La Liga Team of the Week: Filipe Luis Returns in Style and Luka Modric Shines
La Liga returned for the opening weekend of the 2015-16 season and, despite not exactly being a goal-laden first few days, there were plenty of performances on a team and individual level to be impressed with.
Our team-of-the-week feature is back for the new campaign, where we pick out excellent performers for each position in turn thanks to their contribution to their respective sides' matches. As well as individual form, other factors are taken into account including quality of opposition and overall result attained.
We analysed every game to pick out a star XI from the weekend's fixtures, choosing the best players to form a viable formation. Only the best players in each position from this week's action make the cut, leading to several tough decisions along the way—and here are those who made it for Gameweek 1.
GK: Ivan Cuellar, SPO
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Real Madrid drew a blank in pre-season on a number of occasions and suffered the same struggles on the opening day of the season against Sporting Gijon.
In part it was extremely wayward shooting from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, which meant the scorelines stayed level, but there were also a number of fine interventions from Sporting goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar to keep Rafa Benitez's side at bay.
A couple of late dives to save from Ronaldo were particularly effective, but he was also alert and commanding when taking high balls into the area, from crosses and set pieces and, above all else, consistent. It's the first week of the season but it might turn out to be Sporting's most impressive result of the year—and Cuellar certainly played his part.
DR: Sergi Roberto, FCB
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It's not often that a substitute makes our team-of-the-week selection, but such was Sergi Roberto's impact that he is a comfortable pick—out of his main position.
Dani Alves' early injury meant that the midfielder came on at right-back, where he featured during pre-season a number of times, and he performed with great ability and enthusiasm for Barcelona in their 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao.
Some great driving runs down the flank—showing previously unseen acceleration—were merged with his usual composure on the ball to pick out passes and short crosses infield. A big performance from the youngster.
DC: Lopo, DEP
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Deportivo La Coruna got their season up and running with a 0-0 draw at home to Real Sociedad, with both defences eventually on top over the 90 minutes.
La Real's new-look strike force did threaten plenty of times though, and it was thanks to the solid approach and consistency of Depor's centre-back Lopo that German Lux—himself a contender for the keeper spot this week—wasn't tested even more.
Lopo was diligent about his own defensive work and made a few big challenges and interceptions around the edge of his box, but also covered in behind the mistake-ridden Sidnei more than once in the first half.
DC: Diego Reyes, RSO
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At the opposite end of the pitch, Diego Reyes put in an even better display than Lopo.
Real Sociedad's new attack looks exciting, but their new defensive partnership—Reyes and Inigo Martinez—looks equally talented. Between them they dealt with everything Depor could muster, with Reyes aggressive in the air and quick over the ground to sweep up behind his partner when needed.
A few marauding runs out of the back line further served notice of his talents on the ball. It's a big season for Reyes as he seeks to finally cement himself as a regular starter; this was the perfect start.
DL: Filipe Luis, ATM
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It's as if he had never been away.
Filipe Luis stepped back into the left-back berth at Atletico Madrid after a year at Chelsea and in his first start looked confident, full of ability on the ball and—in the second half especially—a massive threat moving from middle to final thirds.
He was strong in the challenge a few times in the sporadic Las Palmas attacks down the right flank, but mostly he was able to be used as an outlet and a link man, particularly once Atleti went to 4-3-3 later on in the game. Filipe Luis' side won the match 1-0.
MR: Oliver Torres, ATM
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Also involved in that game after returning from a year away was Atleti's Oliver Torres—though he had only been on loan, at Porto, rather than on a full transfer.
The youngster has been handed the No. 10 shirt this year, an indication of both his ability and of Diego Simeone's trust in him. He played an hour or so of this match with great composure, creativity and fluidity of movement.
Nominally the right-sided midfielder, Oliver had full licence to roam infield and find spaces, link play going forward and try to feed the front two with clever passes into the box—which he did on a number of occasions. Combined with his dribbling and good acceleration, he was important in Atleti dominating the game.
MC: Tomas Pina, VIL
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Tomas Pina is usually a purely holding midfielder for Villarreal, and a third-choice one at that, but he obviously did enough over the summer to earn a start in the opening game and put in a top-drawer performance in the 1-1 draw at Real Betis.
With Villarreal employing more traditional wide midfielders rather than those who could cut in and attack the space, there were large gaps centrally for midfield runners to exploit for the team in yellow—and it was Pina, oddly, who did it to great effect.
His powerful driving runs opened the game for his team a number of times, he beat men with the ball at his feet and he fed the wide players before making up ground to the edge of the box.
MC: Luka Modric, RMA
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Real Madrid might have been frustrated by the scoreline and their own ineptitude in front of goal, but Luka Modric can feel he is exempt from the criticism headed the way of the team after a very good midfield performance.
While Toni Kroos held things centrally, Modric buzzed around him to cover the entire width of the pitch, picking up possession in space and either moving it on quickly or else dribbling forcefully into the final third.
His movement was very good, the intensity and aggression in his game helped Real keep up the tempo and he played several passes into the penalty area to help open up Sporting's back line. Like his team mates, though, Modric's shots were off target.
ML: Fabian Orellana, CEL
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Celta Vigo got their season up and running with a 2-1 win at Levante, with Fabian Orellana their tormentor in chief.
Orellana split his time on the pitch between the central areas and wide right, coming infield to support play in buildup phases but happy to use his pace and stretch play when Celta counter-attacked. His ability to do the latter was in full view as he worked the touchline before cutting in to cross and set up the winning goal late on.
Earlier, his central impact saw him get into a couple of good scoring positions and he hit the opening goal from close range after a well-worked move down the left.
CF: Carlos Vela, RSO
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With not too many goals scored around La Liga this weekend we've gone for a combination forward line of creator and leader of the line; Carlos Vela takes the former spot after an inventive and hard-working performance for Real Sociedad at Deportivo.
Vela showed good early signs that his partnership with new signing Jonathas could be a very productive one; the two linked a number of times outside the box to forge shooting opportunities for the Brazilian, though his finishing and timing were off-key during the game.
Mexican forward Vela, playing very much in a two-man attack, showed his usual impressive appreciation for space and his ability to play a through pass.
CF: Roberto Soldado, VIL
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Roberto Soldado is certainly smiling now; it took him just 30 minutes back in La Liga to score his first goal of the season, equalling the tally he scored in the league in all of last year in England.
The Spaniard had already looked dangerous with his runs in behind the Betis defence, playing up front for Villarreal, before he timed a run to perfection to reach a lofted pass after a set piece was half-cleared. One touch to control and one to shoot saw Soldado find the far bottom corner—and plenty of self-confidence, no doubt.
Soldado lasted around 70 minutes before being subbed and ended with ice packs strapped to both his calves, which were no doubt trying to remember the last time they'd been on the pitch for that long, or indeed helped his feet score a goal.
Leading Villarreal's line, he looked in good shape for the most part and should prove a fine acquisition for them if the goals continue to flow.
