La Liga Team of the Week: Unstoppable Neymar, Koke Back in Form, Aduriz Hits 3
La Liga's most recent weekend of action saw some big results at both ends of the table go largely according to form, with the top five teams all winning and none of the bottom seven managing to do so. In looking at each match and assessing the standout performers, we've selected our Liga XI for Jornada 13.
Our team of the week takes those individual displays from Spain's top flight and combines the best player from each position into a viable formation, with our selection process seeing us analyse every game to pick out a star XI from the weekend's fixtures. This week, we go for an offensive-minded 4-4-2.
Only the best players in each position from the action are included here, leading—as always—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.
GK: German Lux, DEP
1 of 11
Deportivo La Coruna continued their good start to the season with a 2-0 win over Las Palmas, moving them up to fifth in the table.
German Lux was the man between the sticks again. He kept a second consecutive clean sheet, thwarting the Las Palmas attack with a number of saves and claims of high balls into the box.
Depor have one of the best defences in La Liga this term, conceding just 13 in their 13 games so far, and Lux has been one of the key reasons for their improvement.
RB: Dani Alves, FCB
2 of 11
Dani Alves returned to top form with a fine performance from right-back for Barcelona, raiding the flank and providing a string of deliveries for the front line to attack against Real Sociedad on Saturday.
The Brazilian has been inconsistent so far this term, but his pace, direct running and ability to pick a cross were on full view against La Real, and he ended the game with two assists, setting up Neymar and Luis Suarez for the opening goals of the game.
Alves defended well when called upon, but it was certainly his offensive talents that were more often required against La Real.
CB: Xabier Etxeita, ATH
3 of 11
Athletic Bilbao ran out 3-0 winners over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, with both ends of the pitch proving important for the victory.
Xabier Etxeita was the rock at the back who repelled the home team on a number of occasions to ensure the clean sheet remained intact for the Basque side, dominating the edge of his own penalty box with a series of timely interventions and clearances.
When Athletic went down to 10 men, Etxeita's partner Aymeric Laporte sent off, it was Etxeita who stepped up and ensured the man advantage for Rayo didn't come to anything in terms of clear chances on goal.
CB: Alejandro Arribas, DEP
4 of 11
Depor stopper Lux was named as our 'keeper after a busy weekend in which he impressed, but it could have been even more difficult for him had it not been for the dual protection in front of him from his centre-backs, Alejandro Arribas and Sidnei.
We'll opt for the Spaniard in our team as he was particularly dominant aerially, standing up well to the constant set pieces thrown into the area by Las Palmas as they looked for an equaliser.
Both defenders were notable, but Arribas seemed to attract and subsequently repel everything that got anywhere near Depor's penalty area.
LB: Sergio Escudero, SEV
5 of 11
New Sevilla left-back Sergio Escudero has had to wait quite some time for his Liga debut for the club—but certainly made it count when it finally arrived.
Escudero came in to face Valencia in the key fixture on Sunday and had a tremendous impact, showing his best form from last season at Getafe with several raiding runs down the flank, some excellent defensive work and, surprisingly enough, the all-important winning goal.
Up against Benoit Tremoulinas for a regular berth, he doesn't exactly have it easy to get more game time, but this was the best way he could have made his case.
CM: Andres Iniesta, FCB
6 of 11
The middle of our midfield this week is an all-Spanish affair, starting with Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta.
Putting in a creative and exciting performance almost comes as standard for him, but the work rate, quick feet and incisive eye for a pass he shows when on top of his game still puts most others to shame. The skipper was instrumental in Barcelona's dominance of Real Sociedad and made several impressive contributions during the team's strongest phase of the match.
Iniesta struck the woodwork and was afforded a reasonably rare entire 90 minutes on the pitch as Luis Enrique subbed defenders instead of midfielders for once.
CM: Koke, ATM
7 of 11
Making up the second part of the centre of our team is Atletico Madrid's Koke, who has struggled for top form in the past month or two but has been instrumental in Atleti's recent run of results.
Koke was excellent against Espanyol on Saturday, making lots of early running from the right side and later moving infield to form part of a three-man midfield when Diego Simeone changed his team structure just after the break.
Both offensively and defensively, Koke showed all his best attributes, his passing and positional work allied to good delivery from the channels and excellent timing in winning back the ball for his team. Keeping him on track with this form will be key to the team's hopes of success this term, especially now with Tiago injured.
W: Lionel Messi, FCB
8 of 11
Back in the team and back in the groove. Lionel Messi has been out for some time with injury but already looks as if he has been in play for several weeks, with his sharpness and touch of the ball far too much for Real Sociedad to handle on Saturday.
Messi wasn't hugely creative on this occasion, even if he opened up the defence with his pace and dribbles a number of times, but he was a constant outlet for the team in possession and created a number of shooting chances for himself.
The No. 10 went close from a free-kick, hit the woodwork with a curling shot and finally got his name on the scoresheet in the last minute.
W: Neymar, FCB
9 of 11
Ballon d'Or finalist and arguably the most in-form player on the planet right now, Neymar put in another scintillating performance on Saturday and was heavily involved as Barcelona ran out 4-0 winners over Real Sociedad.
On this occasion, Neymar was once more provider and finisher, scoring twice and setting up the final goal scored by Messi. But he was also the most exciting and influential player on the park in general open play, torturing the back line of La Real with his close control, dribbling and ability to pick spaces apart in the defence with his incisive through balls.
He remains top scorer in La Liga and now has the joint-most assists too.
CF: Aritz Aduriz, ATH
10 of 11
Aritz Aduriz notched a perfect hat-trick and put in an all-round dominant performance for Athletic Bilbao as they beat Rayo 3-0.
It took the striker less than a minute to hit his first of the game, rounding the 'keeper who had come a long way for a through ball and finishing left-footed from a narrow angle to get Athletic off to a great start.
Further strikes followed with his right foot and head, taking Aduriz to 20 for the season in all competitions in just 23 games.
CF: Luis Suarez, FCB
11 of 11
Our final pick sees free-scoring forward Luis Suarez make the list again, completing the MSN trio, after a hugely impressive all-round performance in Barcelona's 4-0 rout of Real Sociedad.
Suarez notched the second goal of the game with a spectacular mid-air volley, and his all-round performance was full of attacking threat and menace allied to tremendous hard work and off the ball movement.
The Uruguayan has been in scintillating form for some time, and he remains second in the Pichichi scoring chart for Spain's top flight.
