La Liga Player Rankings: Cristiano Ronaldo Winner in El Clasico Overhauls Messi
Real Madrid won El Clasico, the title race is still just about open and Villarreal took a big step toward securing fourth place—Jornada 31 in La Liga was a huge one, and our latest alteration of the in-form players reflects the games following the international break.
As usual, we have analysed each game over the weekend 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 go two players this time: Diego Godin, still injured at the weekend and missing another Liga fixture, and Las Palmas' Willian Jose, still doing a job for the team but overtaken by others in the rolling average.
On the watchlist, with the top two unlucky not to make the grade this time:
Gabi, ATM
Casemiro, RMA
Juanfran, ATM
Momo, LPA
Luis Alberto, DEP
20. Charly Musonda, BET
2 of 21
Down 3
For perhaps the first time since signing for Real Betis on loan in January, Charly Musonda was unable to have any kind of positive impact on a match at all.
His team were below par, Musonda couldn't get involved and he was subbed in the second half against Atletico Madrid with the scoreline out of reach and Betis well beaten.
Poor games are to be expected from time to time for young players, particularly those who rely on having plenty of the ball, and he'll no doubt be back before long.
19. Sergio Busquets, FCB
3 of 21
Down 1
Just about lucky enough to stay in the top 20 this week, Sergio Busquets had a fairly poor game for Barcelona by his own high standards.
His passing between the lines wasn't as effective as usual, he was unable to protect the defence from Real Madrid's raids through the centre and he often lacked movement to provide an option to receive the ball.
It was a bad match for one of the team's most important players to have his role altered and his form drop off.
18. Inigo Lekue, ATH
4 of 21
New entry
Athletic Bilbao's versatile performer Inigo Lekue has enjoyed a great recent run, playing in three or four roles as required and always seeming to have a say on the team's performance in a positive way.
It looked as though Lekue would just miss out on a chance to hit the top 20 after being left on the bench at the weekend, but he was called upon after just five minutes and went on to put in another excellent display.
His first Liga goal of the season arrived later on against Granada, with the eventual 1-1 draw not quite enough to push Athletic into the top five.
17. Gerard Pique, FCB
5 of 21
Down 2
Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique looked for a while to be the hero of El Clasico when he powered into the net early on in the second half, but that wasn't enough as Real Madrid came back to win 2-1.
Unfortunately for Pique, he can be pointed at as not quite doing enough with either goal, even if it wasn't outright his fault that Real netted twice, with one cross just evading him and then the late winning goal bypassing him on the line.
It wasn't quite the decisive action he would have wanted from the game.
16. Antoine Griezmann, ATM
6 of 21
New entry
A re-entry technically, with Antoine Griezmann having been one of La Liga's best performers early on in the campaign and now back into our 20 after a fantastic recent run.
Two goals at the weekend against Real Betis have taken the French forward to 19 for the season in league play, even if there was an element of fortune about his first—a through pass that Koke left and goalkeeper Antonio Adan completely misjudged, allowing the ball to bounce in.
Quite aside from his goals, though, Griezmann was a total menace and excellent with his linkup play throughout.
15. Keylor Navas, RMA
7 of 21
Up 5
Taking advantage of a few players dropping below him and putting in a telling performance in El Clasico, Keylor Navas makes a move up the charts.
Two big saves kept Real Madrid in the game during the course of the weekend's biggest fixture, including one vital tip-over from a Lionel Messi chip.
In truth, Navas wasn't called upon anywhere near as much as he could have been if Barcelona hit top gear, but that's not his problem, and the majority of his game was on point.
14. Raul Albentosa, MGA
8 of 21
Up 2
Raul Albentosa had a reasonably solid game against Espanyol. He was diligent and dependable for the most part as Malaga drew 1-1.
His team were the better throughout and arguably should have taken the points, but an early goal for the away side proved enough for a point—it was Albentosa's partner who was marking goalscorer Pape Diop.
Thereafter, Albentosa repelled plenty of balls into the box and ensured his team stayed in the game with a composed performance.
13. Alphonse Areola, VIL
9 of 21
Up 1
Back from injury and back in the team, Alphonse Areola will be boosted by being selected ahead of last season's No. 1 Sergio Asenjo, even with the Spaniard now fit to be selected.
Areola couldn't keep a clean sheet as he was beaten in the first half by a hugely deflected strike, although he may be slightly irked that he didn't hold on to a low cross in the buildup to the goal.
Afterward, though, Areola's game was beyond reproach, claiming high balls with regularity and confidence, making a couple of routine saves and distributing quickly.
12. Ignacio Camacho, MGA
10 of 21
Up 1
Playing in midfield ahead of the aforementioned Albentosa, Ignacio Camacho was his usual combative and effective self for Malaga, making challenges to break up play and ensure his side were able to retain possession for long spells and not let Espanyol counter effectively.
Camacho was also dominant aerially in the middle, bravely going in to win second balls at times and generally doing his best to limit the powerful approach of Espanyol's central players.
He didn't affect play in the final third overly, but it was a good performance only overshadowed by yet another yellow card, his second in the last three games having already served two suspensions this season.
11. Neymar, FCB
11 of 21
Down 3
Neymar initially looked as though he might be the Barcelona forward to break down Real Madrid in El Clasico, but he ultimately had very little impact on the game and was marginalised as the service from behind him evaporated.
The Brazilian cut a frustrated figure at times, split apart from Luis Suarez and unable to run behind the Real defence to link with Messi's passes from deep.
10. Victor Ruiz, VIL
12 of 21
Up 1
Victor Ruiz was the dependable, right-place-at-the-right-time defender for Villarreal in their win over Eibar, sweeping up stray passes and cutting out low crosses a number of times alongside the more aggressive Eric Bailly.
After the early setback that saw Eibar lead, Ruiz and Bailly were very strong as a partnership again, and Ruiz can take plenty of plaudits for a dominant performance.
An extremely good season should really have warranted a place in the latest Spain squad for the Villarreal centre-back.
9. Filipe Luis, ATM
13 of 21
Up 3
Filipe Luis' upturn in form continues apace, with the left-back again playing a starring role for Atletico Madrid at the weekend.
It seems to have taken him six months to really find his groove back at the Vicente Calderon, but the last couple of months have been far better, especially with his link work going forward.
Defensively he wasn't overly troubled by Betis, but the Brazilian certainly contributed a lot to Atletico's attack and was a constant source of danger from the flank.
8. Luis Suarez, FCB
14 of 21
Down 3
Just like Neymar, Luis Suarez was often a frustrated figure in Barcelona's attack during El Clasico, meandering out to the right flank to little effect other than to stretch play and then fail to link with his team-mates.
His runs in behind went unnoticed, a few fouls went against him and he missed an incredible open goal just a few minutes into the tie when it seemed for all the world he would tap home from Neymar's inviting low cross into the six-yard box.
Suarez returned to form in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, but that counts for nothing in our Liga player rankings.
7. Jose Gimenez, ATM
15 of 21
Down 4
Jose Gimenez was injured and didn't play in Atletico's weekend win.
6. Jan Oblak, ATM
16 of 21
Down 2
Two rarities at the weekend: first, Jan Oblak conceding a goal of any kind—just the 15th past him in La Liga this season—and second, an error of his.
The Slovenian goalkeeper spilled a completely routine lofted ball into the box straight to the feet of Ruben Castro, and the Betis forward made no mistake to score—not that it matted, already being 3-0 at the time with 10 minutes to play.
Beforehand, Oblak had been secure though having little to do, and the error was certainly uncharacteristic.
5. Lionel Messi, FCB
17 of 21
Down 3
Sometimes players fail to bring their best form level, sometimes circumstances dictate they are unable to influence games.
For Barcelona's Leo Messi, El Clasico this weekend was the latter; moved into a deep attacking role in the centre by boss Luis Enrique, Messi was unable to penetrate the Real defence, link with his fellow forwards or be any frequent threat on goal himself.
The No. 10 dribbled into the box and tried to shoot with some frequency, but it was hopeful more than anything else given the number of bodies in the way.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo, RMA
18 of 21
Up 6
Up above his arch nemesis in our rankings for the first time in several months, Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner in El Clasico and put in a tactically important shift for the team even before his late strike.
A 10-minute spell near the end showed his best moments—one shot off the bar, another good chance created and the goal itself—but the selfless running of Ronaldo in the channels and on the counter-attack mirrored Real's diligent and largely intelligent approach to the match overall.
His rise of six spots is partly due to his good display and also down to those who either underperformed or didn't take to the field at all.
3. Luka Modric, RMA
19 of 21
Up 2
Luka Modric had a good game rather than a great one in El Clasico, but it's enough to move into the podium positions.
The Croatian was full of running to close down Barcelona's midfield, quick to put in challenges and always looked for a smart out-ball into space to relieve pressure.
Offensively it wasn't his best game, but he sacrificed his own tendencies to ensure his team kept possession, moved forward as a unit and defended vigorously.
2. Saul Niguez, ATM
20 of 21
Down 1
Off top spot after a reasonably quiet game by his recent standards, Atletico Madrid's midfielder Saul has just perhaps shown a few signs in recent fixtures that he's a little jaded now after a long run in the team.
Of course, he also picked up a knock on international duty, and that could have impacted on his last two matches.
At the weekend against Betis, he was involved in lots of buildup play in deep areas and supported the attack just outside the box, but he wasn't the key figure inside the area or with the final pass on too many occasions.
He's still in good form, but a team-mate has surpassed him in the past couple of weeks.
1. Koke, ATM
21 of 21
Up 6
Matching Cristiano Ronaldo's surge up the charts and landing himself top spot is Atletico Madrid's Koke.
The midfielder was in excellent form at the weekend again and is, right now, in the best run of the season on a personal level after a less-than-impressive opening couple of months.
Koke had free reign at times to come infield, link play and make clever passes to the front line, and he was an almost endless supply of chances for Atleti's strikers against Betis.
His pass for the opener was incisive and accurate (and repeated against Barca in midweek to the same attacking team-mate), and he nearly added to the scoresheet himself.
