La Liga Player Rankings: Barcelona Stars Dominate, Yannick Carrasco into Top 20
Jornada 12 in La Liga was a memorable one—not necessarily in a good way for all fans, though.
Barcelona dominated El Clasico, Deportivo La Coruna won the Galician derby and Malaga sank to the bottom of the table after failing to score yet again.
It all means a re-shaped and updated player rankings list, which, unsurprisingly, features a number of in-form Barcelona players near the top. We've also got three new faces this week, two of whom play for the second-placed team in Spain's top flight.
The rankings are based on players' last six games and are 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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Ruben Castro of Real Betis is out after a tough, unproductive weekend game against Atletico Madrid. Atleti centre-back Josema Gimenez didn't feature in that match either, so he's out too after a three-week plummet down the charts. Marcelo's poor performance for Real Madrid, allied to the injury he suffered, means he's the third man out.
On the verge of the 20
Claudio Bravo, FCB—The Chile international has rediscovered top form over the last three weeks and almost made it, but for another goalkeeper's huge consistency this season.
Borja Baston, EIB—A real problem for Villarreal to deal with this week. Same again, and he'll be in next time.
On the watch list
Mikel San Jose, ATH
Marco Asensio, ESP
Bruno Soriano, VIL
Yevhen Konoplyanka, SEV
Alphonse Areola, VIL
Gerard Pique, FCB
Mariano, SEV
20. Jan Oblak, ATM
2 of 21
New entry
The goalkeeper with the best goals-conceded rate this season in La Liga, Jan Oblak has shown impressive consistency and concentration over the past few weeks. He has not always had too much to do, but he comes up with a big response when called upon.
That was the case again this weekend as he was mostly under-employed as Atletico Madrid dominated against Real Betis. But he then had to spring into action and make two top-class saves, sprawling to his left to tip away fierce drives away that could have robbed his team of two points.
For goalkeepers, it's not always about being constantly spectacular, it's about doing the right job at the right time. Oblak has five clean sheets in the last seven matches in all competitions (three in five in La Liga), and he has conceded just six in 12 league games.
19. Inaki Williams, ATH
3 of 21
Down 3
Inaki Williams jumped into the rankings last time out after a series of spectacular performances upon his return from injury, but he couldn't inspire Athletic Club this week as they suffered a 2-0 loss at Granada.
The winger made the odd surge forward and looked a danger when trying to race in behind the defence, but essentially, he lacked the incisiveness which has seen him make an impact recently. His team-mates were also lethargic at times and didn't give support to the front line, which didn't help matters.
Williams has already shown how good he is; consistency is the next step to take.
18. Augusto Fernandez, CEL
4 of 21
Down 1
Another drop for Augusto Fernandez after suffering with form a little of late. Without a big performance next time out, it's probable that the Celta Vigo midfielder will disappear altogether from our top 20—a little like his team has disappeared from the top four in La Liga.
The holding midfielder was combative and aggressive against Depor, and he was certainly the more controlling out of his team in trying to deal with the surges forward from the opposition. Ultimately, though, it wasn't enough in quality or physicality.
Depor won 2-0 and Celta have only once won in four.
17. Tiago, ATM
5 of 21
Up 2
Tiago rises thanks to his consistency of performances rather than anything dramatically different in his game—that's the benefit of our rolling six-game focus, which rewards those who maintain their good levels of play.
The Portuguese midfielder was a controlling presence for Atleti in midfield against Betis, getting his team on the front foot quickly after winning the ball. He also dropped deeper than Gabi and Koke in the three-man midfield, finding time in possession and protecting the defence at the same time.
He has been a steady presence in the team as Atleti climbed to second this week.
16. Mario Gaspar, VIL
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New entry
Our second new face of the week, Villarreal right-back Mario has been on the verge of the 20 for some time and put in another good performance this weekend to ensure he took advantage of those dropping out.
Mario was quick in the challenge and covered well behind his team-mates in defence when needed as Villarreal drew 1-1 with Eibar, but he also supported the attack well and helped his side pose a constant threat in the final third.
The defender would no doubt be the first to admit that breaking into our top-20 player rankings is an achievement to rank alongside his recent debut for the Spain national team.
15. Victor Ruiz, VIL
7 of 21
Down 2
Victor Ruiz has been the most solid and consistent part of the impressive Villarreal back line this season, but even he was off his game this week as the Yellow Submarine made too many errors against Eibar.
The centre-back lost the ball on the edge of his own area in one near-miss, and he couldn't track the runner from deep when facing the counter-attack that led to the opening goal of the game.
He was still dominant for much of the game—both aerially and on the ground—but those few mistakes were costly and almost meant his side lost at home, until Jaume Costa's late equaliser.
14. Yannick Carrasco, ATM
8 of 21
New entry
Atletico Madrid's new star name is Yannick Carrasco, with the Belgian winger taking his time to work his way into the starting lineup this season—but now looking an undroppable part of the XI.
The first 60 minutes of his display against Betis at the weekend was an example of why: pace on the counter and hard work in midfield. He also demonstrated a great ability to take players on and find a pass or shot at the end of the run in the final third.
He's a game-changer and a player who can break the lines of the opposition in different ways, something Atleti rely on from just a couple of players. Carrasco is deservedly into the 20 after a recent good run of form, and he now needs to push on and find even more end product inside the penalty box.
13. Diego Godin, ATM
9 of 21
Up 5
For the first time this season, Atletico centre-back Diego Godin is ranked above his younger team-mate Josema Gimenez, who has dropped out of our 20 entirely.
After one or two erratic displays early on, the Uruguayan has quickly returned to unbeatable mode and put in a typically ferocious performance at Betis at the weekend. The 29-year-old impacted in both boxes with his ability to trouble at set pieces in attack and repel danger in defence.
Godin also suffered two nasty head collisions, but he recovered from both to continue playing.
12. Rene Krhin, GRA
10 of 21
Down 2
The Granada midfielder missed their weekend win over Athletic with a twisted ankle.
11. Aritz Aduriz, ATH
11 of 21
No change
Aritz Aduriz put in a generally good performance for Athletic Club, but he doesn't move up the charts on account of not quite making his chances count as his team lost 2-0 to Granada.
He struck the woodwork and had another opportunity or two to score for his side, despite something of a lack of service throughout the game. His movement off the ball and hold-up play was as assured as ever.
That said, he was frustrated and made a few silly challenges too, and he did miss his team's best scoring chance.
10. Keylor Navas, RMA
12 of 21
Down 2
Keylor Navas had been La Liga's best goalkeeper until three or four weeks ago, but having missed two games through injury and then putting in a reasonably disappointing performance in El Clasico, he's on a downward trend. Only his earlier good form keeps him just about in our top 10.
The Costa Rican goalkeeper was certainly culpable for Neymar's goal in the 4-0 defeat to Barcelona, and the Real Madrid man perhaps could have done better on the last goal too, going to ground far too easily in the face of Luis Suarez's brace.
Navas needs a much better performance next time out or it will be a huge drop due to the rolling score. Quite possibly, he could be out of the entire top 20 depending on other players' displays.
9. Luka Modric, RMA
13 of 21
Down 2
Luka Modric is perhaps one of the very few Real Madrid players who deserves some sympathy after the drubbing by Barcelona.
The Croatian clearly had the work rate and technical ability to match Barca's centre of the park and made more noteworthy interventions in the middle than anyone else in white to stop the Camp Nou side playing. But he was still swamped by the opposition.
Real's midfield was a total shambles, they lacked support from the front men and had too much ground to cover against opponents who outnumbered them. Even Modric, in good form previously, could do nothing to prevent annihilation.
A drop, but Real should focus on rebuilding their midfield around him.
8. Juanfran, ATM
14 of 21
Down 2
Juanfran missed the Betis-Atleti game with injury, but he has now returned to training. He'll be back for next weekend, after Jesus Gamez didn't really take his chance to perform.
7. Raphael Varane, RMA
15 of 21
Down 3
Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane joins Navas and Modric in dropping down the charts.
In truth, he was overexposed, left without protection and not exactly helped by Sergio Ramos' tendency to abandon the centre in favour of aggressively challenging elsewhere. But the French defender should still take his share of the blame.
He couldn't cope with one-on-one situations, lost out aerially and was pulled out of position with some frequency by the interlinking play of Barcelona's front three.
All in all, a bit of a shambles for Real—if that wasn't already perfectly clear.
6. Antoine Griezmann, ATM
16 of 21
Down 1
French forward Antoine Griezmann had a mixed, but overall negative, game against Real Betis.
The Atletico striker started from the right wing and later went central in attack, and certainly got himself into some excellent positions to cause danger and take shots at goal. He was incredibly wasteful, though, missing clear opportunities to score and taking the wrong choice when team-mates were on hand.
A one-on-one where he blazed over with two players square for a tap-in was a typical example, but Atleti still won 1-0 and he'll finish those chances with ease on another day.
5. Sergio Busquets, FCB
17 of 21
Up 9
Barcelona holding midfielder Sergio Busquets was given the freedom of the Santiago Bernabeu to roam around, set the platform for attacks and play passes from deep. As anyone who has watched him play will tell you, that's not the best tactic to contain the table-toppers.
Busquets was defensively sound and made some quick interventions in midfield to thwart any hopes of a Real Madrid comeback, but it was mainly his on-the-ball work which saw him shine on this occasion.
His own display (and form over the last four Liga games)—coupled with the dips from others—leads to this week's biggest surge up the rankings.
4. Nolito, CEL
18 of 21
Down 1
Nolito put in a better performance this time out, but he was still unable to provide his team with the breakthrough they required as Celta lost 2-0 to Depor.
It meant a third consecutive game for the Spanish international without a goal to his name—his most barren run in league play since early April.
The forward did show a few moments of magic and created what were probably the best chances for Celta, but he couldn't prove decisive. The team's recent dip in form sees them drop down to fifth in La Liga.
3. Sergi Roberto, FCB
19 of 21
Down 1
Making up a 1-2-3 full podium of Barcelona players this week, we start with Sergi Roberto.
The midfielder-turned-full-back actually played from the right of attack against Real Madrid—and to great effect.
He was able to drift inside and affect play between the lines, provided great athleticism to cover ground quickly in possession and showed his usual vision and execution in the pass to slice open the opposition defence, starting with a fine assist for the opening goal.
The only reason Sergi Roberto drops a place this week is on account of our rolling six-week accumulation of performances. He missed out on a game four fixtures back that reduces his overall score, but his form in the rest of the matches has been outstanding.
2. Luis Suarez, FCB
20 of 21
Up 7
To take Sergi Roberto's spot at No. 2 there has to have been an outstanding run of form somewhere throughout those six games—and that's exactly what Luis Suarez has provided.
A brace in El Clasico took Suarez to eight goals in his last five Liga appearances, 11 for the season overall and the second-highest scorer in Spain's top flight.
He has been unstoppable with his running, clever link play and his clinical finishing in front of goal, all of which were on full view against Real Madrid.
The Uruguayan shows no signs of slowing down, and with Lionel Messi now back to fitness, Barcelona's attack will only become more dangerous and penetrative.
1. Neymar, FCB
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No change
Neymar remains our No. 1 pick for La Liga, showing devastating form once again in El Clasico.
The Brazilian created and finished—picking up an assist and a goal yet again—and he was perhaps the stand-out performer in a game which owed everything to the team-wide seamless integration and understanding which Real Madrid couldn't hope to match with their individualism.
Neymar has been in ridiculous form for the best part of two months, and his entire six-game run in our rankings has been of the highest order—he's way clear out in front right now.
