La Liga Team of the Week: Cristiano Ronaldo's First Showing After 5-Goal Haul
Depending on players' form before the international break, the two-week gap between Liga fixtures may have been seen as a help or a hindrance; plenty of those who were in our opening teams of the week seemed to fade a little this time out in Spain's top flight, while some new stars showed their more usual levels of play.
Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo made the headlines and won Real Madrid three comfortable points with five goals in a 6-0 win, but two of his team-mates make our side this week as well.
Our team of the week analyses every game to pick out a star XI from the weekend's fixtures, choosing the best players to form a viable formation—this time we go for 4-2-3-1. Only the best players in each position from this weekend's action make the cut, leading, as ever, to several tough decisions along the way.
In addition to individual form, we take into account such factors as opposition quality and overall contribution to the team's display.
Here are the players who make the team from Jornada 3 in La Liga.
GK: Jaume, VAL
1 of 11
A debut to remember in goal for Jaume Domenech, the Valencia B team goalkeeper who was preferred by manager Nuno to start over regular third-choice Yoel after Mat Ryan joined long-term casualty Diego Alves on the sidelines.
Jaume made a handful of top-drawer saves to preserve a clean sheet and keep Valencia in the running for a positive result away to Sporting Gijon, most notably making a spectacular triple-save at one point.
His heroics were made all the more worthwhile as Paco Alcacer ran in at the other end to score a last-minute winner for Los Che.
RB: Sergi Roberto, FCB
2 of 11
Barcelona right-back Sergi Roberto wasn't the most spectacular player on the pitch, yet he did a hugely effective job going in both directions.
He tied up Koke, no small feat, with his quick passing and willingness to drive forward, while also stopping the talented Atletico Madrid midfielder on the few occasions they came together in Sergi's defensive third. Going forward, the Barca man was a good outlet for his side to stretch play, linked very well with clever passes infield and showed good pace to overlap Rafinha and Ivan Rakitic a number of times.
Later, faced with a more direct threat in Yannick Carrasco, Sergi Roberto proved equally adept at getting back into position against the counter-attack—a very strong all-round performance.
CB: Heiko Westermann, BET
3 of 11
One of Real Betis' many new signings this summer, Heiko Westermann put in a strong showing for his new club, impressing on his debut in place of German Pezzella.
Betis beat Real Sociedad 1-0, but the game was a struggle in the second half as the home side gave up possession for more compact defensive ranks, having had midfielder Petros sent off. Westermann was up to the task and made clearance after clearance against the Basque side, showing his strength in the air as well as his reading of the game.
The experienced German made a few strong tackles on the edge of his box too, preserving the clean sheet and earning a first win of the season for Betis.
CB: Josema Gimenez, ATM
4 of 11
Josema Gimenez was immense for Atleti against Barcelona, showing all his usual levels of commitment and aggression to keep the titleholders at bay for much of the game.
In the end, it took a set piece to get past him and his fellow defenders—and then the brilliance of Leo Messi late on.
Gimenez threw himself into blocks and tackles, won aerials, made interceptions and even had fortune on his side to get away with a possible handball inside the penalty area, as both teams saw shouts for spot-kicks turned down. The younger of the all-Uruguayan centre-back pairing for Atleti continues to show he has the ability to be one of La Liga's top defenders.
LB: Benoit Tremoulinas, SEV
5 of 11
Sevilla could only draw 1-1 at Levante on Friday night, and the Andalucian club are yet to get going at all this season, taking only two points from their first three games and currently sitting in the relegation zone.
That said, they weren't terrible, just struggling to seamlessly move from midfield build-up to attacking momentum. Left-back Benoit Tremoulinas was one of the few who tried gamely to aid that transition, providing his usual outlet down the flank and putting in intelligent crosses toward the strikers.
Defensively, he was sound for most of the game, and he'll remain a key player as the season goes on.
CM: Casemiro, RMA
6 of 11
The first of three Real Madrid players to make our team, Casemiro came in to hold the base of Real's midfield together and let Toni Kroos take a rest—and he showed exactly why we've been championing him to make a real impact for his side this season.
The Brazilian was imperious, winning the ball and preventing numerous meaningful Espanyol counter-attacks, distributing it quickly and cleverly and dominating the central area to allow those ahead of him to run riot.
This will be the type of game he features most prominently in: away from home, against a counter-attacking threat, adding solidity to the creative masses ahead of him. Casemiro will play lots for Real over the course of the season, especially if he continues to put in this type of display.
CM: Manu Trigueros, VIL
7 of 11
Tomas Pina had usurped Manu Trigueros from the Villarreal midfield at the start of this season, but with Bruno Soriano's suspension still in place, the 23-year-old has been back in the frame—and put in a great showing against Granada.
Villarreal ran out 3-1 winners, in part thanks to some awful defensive work on the ball from their opponents, with Trigueros himself opening the scoring from 20 yards to make the most of a poor pass out by the goalkeeper.
He broke forward to great effect throughout the game, linking play in the final third and providing support to the two rampaging wingers: Nahuel and Samu Castillejo.
RW: Luis Alberto, DEP
8 of 11
A little artistic licence to begin our attacking midfield line with; it was a weekend when every major performer seemed to be the left-sided option for teams playing either three up front or a line of three attacking midfielders, so we're picking one of those who roved and swapped positions at times to slot in on the right.
Deportivo La Coruna's Luis Alberto impressed in the Monday night game at Rayo Vallecano, scoring one and creating another to send his team to a 3-1 win. His big impacts came early on in the game, crossing from the left for the opener and then evading a challenge to hammer home the second, but after that he was still a good outlet for the team and was strong in his technical work for his hour or so on the pitch.
Seeking a more stable season after two years in-and-out of the side at Liverpool and Malaga (loan), Luis Alberto will hope this type of showing earns him a regular spot for Depor.
AM: Gareth Bale, RMA
9 of 11
Through the middle of Real Madrid's devastating attack was Gareth Bale, who took heavy criticism through the summer as Real struggled to score goals but is now showing exactly why Real manager Rafael Benitez wanted to play him there.
Real's quick movements from back to front make the most of Bale's direct style of play, and Espanyol had to answer to his pace, sprints and through passes as he ran riot in the 6-0 win.
Two assists for Ronaldo were inch-perfect and well-timed, while he also won the penalty to essentially claim a third set-up. Bale was involved in almost every goal at some stage of the build-up and was central to the victory.
LW: Cristiano Ronaldo, RMA
10 of 11
Nolito and Neymar were both excellent for Celta Vigo and Barcelona respectively, but Cristiano Ronaldo put in a solid "10" showing for Real Madrid.
His movement and taking up of positions, his desire to get into the box on the end of crosses, passes and cut-backs, and his unerring finishing netted him five of the six goals at Estadi Cornella-El Prat. From the first minute to the last, he was determined, single-minded and extremely efficient.
Having not hit the target in La Liga's two earlier games, he's now the division's top scorer by two goals following this record-breaking 90 minutes that saw the No. 7 become Real's highest-ever marksman in league competition.
CF: Aritz Aduriz, ATH
11 of 11
The two main candidates for the centre-forward role other than Aritz Aduriz were Iago Aspas of Celta and Leo Messi of Barcelona—despite the latter only playing half an hour! Sergio Araujo of Las Palmas also deserves a mention for an excellent performance, tremendous work rate and a first Liga goal.
Aduriz it is, though, who takes the No. 9 shirt for our team this week, after he netted a brace against Getafe to seal a 3-1 victory for his side.
His usual brutish, physical self was far too much to handle for Alexis and Emiliano Velazquez, who were both bundled aside with ease by the Basque striker. He stretched to net the opener early on and then showed incredible power, pace and timing to hold off a defender and run into the box to get on the end of a cross for a late second, sealing the deserved win.
Aduriz remains vital to Athletic's game plan and season hopes, and there won't be too many defences that relish coming up against the dual-threat of him alongside Raul Garcia.
