Valencia centre-back Nicolas Otamendi has been immense all season long and put in another tremendous display in the 4-0 win over Elche on Friday night.
He had already gone close to scoring early in the game before thumping in a stoppage-time header for the final goal of the night, while his defensive work was as rock-solid and committed as ever. He largely kept Jonathas quiet, and another clean sheet was just reward.
Valencia stay in third.
DF: Gerard Pique, Barcelona
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The first of our five Clasico-featured players, central defender Gerard Pique recovered from an uneven first few minutes to be one of the top performers of the entire match.
The Spanish international has recovered his form entirely over the past two months or so, but this was his first huge performance against a noticeably better opponent. He won the ball in the air and made a few stand-up tackles to stop Real's attacks in their tracks, and his perfectly timed slide-tackle was a thrilling execution of a lesser-spotted art form in the modern Liga.
Pique was arguably the man of the match and is certainly his nation's top defender right now.
DF: Jordi Alba, Barcelona
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Just edging out team-mate Jeremy Mathieu for our third defensive selection is left-back Jordi Alba.
Simply put, he was excellent at both ends: defensively reliable, strong and aggressive (not to mention fast) to dominate Gareth Bale entirely and also a threat on the few times he ventured forward as the game went on.
Positionally he was largely good against Bale's frequent runs infield, and his slaloming sprint forward that almost ended in a goal was the typical example of what an unexpected outlet he can be for the team at times.
MF: Inaki Williams, Athletic Bilbao
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Inaki Williams continues to make waves at Athletic Bilbao, bringing something very different to the team with his pace and physical dribbling style. On either flank he can offer width and a quick out-ball, tremendous teamwork and someone who can create chances with his running on and off the ball.
Against Almeria, Williams was an absolute star in the first half, running amok against a stretched defence and causing his team-mates to race toward the box at pace, as they knew a delivery was coming.
His ability to win the ball back and attack quickly created chance after chance, while his crosses are impressively dangerous considering they are usually made on the run and with defenders in attendance.
MF: Luka Modric, Real Madrid
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Real Madrid's best player for the first half hour when they were on top in el Clasico, Luka Modric's ability to control midfield was very much apparent in the opening stages of the game...and also later on, when he tired and Real totally lost control.
The gap between attack and midfield grew enormous once Modric's impact waned, with the Croatian only recently returned from injury and naturally declining after a point.
They need him back to full fitness as soon as possible to reignite their season as we head into the most telling time of all.
MF: Koke, Atletico Madrid
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Atletico Madrid's fight for third place is going to go all the way to the end of the season, and luckily for them, key man Koke is bang in top form when they need him to be.
The Spanish midfield international has been superb in recent weeks, dominating whether from central or wide areas and delivering plenty of ammunition for the forwards to make use of. He was involved in both Atleti's goals in the 2-0 win over Getafe and could also have scored himself if not for a slight deflection onto the post.
When Koke plays well, Atleti do too.
MF: Vitolo, Sevilla
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Sevilla's Vitolo has been one of La Liga's more explosive players over the last few weeks, having a big impact in the final third and especially enjoying this run of games against Villarreal.
He was a key performer in the second half, netting a goal and hurting the home team on the counter-attack with his great pace, willingness to keep the width and ability to run at the defence.
Vitolo has been a big part of the surge clear in fifth place and, with him in good form, Sevilla still have an outside chance of the top four if either Valencia or Atleti slip up over the final weeks.
FW: Karim Benzema, Real Madrid
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Into the attacking trident now and Karim Benzema edges out fellow Clasico forward Lionel Messi for the first spot.
The French forward was electric with his movement and attempts to get between the Barca back line in the first half, constantly creating spaces for other white shirts with his clever runs and selfless work rate.
A top-drawer assist showed both technique and awareness for the equalising goal, while he went close himself once or twice and was by far the best attacker on show for the away side, not just in terms of what he did with the ball but also embarrassing the two either side of him—Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale—with what he did and sacrificed in the name of the team game plan.
FW: Fernando Torres, Atletico Madrid
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Our second striker is Atletico's Fernando Torres, back in his home club and finally back on the scoresheet in La Liga for the first time since 2006-07.
A terrific run and header from distance got Atleti on the front foot early on, while his running behind the defence and sudden dropping deeper into the channels meant he was always a good link-man for the team to play off.
He lasted the full 90 minutes—subbed off only in injury time to great applause—and was a terrific performer on the day.
FW: Luis Suarez, Barcelona
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The best forward on the pitch out of a star-studded cast, Luis Suarez was sublime at times for Barcelona with his first touch, his tenacious running at the defence and his ability to open up space.
As the game wore on and Barcelona were more and more on top, Suarez destroyed the unprotected Real defence with his clever movement and ability to beat men one-on-one. His goal was of the very highest order, with superb control on the run and then a precise finish into the bottom corner.
Suarez worked harder than anyone and certainly could have scored another one or more if chances had fallen his way rather than Neymar's.
