La Liga Team of the Week: Gareth Bale Hits 4, Heads Quartet of Real Madrid Stars
With no Barcelona in La Liga action this past weekend, it was tempting to name our Team of the Week as, quite simply, the Real Madrid starting XI—who beat Rayo Vallecano 10-2 to close the gap at the top. That might have been a little kind to Pepe, though, so we've mixed things up a bit.
For our team of the week, we take the best individual displays from Spain's top flight and combine the most impressive 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, it's a 4-4-1-1, with only the best players in each position 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: Pau Lopez, ESP
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In goal, there were a number of candidates this week, but we've opted for Pau Lopez who put in another confident and consistent display to keep a clean sheet.
The young stopper, just 21 years of age, kept out Las Palmas' attempts to rescue a point in Espanyol's eventual 1-0 win, making a few routine saves and claiming high balls as would be expected of him—but also two extremely brave interventions, one at either end of the game, to keep Las Palmas at bay.
The first was a very good block low down when one-on-one with a forward who was clearly favourite to reach the ball earlier, and late in the match Pau preserved the lead with an equally brave punch clear as Sergio Araujo looked to head into the net.
RB: Danilo, RMA
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This is sort of game Real Madrid spent big on Danilo for.
The first of a quartet of Real stars from the weekend in our team, the Brazilian right-back was a marauding menace from the first whistle, bombing forward into space to create overloads and overlaps, getting beyond the midfield line to provide early deliveries and still having the physical power to get back into shape defensively when needed.
Danilo scored one and created another in a stunning first half, while he was one of those to make good use of space after Rayo Vallecano went down to nine men.
CB: Alejandro Arribas, DEP
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Another very good performance from Alejandro Arribas for Deportivo La Coruna, who remain in sixth place and with only two defeats all season.
The centre-back was imperious against Eibar in his team's 2-0 win, marshalling the back line with what seemed an endless and huge volume of clearances from balls played in toward the Depor penalty box. His consistency in dealing with danger was impressive, but he also came up with a goal at the other end to help his team toward victory.
Arribas has been one of the more consistent defenders in La Liga this season, and Depor's impressive solidity at the back is due in large part to his reading of the game and aggression in defence.
CB: Diego Godin, ATM
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It's not often that one of our selections would be the match-winner...for the opposing team.
That's the case with Diego Godin, however, who put in a thunderous display for a below-par Atletico Madrid in their 1-0 loss at Malaga—but then was unfortunate enough to see a horribly wayward shot from Charles, in the 86th minute, rebound off his foot as Godin attempted to block...and fly inside the near post for an own goal.
Before that, the Uruguayan was imperious as ever and very forceful with his defensive work as he attempted to stem the dominance of Malaga's midfield, cutting out through passes and clearing lofted balls toward the box.
A 0-0 probably would have been about right for the game, and Charles' shot was probably going for a throw-in, but on this occasion Godin's determination to get in the way ended on a sour note and Atleti missed the chance to go top.
LB: Jaume Costa, VIL
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Villarreal were impressive and excellent in their 2-0 win over Real Sociedad at Anoeta, with left-back Jaume Costa doing the business for his team in both halves of the pitch.
Costa was much more assured and well-timed in the tackle than he has been in other matches this season, keeping Carlos Vela quiet in La Real's attacking line, while the Villarreal No. 11 also managed to break forward to good effect on counter-attacks.
With this sort of form, he's one of Spain's better left-back options, and if he can find consistency rather than the impetuousness that has been seen in his defensive work at times this season, there's no reason why he can't join team-mate Mario in the Spanish national team at some point in the future.
RM: Gareth Bale, RMA
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A four-goal haul for Gareth Bale against Rayo Vallecano doubled his Liga goal tally for the season, while he also got things rolling in the match with an early assist for Danilo.
It was a fine all-round display from the Welshman who used his pace and power in running off the ball to great effect, surging through the spaces centrally or cutting in off the wing to try and deliver into the box, and the four goals were as much a product of his own determination as of the gaps in the Rayo back line following the two dismissals.
Bale wasn't selfish despite the ample shooting opportunities he saw and could feasibly have added more had he not been subbed off.
CM: Ignacio Camacho, MGA
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Having barely featured all season as a result of ongoing injuries, Ignacio Camacho's return to the Malaga lineup against former club Atletico Madrid was as important as it was impressive.
The holding midfielder was dominant, aggressive and assured throughout, winning the ball back more regularly and with a clearer idea of what to do once in possession than Atleti's midfield, which in itself is a fine achievement.
Keep fit and he'll be a core member of the team as well as attracting interest from elsewhere—and there's possibly still a spot in the Spain Euro 2016 squad to be won, too.
CM: James Rodriguez, RMA
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Appreciation of Real Madrid's scoreline against Rayo has to be tempered by acknowledging that Rayo were down to nine men—but still, teams have failed to maximise a numerical advantage plenty of times beforehand.
James Rodriguez was one of those who ensured that this time there would be no mistake, with his quick movement of the ball and his ability to use the increased space making him an unstoppable part of the midfield line for Real.
The Colombian ended with three assists as he continued to lay on chance after chance and was another who, had he not been subbed, could have caused even more damage.
LM: Denis Suarez, VIL
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Villarreal's 2-0 win over Real Sociedad came courtesy of a double strike from Denis Suarez, the left-sided midfielder for the Yellow Submarine.
Aside from his goals, the creative attacker put in a good all-round display, cutting infield to make use of space behind La Real's back line and looking to link with the two strikers whenever possible, while also working typically hard when out of possession.
His first goal, a solo effort that saw him evade two defenders and finish inside the near post, was impressive, while the second was opportunistic and showed good pace in the late stages of the game as he ran from the halfway line, skipped past goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, who was miles out of his box, and kept his cool to finish past a defender.
AM: Fabian Orellana, CEL
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Just edging out Cedric Bakambu of Villarreal for the second attacking spot is Celta Vigo's Fabian Orellana.
The Chilean was moved centrally to compensate for Pablo Hernandez and Nolito's absences and came up with a big performance to help beat Granada 2-0.
Orellana continually ran forward to make up an extra body in attack, beyond striker Iago Aspas at times, and was rewarded with a handful of chances on goal—one of which he took well to give his team the lead in the first half.
Orellana's pace and dribbling ensured Celta remained the better of the two teams in attack, and he was equally as important off the ball, tracking back to make challenges and making up an impenetrable midfield line.
CF: Karim Benzema, RMA
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Karim Benzema is our chosen striker, rattling in a hat-trick for Real Madrid in the second half including goal No. 10 for the team.
The French forward was heavily involved in the buildup play as ever, and his quick touches and small movements inside the penalty box were key to the repetition of Real Madrid's shots on goal, with Benzema able to find space even as more bodies appeared in the final third with everyone wanting a piece of the goalmouth action.
His finishing improved after he finally netted his first strike, and he now has 11 La Liga goals for the season—and eight goals in his last four games in all competitions.
