La Liga Player Rankings: Atleti, Barcelona Dominate Top Spots but Busquets Drops
Jornada 15 in La Liga saw Atletico Madrid close the gap on Barcelona and join their title rivals at the top of the table, with Real Madrid now five points off the pace after their weekend defeat.
There were also wins for Sevilla and Villarreal, who both have players in our top 20, and as such, our rankings have undergone another alteration.
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 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
1 of 21
Borja Baston didn't have his best game for Eibar and drops out of our 20—he's our only change from last week.
On the verge
Koke, ATM
On the watchlist
Gerard Pique, FCB
Jefferson Lerma, LEV
Sergio Escudero, SEV
Saul Niguez, ATM
Penaranda, GRA
Roberto Soldado, VIL
20. Imanol Agirretxe, RSO
2 of 21
New entry
Real Sociedad striker Imanol Agirretxe has been consistent and predatory in front of goal this season. He was given the chance to lead the line again after a poor start to the campaign from Jonathas, and he has repaid the club superbly.
An equaliser on Friday night at Getafe gave La Real a 1-1 draw—meaning just one loss in four now—and he took his own tally for the season to 12 goals in La Liga.
The 28-year-old has been in great form of late, scoring seven in his last seven league outings.
19. Timothee Kolodziejczak, SEV
3 of 21
No change
Sevilla's defence had one of the quietest games they are likely to enjoy all season, with Timothee Kolodziejczak not having too much to do at home to Sporting Gijon.
Especially in the second half, Kolo was an onlooker as his team poured forward, before they eventually found the net twice for a 2-0 win.
Kolodziejcak won a few aerial battles and covered well against the counter, but it was a very pedestrian performance from him—out of necessity, not lack of effort.
18. Claudio Bravo, FCB
4 of 21
Down 3
Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo won't be blamed for the team's late collapse against Deportivo La Coruna, but neither did he have his best-ever performance.
The Chilean made a couple of good saves early on, but he was eventually beaten three times—one ruled out for offside—in the 2-2 draw. He didn't manage to read the shot from Lucas Perez that started the comeback, even when the forward opened his body to curl toward the far post.
Nothing hugely disappointing on Bravo's end compared to his defensive team-mates, but a drop nonetheless.
17. Victor Ruiz, VIL
5 of 21
Up 1
Victor Ruiz and Mateo Musacchio formed an impenetrable barrier for Villarreal at the weekend, leaving Real Madrid frustrated and beaten by the Yellow Submarine.
With Musacchio dominant in the air and Ruiz making countless interventions on Real's attackers on the ground—tackles and intercepting passes alike—the yellow wall in front of Alphonse Areola refused to give way. The clean sheet was justification for manager Marcelino's decision to shift Eric Bailly to right-back.
Those three central options are as good as anything La Liga can offer when all are fit and in form; Ruiz has been the mainstay this term and it's great to see him play this well against top-quality opposition.
16. Keylor Navas, RMA
6 of 21
Down 3
Keylor Navas was beaten by Roberto Soldado in Real Madrid's defeat and, although the shot came from close quarters, perhaps he'll feel he might have done better given the effort was almost straight at him.
In general, there wasn't too much for Navas to worry about thereafter—a long-range drive from Soldado in the second half was as much as he had to hold out—which makes it even more frustrating for the Costa Rican that he wasn't able to come up big for his side when called upon.
A drop in the rankings, and he's some distance off his top form from earlier in the season prior to his injury.
15. Andres Iniesta, FCB
7 of 21
Up 2
Andres Iniesta wasn't on the winning side in the end as Barcelona threw away a two-goal lead, but their scheming captain was impressive in midfield for most of the 2-2 draw.
Iniesta's footwork and passing range was on show for the first hour as Barca largely dominated, and he was heavily involved in his side's build-up.
Iniesta's ability to find space for a pass into a packed penalty area saw several chances created, and he worked hard off the ball too.
It was perhaps only after midfield partner Ivan Rakitic was subbed that Iniesta's influence faded and Barcelona dropped the points.
14. Mariano, SEV
8 of 21
Down 2
While Kolodziejczak might have had an easy time of things at the back, Sevilla right-back Mariano was asked to continuously maraud forward and provide support for the front line, which he did...but his end product was sorely lacking this time.
The Brazilian was given freedom to roam and overlap at pace, with room to cross a number of times—which inevitably and disappointingly hit the first man and was easily cleared.
He was important in terms of keeping the pressure up and giving an outlet for the team, but his delivery disappointed.
13. Lucas Perez, DEP
9 of 21
Up 3
Deportivo La Coruna forward Lucas Perez made our team of the week for La Liga after his all-action display against Barcelona, leading the counter-attack and coming up with the all-important end product to salvage a draw.
Lucas was a buzzing menace for the Barca defence to deal with, and he certainly got the better of Javier Mascherano a number of times, as well as Jeremy Mathieu after the substitute was introduced.
The No. 7 saw a goal ruled out for offside, then scored a legitimate effort to begin the comeback before teeing up the equaliser—a great all-round display.
12. Yannick Carrasco, ATM
10 of 21
Down 1
Yannick Carrasco's display for Atletico Madrid against Athletic Club lacked the spark and individualism seen in previous games, but he still managed to fashion a decent effort on goal which came close to hitting the back of the net.
Not really able to affect the flow of the game as much as he would have liked, he was subbed by Diego Simeone after less than an hour before his team went on to win 2-1.
His replacement, Angel Correa, chased down the loose ball to tee up the winner.
11. Juanfran, ATM
11 of 21
Up 3
Juanfran had a much better game for Atletico with his offensive play, linking up and overlapping down the flank when he was able to and playing neat passes toward the final third to continue the push for three points.
Defensively, of course, he was sound and reliable, shutting down Athletic's attempts to create via the wings.
That neither Athletic wide threat really had an impact on the game is testament to both Juanfran and Filipe Luis.
10. Luka Modric, RMA
12 of 21
Down 3
Real Madrid's highest-rated player Luka Modric barely remains in our top 10 after having a tough time of things at El Madrigal.
He was criminally caught in possession outside his own box which led to Villarreal's match-winner, and he could never quite get his own game going in terms of creating chances at the other end or moving the ball on quickly.
Modric was subbed first as Real tried to turn things around late in the game.
9. Aritz Aduriz, ATH
13 of 21
Down 1
Athletic Club striker Aritz Aduriz was, as usual, the big threat in attack for his team, and he twice went close with reasonable efforts against Atletico Madrid. Against one of the best defences in world football, though, he couldn't make his mark this time.
His efforts were well aimed, and he bought his team a number of free-kicks. For a striker who tends to be aerially dominant and powerful with his hold-up play, though, this was always a match he—or any other striker—might have struggled to impact on.
8. Augusto Fernandez, CEL
14 of 21
Up 2
Still going strong in the centre of the park for Celta Vigo this season, Augusto Fernandez put in a huge display for his team in their win over Espanyol.
The only goal in the game came just before half-time, but a few minutes after the break, Celta were down to 10 men after the dismissal of Pablo Hernandez.
Fernandez was one of those who really stepped up afterward to negate the effects of having a man less, with his energy and willingness to close down and challenge making a big difference in keeping his team on track for three points.
He had more touches of the ball and made more passes than anyone else on the pitch. He also pitched up with the best completion rate, 92 per cent, per Whoscored.com.
7. Sergio Busquets, FCB
15 of 21
Down 3
Another drop for Sergio Busquets, who played as poorly at the weekend as he has done all season long.
The controlling midfielder was sloppy in his passing work throughout the match. He didn't consistently misplace passes but did give the ball away utterly needlessly in poor situations—something totally unexpected from the No. 5.
He was at fault for one of the two late goals from Depor, and Barcelona needed much stronger work from the holding player in front of the defence to stem the ensuing comeback.
6. Jan Oblak, ATM
16 of 21
Up 3
No clean sheet for Jan Oblak this time, with the Slovenian conceding in La Liga for the first time in five matches, but there was nothing he could do about a close-range finish from Aymeric Laporte after a corner hadn't been cleared.
Oblak made three very important and impressive interventions, tipping over a long-range shot which was dipping under the bar, saving a low drive and then sprinting off his line to thwart the Athletic attack in a one-on-one situation with the scores still level.
It was certainly one of the busier games he has had to contend with of late, and he came through admirably with his team taking the points.
5. Nolito, CEL
17 of 21
Up 1
A good performance from Nolito, but Celta Vigo will be devastated that this will be his last display for them until the new year...and possibly ever.
Nolito's ability to cut infield, beat a man and deliver a pass or a shot inside the box was on full view against Espanyol, and he was one of the best players on the field. However, he was later subbed off with a hamstring injury and Fox Soccer report the club's website as stating he'll miss at least four weeks.
With the forward having been heavily linked to both Arsenal and Barcelona over the course of the season, it remains to be seen whether his injury puts off interested parties or simply means he has contributed to Celta for the final time.
4. Diego Godin, ATM
18 of 21
Up 1
Diego Godin continued his ascent up our charts with another domineering display for Atletico Madrid against Athletic.
It says a lot about his tenacity, desire and defensive ability that even against a striker with the aerial prowess of Aduriz, Godin won more battles in the air than his Basque rival managed.
Godin was quick to make clearances on the edge of his own box and didn't waste time looking for build-up play from the back most of the time, making sure he took care of clearing the danger first. Another big performance and another win.
3. Luis Suarez, FCB
19 of 21
Down 1
Luis Suarez played the full game against Deportivo but was left frustrated as chances came and went without him managing to find the target.
Suarez worked hard as usual and some of his link play was exceptional, but considering the goalscoring form he has been in, it was a surprise to see him waste a number of presentable scoring chances by not connecting properly.
A slight drop, but he's still on the podium places.
2. Antoine Griezmann, ATM
20 of 21
Up 1
Atleti moved joint top of La Liga thanks to Antoine Griezmann scoring another superb goal—a second-half winner in the 2-1 victory over Athletic which he smacked into the far corner of the net from 20 yards out.
The French forward had alternated between central areas and the right flank for much of the game, and it was movement in from the channel which saw him arrive unmarked to take advantage. It wasn't exactly a clear chance, but he simply made it one with an instinctive and unerring drive.
Griezmann wasn't actually as involved in the final third as he can be for Atleti, but his quality made the difference yet again. Eight goals for the season in La Liga now.
1. Neymar, FCB
21 of 21
No change
It says a lot for Neymar's recent form that even after not featuring in the most recent gameweek, he's still clear at the top of our charts.
An injury prevented him from taking part in Barcelona's draw with Deportivo La Coruna and, with his team now off to the Club World Cup, there's a chance he'll be off top spot when the rankings are next issued as only performances in La Liga count.
Neymar is still No. 1 for now, though.
