La Liga Player Rankings: Luka Modric Moves Up as Real Madrid Team-Mates Fall
Jornada 25 in La Liga was a pivotal one at both ends, as Barcelona stretched their lead at the top of the table and Granada remained bottom with another defeat, sacking manager Jose Sandoval as a consequence.
As usual, we have analysed each game to update our player rankings; 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, see 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 to gauge 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
Out goes Roberto Soldado from our 20, who was unable to be effective for Villarreal against Atletico Madrid, while Real Madrid's Toni Kroos also drops out after a dreadful performance against Malaga. The third and final player to exit our top 20 this week is Atletico's Antoine Griezmann, who has been out of form recently.
On the watchlist
Jozabed, RAY
Borja Baston, EIB
Pedro Mosquera, DEP
Gerard Pique, FCB
Javier Mascherano, FCB
Dani Carvajal, RMA
Charly Musonda, BET
Raul Albentosa, MGA
Asier Illarramendi, RSO
Jonathas, RSO
20. Charles, MGA
2 of 21
New entry
An excellent performer in Malaga's 1-1 draw with Real Madrid, Charles will be wishing that just one of the chances that fell to his team-mates came his way. Instead, the forward was chasing down, carrying the ball, putting defenders under pressure and linking play outside the box.
As the likes of Duje Cop and Juanpi spurned huge chances to score, Charles couldn't quite find himself in the right position for a clear opportunity of his own, though he went very close with an instinctive header from range that Keylor Navas had to tip over the bar.
A fine all-round display and a deserved return to our top 20.
19. Sergio Busquets, FCB
3 of 21
Down 2
Sergio Busquets didn't play in Barcelona's 2-1 win over Las Palmas.
18. Andres Iniesta, FCB
4 of 21
Up 2
Andres Iniesta did play and started the match in good form, but his two-place jump is more the result of others falling out of the 20 than because he was at the top of his own game.
Barcelona's skipper worked hard off the ball, tackling with intent in both halves of the pitch, and was certainly heavily involved when his team dominated small stretches of the game, but that's exactly what it was: small stretches this time, with Las Palmas playing extremely well themselves.
Some clever footwork down the left channel saw Iniesta produce one or two moments of magic, but this was a far more functional than fantastic display.
17. Iago Aspas, CEL
5 of 21
New entry
Iago Aspas has been in great form for a while, but he has had to bide his time for a re-entry into the top 20 with plenty of other consistent performers ahead of him.
This time, though, he shone on a weekend when the best attackers in general seemed to have an off-week, being key for Celta Vigo in their 3-2 win over Eibar—Aspas played from the right of the front three and showed all his clever movement, first-time passes and selflessness that have made him so important and successful this term.
Aspas could have scored himself when he claimed an assist for another John Guidetti strike, passing instead to ensure the goal. His overall display was hard working, and he provided a good outlet for the team.
16. Alphonse Areola, VIL
6 of 21
New entry
The goalkeeper with the second-best record in La Liga this season, Alphonse Areola kept another clean sheet this weekend as Villarreal drew 0-0 at Atletico Madrid.
On loan from Paris Saint-Germain, the growth and maturity in Areola's game now compared to at the start of the season is enormous; plainly a result of continued game time and self-confidence, Areola is no longer concerned with flashy looking saves but instead commands his box well, handles the ball with assurance and comes off his line extremely quickly.
One of La Liga's top stoppers overall this season.
15. Cristiano Ronaldo, RMA
7 of 21
Down 1
One of the quietest players on the pitch, Cristiano Ronaldo was almost entirely shut down by Malaga as he failed to impact in his usual manner for Real Madrid.
For many players, "failed to impact" would mean "did nothing at all"—for Ronaldo it means he still scored one, won a penalty and was involved in a couple of flashpoints with defenders, but in truth, he was largely poor for the 90 minutes.
The headed goal he scored was in a blatantly offside position, he saw his penalty saved and he was reduced to appealing for free-kicks that he was never going to get.
14. Koke, ATM
8 of 21
Up 1
Sometimes we see players play reasonably well but still move down the charts as others around them play even better and surge up. For Koke it's the opposite this week: he gave a very standard performance, but he moves up on account of others being disappointing and falling down the charts.
Koke started from the flank in Atleti's draw with Villarreal before moving central later on in an attempt to spark some creativity for his side, but aside from a few moments of good link play on the edge of the box, there was little to shout about.
Hard working, eager to take possession and quick to track back, yes, but in truth, Koke contributed little to Atleti's chances of winning...and probably staying in the title fight.
13. Karim Benzema, RMA
9 of 21
Down 2
Karim Benzema missed Real's 1-1 draw with Malaga, and his absence was keenly felt.
12. Jose Gimenez, ATM
10 of 21
No change
Jose Gimenez was another who missed the weekend action, not figuring for Atleti in the draw with Villarreal.
11. Lucas Perez, DEP
11 of 21
Down 1
Lucas Perez missed Deportivo La Coruna's defeat at Espanyol.
10. Ignacio Camacho, MGA
12 of 21
Up 8
Arguably the best player on the pitch and one of La Liga's top performers anywhere this weekend, Nacho Camacho dominated the centre of midfield for Malaga against Real Madrid and completely bossed his opposite number, Toni Kroos, leading to Kroos' drop from our 20.
Camacho tackled and challenged for the ball very high upfield, clearly a ploy of Javi Gracia's, and supported the resulting counter-attacks down the right channel whenever he was able to.
The Spanish midfielder found himself in the box on a number of occasions, getting one reflex shot away on target that was saved, but his best work came in continually destroying play in the middle third and driving on to put Malaga on the front foot.
An unprecedented surge of eight places is due in part, of course, to several of those below him not playing this weekend, thereby not scoring a rating in our rolling six-game accumulation process.
9. Lionel Messi, FCB
13 of 21
No change
Lionel Messi put in a half-display in truth against Las Palmas, seeing plenty of the ball early on and being very effective when he received possession, but for long stretches, the Canary Islanders managed to deny the No. 10 much of the ball at all.
A few dribbles aside, Messi didn't really have much opportunity to run freely across the back line or get clear shots away, though he was involved with the second goal as his saved effort was eventually put in.
Messi was perhaps saving himself for bigger games, but Las Palmas did well to shut him down.
8. Mateo Musacchio, VIL
14 of 21
Down 2
Mateo Musacchio was another absentee from the Atletico-Villarreal game.
7. Victor Ruiz, VIL
15 of 21
Up 1
With Musacchio out, Victor Ruiz was partnered by Daniele Bonera, making a rare start, and had Eric Bailly (usually a centre-back) on his other side as a left-back.
It's testament to both Ruiz's ability to organise and hold together his own game, as well as to manager Marcelino and his game plan, that not one of the three looked out of place or unable to play as a defensive unit, with Ruiz completely dominant against Fernando Torres and able to cover in behind his team-mates on the few occasions they were bested.
On the ground or aerially, Ruiz was in the right position to clear and won the physical battle when required.
6. Saul Niguez, ATM
16 of 21
Down 1
Saul made a good start to the game for Atleti and had an interesting tactical alteration in his role, but ultimately, he failed to really provide anything of note for his team and was subbed late on as Atletico went for the win.
Moved from his regular central-midfield role, Saul played almost as Atleti's second striker, charging from deep very quickly as soon as play was spread wide, supporting Torres and hoping to get knock-downs from his forward. Once or twice they linked but were unable to get shots away, and Villarreal quickly sussed the plan out and were able to deal with Saul's presence.
He moved wide and tried to affect play coming infield, but it wasn't one of his better games.
5. Diego Godin, ATM
17 of 21
Up 2
Atletico's rock at the back Diego Godin continued his imperious form, dealing well with Villlarreal's infrequent counter-attacks and ability to go long from defence to the front two.
Godin didn't have an awful lot to do in the second half, with Atleti dominant in the attacking portion of the pitch, but he was still the one to repel a few set pieces when required.
Late in the game, he surged upfield to try to win a knock-down or send a header at goal, but he couldn't come up with heroics this time.
4. Neymar, FCB
18 of 21
Down 1
Neymar scored the winning goal as Barcelona beat Las Palmas 2-1, but in a difficult match where he wasn't able to have the big impact throughout, he drops out of our top three for the first time in quite a while.
The Brazilian smashed home from close range for the winner, but he saw several other half-chances fall his way that he either couldn't get a shot away from or mistimed his moment to try his luck. His pace on the counter-attack was a constant threat, and Neymar might have claimed an assist or two along the way had his team-mates been on the same wavelength.
Overall, it was certainly not the worst attacking display of the weekend, but it was nowhere near his best level.
3. Luka Modric, RMA
19 of 21
Up 1
It might not have escaped your notice that most of our big-name players simply didn't produce this weekend, and Real's top 20 contingent—Ronaldo, Kroos, Benzema—all dropped places. That is not the case for Luka Modric, however.
The central midfielder was outnumbered due to a lack of support from team-mates Mateo Kovacic and Toni Kroos at times, and he didn't see enough of the ball in the final third to make things happen in attack with any great frequency, but his work rate and endeavour meant he was the only one in a Real shirt who matched Malaga's midfield for energy and commitment.
In the first half especially, Modric was the big outlet for Real when they managed to avoid Malaga's initial press—he found passes between the lines and created a couple of chances on goal for his team. He was one of the few who could say he left nothing on the pitch at full time.
2. Jan Oblak, ATM
20 of 21
No change
No movement for Jan Oblak, though if he had have been a little busier for Atleti in the 0-0 draw against Villarreal, he could have jumped back into top spot.
As it is, he had very little to do after the break, making the odd save or claiming overhit passes or set pieces but enduring a very comfortable time of things.
Oblak has only conceded 11 in 25 matches, or a goal every 205 minutes this term in La Liga.
1. Luis Suarez, FCB
21 of 21
No change
And no movement either for Luis Suarez, who remains top of our charts despite a mixed day.
The Barcelona forward was largely irrepressible, certainly the best of the attacking triumvirate in terms of creativity—being a nuisance in the forward line and making an impact on the scoreline—but he was also well off-form with his finishing and missed a number of big chances to wrap the game up.
Suarez scored one and created the initial opening for Barcelona's second goal, but he missed one-on-ones, a far-post chance with almost an open goal and sent a couple of efforts well off target. Not his best day inside the area, but he was excellent for the most part outside of it. He's still La Liga's top scorer, now with 25 goals to his name.
