La Liga Player Rankings: Neymar Flies Up the Charts, Raphael Varane into Top 3
Jornada 10 being played over the weekend in La Liga means an updated player rankings for the top individuals in Spain, with more movement in the top 10 this week and a new leader, too.
The rankings are based on players' last six games, continually updated throughout the season, with slightly more emphasis placed on their most recent outing.
Only La Liga performances are counted and, typically, one-week wonders do not find their way in—instead, search our team of the week for the top performers over a single weekend.
We look beyond the statistical measures and into the performance, reviewing tape and gauging impact. It's not just goals, assists and heroic clearances that impress; it's about how a player contributes to the tactical plan at hand and what impact he has over the entire 90-minute period.
Mentions
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Two changes in our top 20 this week: Diego Reyes was left on the bench for Real Sociedad, missing a second successive game, so he drops out, while Borja Baston of Eibar also slips out after a single week. He was busy for his team, involved in good build-up work and struck the woodwork, but is overtaken on the cumulative ranking.
On the verge of the top 20:
Daniel Wass, CEL—Excellent again, our theoretical No. 21 at present.
Mario Gaspar, VIL—Would be in if not for two defensive team-mates.
On the watchlist:
Diego Godin, ATM
Borja Baston, EIB
Ruben Castro, BET
Michael Krohn-Dehli, SEV
Sergio Busquets, FCB
Marco Asensio, ESP
Vicente Iborra, SEV
Mikel San Jose, ATH
Bruno Soriano, VIL
Xabier Etxeita, ATH
Iñaki Williams, ATH
Alen Halilovic, SPO
Yannick Carrasco, ATM
20. Victor Ruiz, VIL
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New entry
Villarreal's defence is being held together in exemplary fashion by Victor Ruiz this season, and he takes his deserved place in the top 20 for the first time after a great recent run of form.
On loan last year, he signed permanently for the club in the summer and has quickly established himself as a mature and reliable leader of the back four, strong aerially and far more complete on the ground than he had previously shown, an indication perhaps of his confidence levels right now.
The 26-year-old was excellent in Villarreal's win over Sevilla this weekend and is a key player for the Yellow Submarine.
19. Tiago, ATM
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New entry
Having been on the verge of our 20 for a few weeks, Tiago makes the grade after a big showing against Deportivo La Coruna as he scored his first goal of the season for Atletico Madrid.
The Portuguese midfielder was creative, quick with his passing and leathered in a terrific strike to open the scoring in the first half. The 34-year-old then became a more withdrawn, hard working and tough-tackling central barrier in the second 45 minutes.
He has been a mainstay of Atleti's centre of the park and has been the most consistent midfielder in their regular quartet.
18. Aymeric Laporte, ATH
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No change
No movement for Aymeric Laporte this time out; the centre-back for Athletic Bilbao played well without ever really being overly threatened in the 3-1 win at Real Betis.
While defensive partner Xabier Etxeita was repeatedly called upon to make the big challenges and interventions, Laporte was on hand to mop up loose balls, bring play out of the defensive third and make a series of searching passes to put the Basque side back on the front foot.
A competent, comfortable game for the 21-year-old French defender.
17. Jaume Costa, VIL
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Up 2
A great display again from Jaume Costa this weekend sees the Villarreal man move up a couple of places and in our La Liga team of the week for good measure.
Up against Vitolo of Sevilla in a fantastic match at the weekend, Costa, 27, was vital in both halves of the pitch as his side took the spoils in a fixture which was an early battle for the top-four places.
Villarreal's No. 11 was strong in the tackle, quick to close down his man to prevent crosses and then was aggressive in attacking, linked play nicely and was always in support to lead counters.
16. Augusto Fernandez, CEL
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Down 4
A suspension meant central midfielder Augusto Fernandez played no part for Celta Vigo this weekend.
15. Luis Suarez, FCB
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Up 1
Luis Suarez was effective, if not excellent, for Barcelona against Getafe, leading the line with his usual relentless movement and link play, and scoring the opening goal in an eventual 2-0 win.
The Uruguayan forward, 28, wasn't at his scintillating best inside the penalty area, nor indeed outside it with quick combination play, but he still provided the biggest moments of danger with his ability to bring the ball under his control and get a shot away.
An eighth goal of the season owed as much to a great first touch as to his composure when one-on-one.
14. Iago Aspas, CEL
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Up 1
Iago Aspas halted his recent shambolic form of the past couple of games with a brilliant display against Real Sociedad, scoring twice as his Celta Vigo team ran out 3-2 winners.
An instinctive foot out to divert in the first goal and a fine header on the run for his second took Aspas to six for the campaign overall, both times drawing his side level after Imanol Agirretxe had twice put La Real in front.
The 28-year-old was clever with his link play, ran behind the defence to good effect and had another couple of close calls when he might have further added to his tally—a very good all-round performance.
His rise of only one place is due in equal parts to his poor form previously and the good displays from some of the players ranked above him.
13. Jose Maria Gimenez, ATM
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Down 3
Atletico Madrid centre-back Josema Gimenez has been one of his team's stand-outs this term, but he cost the side two points at the weekend.
Having been extremely up-and-down all game beforehand—mixing some good footwork and two fine instances of covering behind his defensive team-mates with a typically rash missed tackle and some poor passing—Gimenez gave away the ball for Depor's equaliser late in the second half.
Trying to shepherd the ball out, the 20-year-old lost out to Lucas Perez, who ran in on goal to make it 1-1, the final scoreline remaining the same. Gimenez returned to form in the Champions League on Tuesday, but that doesn't count in our rankings.
12. Marcelo, RMA
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Up 5
Marcelo's strong recent run of form means his cumulative performances over the last six game weeks give him a big boost up our rankings this time out—but it could all be at an end for now, after he went off injured in Real Madrid's Champions League fixture on Tuesday.
The left-back was a good performer again as Real easily dispatched Las Palmas 3-1 at the weekend, attacking with gusto and intent down the flank as his team picked apart the Canary Islanders' midfield and back line.
Marcelo, 27, claimed an assist with a great ball in to Cristiano Ronaldo to score from, but even aside from that he was fantastic in possession and strong defensively, too.
11. Aritz Aduriz, ATH
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Up 2
No goal this weekend for Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz, but that didn't lessen his importance to the team or impact on the victory at Real Betis in any way.
The burly striker claimed an assist for Raul Garcia's late strike, which sealed the 3-1 win over Betis, and was a total menace to Betis' back line with his power, hold-up play and ability to get shots away throughout the match.
Aduriz was again a great reference point for his side, and with Athletic getting bodies around him quickly, he still managed to set up team-mates for shooting chances several times.
10. Asier Illarramendi, RSO
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Down 1
There's little to say about Asier Illarramendi's performance for Real Sociedad against Celta Vigo, other than it was the first time in a while he has been completely swamped and unable to impact on the game.
Celta dominated much of the play, especially in the second half, and simply passed around or between La Real's midfielders to leave Illarra and Co. chasing space and shadows rather than the ball itself.
The defence was busy as a result of the lack of effective protection, and Illarra, 25, also picked up another yellow card—his fourth of the season. One more means a ban.
9. Rene Krhin, GRA
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Down 2
Granada's stand-out performer this season, Rene Krhin, was a little sidelined this time as he failed to get either his defensive work or passing game going to the best of his ability in the 1-1 draw with Espanyol.
The Slovenian didn't really dominate play in the way he is capable of, even when Espanyol went down to 10 men, wasting possession too many times by trying to force the issue instead of ensuring his team kept the ball and kept Espanyol's midfield chasing.
The 25-year-old will have better games, but he has been good enough recently to just about stick around in the top 10.
8. Luka Modric, RMA
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Down 2
If Illarra's non-impact on La Real's game was due to Celta outplaying their opposition, Luka Modric's non-impact on Real Madrid's win over Las Palmas was simply because the away side made it too easy.
The spaces in the middle would normally have been destroyed by the Croatian even if he was blindfolded and with his hands tied behind his back, but he didn't see as much of the ball on this occasion and was subbed at half-time to conserve him for future, more difficult and important tasks.
It's perhaps noticeable that Real's tempo and direction of play dropped considerably without the 30-year-old in the second 45.
7. Neymar, FCB
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Up 7
Our system of emphasis on recent matches in the rolling six-game streak means Neymar is one of the most in-form players around, with another big performance from the Barcelona forward propelling him straight into the top 10 this time out.
The Brazilian, 23, scored the second with a well-taken volley on the run as the Catalan side won 2-0 at Getafe, but his all-round game also impressed as he once more shouldered the responsibility to create space and link play in a dangerous fashion in the final third.
His ability to run at players, quickly exchange passes and draw defenders out of position has seen him rise to one of the league's most dangerous and consistent figures again in the past few games.
6. Antoine Griezmann, ATM
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Down 1
Antoine Griezmann worked hard but basically fed off scraps for Atletico Madrid against Deportivo La Coruna, in terms of chances on goal at least, as almost every major scoring opportunity fell to team-mate Jackson Martinez or one of the midfielders.
The one moment of danger which did arrive at the Frenchman's feet was a Diego Godin header that bounced back off the post—but the 24-year-old could only stab straight at the goalkeeper, missing the chance to score.
After a rather inconsistent time of late, Griezmann's top-10 fate rests on his next league game—he'll drop significantly on the rolling six-game score if he doesn't perform against Sporting Gijon.
5. Keylor Navas, RMA
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Down 3
No such worries of form for Keylor Navas, who has been excellent throughout the season.
He's down in the rankings as he missed the weekend game through injury, with Kiko Casilla making his debut instead.
Navas, 28, was back in goal for the Champions League and broke the record for longest time without conceding after his debut in the competition, per Marca.
4. Juanfran, ATM
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Down 1
Juanfran drops a spot after a fairly routine performance; nothing exceptional and nothing overly poor in his display for Atletico against Depor.
While he wasn't "bad" to consider this a drop, competition for spots at the top of our charts is fierce and ever-changing, so a merely average display sees the 30-year-old overtaken by another defender from La Liga.
Juanfran supported the attack well at times and tracked back to make tackles when required, but he played a low-key support role in this particular match.
3. Raphael Varane, RMA
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Up 5
Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane continues to show excellent consistency and durability, remaining in place as his fellow defenders rotate according to their own injury problems.
The French defender, 22, was in great form against Las Palmas in the first half, stepping out to make some crashing challenges early on and being the composed presence at the back to sweep up behind his team-mates when required.
An absolute stroll in the second half perhaps prevents him gaining even more ground on the top two as both sides stopped playing in effect, but Varane nonetheless rises significantly in our rankings.
2. Nolito, CEL
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Down 1
It was a slightly frustrating evening's work on a personal level for Nolito, whose Celta Vigo team won 3-2 against Real Sociedad thanks to a late wonder goal—but the striker couldn't quite work his own magic on this occasion.
The 29-year-old was blocked off from his typical cut-infield-and-curl attempts to find the net several times, while his delivery from the channel wasn't quite as on-point as usual either.
The second half saw Nolito gain possession with growing frequency, but the end product was missing for once.
He was still good in his work rate, his first touch and even in beating his man, but a slightly disappointing final decision too often means he's off top spot this week.
1. Sergi Roberto, FCB
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Up 3
The man in form and the man in the heart of Barcelona's midfield, Sergi Roberto rises to top our charts after Jornada 10 in La Liga.
Playing as the most offensive and creative of the trio in the middle at Getafe, the 23-year-old claimed assists on both goals in the 2-0 win with an outrageous back-heel for Suarez and a surging run and crossfield pass for Neymar.
Right from kick-off the No. 20 was inventive, pushing forward at every chance and showing he was back to full fitness after missing just one league game.
At right-back or central midfield, he has been superb this term and the only question is in which position Luis Enrique uses him next time out, with Andres Iniesta back to fitness—but he has to be on the pitch somewhere.
