La Liga Player Rankings After Game Week 35, May 1-4
Gameweek 35 in La Liga saw some extraordinary results and matches, with plenty of important games affecting both ends of the table.
We have looked over each game and analysed the players' performances, taking into account the usual factors: personal display, opposition quality, what they contributed to the overall match result and plenty more besides. We factor in the midweek games too, but the weekend fixtures take precedence.
The outcome is our updated player rankings for Spain's top flight, with a new leader in place this week.
Mentions
1 of 21
Just one exit this week, with Villarreal's excellent goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo unfortunately taking an ACL injury, and he'll play no further part this season.
On the verge of our top 20, in order of how close they are:
Javier Mascherano, Barcelona
Xabier Etxeita, Athletic
Ever Banega, Sevilla
Sergio Busquets, Barcelona
Raphael Varane, Real Madrid
Jan Oblak, Atletico Madrid
Aleix Vidal, Sevilla
Javi Fuego, Valencia.
20. Sofiane Feghouli, VAL
2 of 21
New entrant!
Valencia's right-sided attacker Sofiane Feghouli has been close for several weeks, and it's he who takes advantage of Asenjo's injury to enter our 20.
The Algerian put in another good performance on Sunday, helping his side to a fairly routine 3-1 win over Eibar, raiding down the channel to send in low passes or crosses and link play quickly in the final third.
He could have scored a goal himself if a ball or two had found him more quickly as Feghouli continually found space inside the area, but he still contributed plenty once more as Los Che's top-four fight continued.
19. Michael Krohn-Dehli, CEL
3 of 21
Change: -2
Danish midfielder Michael Krohn-Dehli didn't have his best game on Monday night, but it's really his first performance in a while that hasn't been up to standard, so it's hard to criticise too much.
As usual, Krohn-Dehli saw plenty of the ball during the 2-2 draw for Celta Vigo at Almeria, but he was a little wasteful at times and certainly didn't surge forward from deep as often as he usually does. A little bit of a frustrating game from him.
18. Nolito, CEL
4 of 21
Change: +2
Leapfrogging his Celta team-mate is left-sided forward Nolito, who remains bang in form and notched his 12th goal of the season on Monday night. Impressively, and highlighting his key status for the team, 11 of those dozen strikes have been the first goal in the match—as was the case this time around.
The chances didn't fall his way as often as usual, but he still had a big impact on his team's attacking play as he picked the ball up deep, passed infield and looked to link quickly outside the box.
He was subbed around the hour mark after his team went down to 10 men, still 2-1 up at the time.
17. James Rodriguez, RMA
5 of 21
Change: +1
James Rodriguez was again heavily involved for Real Madrid as he helped his team to a thoroughly entertaining 3-2 win over Sevilla.
It wasn't his most spectacular performance ever as the to-and-fro nature of the game, particularly in the second half, at times saw him bypassed in the middle. Nonetheless, his link play with Cristiano Ronaldo and, later, Gareth Bale was important for the team, and he found plenty of space in the first 45 to create danger.
16. Marcelo, RMA
6 of 21
Change: -3
While many in the Sevilla-Real Madrid game excelled or were heavily involved, Marcelo was simply torn to shreds for most of the game.
He struggled to get to grips with Aleix Vidal for most of the game when he played on the wing and even more so when he reverted to right-back, but he still attacked with pace and width; Marcelo had no idea how to stop him and several of Sevilla's best attacks came down that flank.
Not great from the left-back.
15. Isco, RMA
7 of 21
Change: -1
Isco also didn't have a tremendous game.
Considering the open nature of the match, it would have been hoped that the Spanish playmaker could make much more use of the space and time on the ball, but he seemed caught up in the pace of the game at times and failed to really produce much going forward.
His one notable moment in attack was to dig out a great cross for Ronaldo to score off.
14. Karim Benzema, RMA
8 of 21
Change: -3
Karim Benzema remained sidelined through injury and did not play.
13. Tiago, ATM
9 of 21
Change: +6
It's a big jump for Tiago, but part of that is due to the poor (or non-) performance from the three Real players just mentioned.
The Atletico Madrid man was excellent for his side in the 0-0 draw with Athletic Bilbao though, being one of the most involved players on the pitch and the one who several times was key to breaking through the Basque back line—only to be thwarted by the assistant's flag.
He scored and assisted "goals" that were ruled out, but his work rate, creativity and enduring stamina shone above all else.
12. Dani Parejo, VAL
10 of 21
Change: +4
Like Tiago, Dani Parejo consolidated his fine recent form with an industrious and quality performance for Valencia as they trounced Eibar 3-1.
Parejo scored a heavily deflected shot and struck woodwork with another effort, but it was his effortless control of the centre of the park and the tempo of his team that really make him stand out as a total class act this season.
He genuinely must be in contention for the Spain squad, perhaps at the end of this season, ahead of the likes of Mario Suarez or Raul Garcia.
11. Toni Kroos, RMA
11 of 21
Change: +1
Toni Kroos had a good game for Real as they defeated Sevilla, contributing outside both penalty boxes.
He was certainly worked hard defensively after the break, tracking runners from Sevilla's midfield and making a few challenges, but he also sought to use the ball well on the counter-attack.
Kroos seems to be putting in seven-or-eight-out-of-10 games on a regular basis over the second half of this season, never really shining as the standout in midfield but doing a good job all the same. He looks far better when supported by the movement and quality of Luka Modric.
10. Diego Godin, ATM
12 of 21
Change: -1
Diego Godin helped Atleti keep a clean sheet against Athletic Bilbao, but his team did dominate much of the game, and he didn't have a huge amount to do to help keep the scoreline that way.
He was his usual rugged self in the challenge and gave Kike Sola little to work with, but he got himself foolishly booked, which rules him out of next week's game against Deportivo La Coruna.
Then again, the following game is Barcelona...
9. Gerard Pique, FCB
13 of 21
Change: +1
Rarely will Gerard Pique have had an easier game in defence than this one.
Cordoba troubled Barcelona on the counter-attack a couple of times in the first half, particularly down the flanks, but Pique dealt with everything that came his way, and after the break, there was barely an attack from the home side.
He scored from close range just after the hour mark as Barcelona ran out 8-0 winners.
8. Koke, ATM
14 of 21
Change: -1
Koke wasn't at his instrumental best for Atletico at the weekend. He was certainly involved and helped keep the buildup play going for his team, he won the ball in midfield and worked hard as ever out of possession—but it just wasn't a game where he was able to make the telling contribution in the final third or find space to impact on his team's attack significantly.
The 0-0 scoreline wasn't exactly reflective of the game, but Koke couldn't find it in his own performance to help break the deadlock.
7. Diego Alves, VAL
15 of 21
Change: -3
Diego Alves suffers in the rankings as a result of a sub-standard performance and the great form of others around him.
The Brazilian goalkeeper didn't have much to do against Eibar but two moments stood out negatively: a totally miscalculated jump for a corner that he was lucky not to concede off and a low shot that beat him for Eibar's consolation.
Coming off the back of his awful fumble against Rayo Vallecano, it means a drop for La Liga's best stopper this year.
6. Neymar, FCB
16 of 21
Change: +2
Neymar jumps back up into our top six after a recent run where Barcelona's front three have simply blown away the competition.
The Brazilian scored and assisted in midweek against Getafe, then added a late penalty after being a constant torment against Cordoba at the weekend. He probably should have scored one or two more himself in that game, but a combination of last-ditch defending and selflessness meant he ended up with just the one.
His dribbling, running off the ball and cut-backs were a constant danger.
5. Antoine Griezmann, ATM
17 of 21
No change
Antoine Griezmann saw his run of eight goals in seven matches come to an end at the weekend as he failed to register against Athletic Bilbao—but only because of erroneous calls.
Twice he had the ball in the net, once called offside when he was marginally the wrong side and once when he was quite clearly in a perfectly legitimate position.
He was Atleti's main threat with his movement in the penalty box, his strong all-round approach play and his pace to get between defenders—but no goal this time.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo, RMA
18 of 21
Change: +2
Cristiano Ronaldo breaches our top five for the first time in a while as he really steps up his individual form heading into the business stage of the season.
Against Sevilla at the weekend he was the big difference between the sides, scoring a hat-trick to give Los Blancos the edge and a 3-2 win. Ronaldo's movement off the ball, his non-stop running behind the defence and his ability to take defenders on all kept Sevilla tracking back quickly.
He keeps Real in the title hunt.
3. Nicolas Otamendi, VAL
19 of 21
Change: -2
Nicolas Otamendi is off top spot after several weeks as No. 1. He pays the price for a less-than-perfect outing in the face of brilliance from his top-three challengers.
Otamendi scored the first, a fine header, in Valencia's 3-1 win over Eibar, but was a little sloppy defending once or twice, perhaps simply out of comfort as the relegation-threatened team offered little in attack.
The goal they scored at the end, however, was partly down to Otamendi charging over to make a needless three-on-one situation rather than keep the team shape and organisation, leaving an unmarked runner to ghost in and finish. Not terrible given his side were 3-0 up already, but enough to lose first place here.
2. Lionel Messi, FCB
20 of 21
No change
Lionel Messi overtakes Otamendi, but one other overtakes him—so it's a no-move and still in second for the Barcelona No. 10.
Messi tormented the Cordoba defence at the weekend just as he had the Getafe back line a few days earlier. Between the two fixtures he picked up no less than four goals and two assists, including the vital opening goal before half-time against an at-the-time stubborn Cordoba. The floodgates opened thereafter, and Messi treated onlookers to some amazing dribbling skills, two goals of his own and then passed up a hat-trick chance from the penalty spot.
A tremendous run of form from one of the best anywhere, any time.
1. Luis Suarez, FCB
21 of 21
Change: +2
Back to the top of our Liga player rankings goes Barcelona's centre-forward Luis Suarez, who has been nothing short of phenomenal of late—he has scored 10 in his last eight games alone.
This past week has seen the Uruguayan really turn it on though, scoring a hat-trick against Cordoba and two against Getafe, making it five goals and four assists in his last three matches—an incredible return.
The No. 9 was irrepressible and non-stop with his running, his squeezing between defenders and his hunting down the ball against Cordoba paving the way for the 8-0 rout of the bottom club.
Top of the league, and top of our rankings!
