La Liga: Best 11 Players of Week 35

Wow, just wow. The race for the La Liga champions is not for the faint hearted. The top 4 sides all drew this past weekend. First it was Atletico which seemed to let Barcelona in and then it was Barca and that seemed to hand the advantage to Real Madrid who had to beat Sevilla.

However Sevilla almost won that game and were leading Real Madrid 2-1 but Real found a way and the game ended 2-2. It means that with just 3 games left to play Atletico have 77 points and Real Madrid and Barcelona have 75. Sevilla are almost out of the title race now and if Atletico beat Real Sociedad in midweek then Sevilla’s title chances are officially over.

With all that excitement in the bag let’s take a look at the players who made the team of the week.

Goalkeeper: Jan Oblak- Atletico Madrid 7pts

Jan Oblak is believed to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world and he proved it yet again as Atletico drew 0-0 away to Barcelona in a crucial game for the league leaders. Oblak made some superb saves and in total Barcelona had 7 shots on target but couldn’t find a way through.

Defender: Jose Gaya- Valencia 7pts

Jose Gaya kept a clean sheet as Valencia cruised to a 3-0 win over Valladolid. But Gaya earned some more points as he assisted in one of the goals, that’s his 6th assist of the season so far.

Defender: Mario Hermoso- Atletico Madrid 5pts

Mario Hermoso made some vital tackles as Atletico’s back four was tested to the limit as they managed to keep a clean sheet against Barcelona. Hermoso now has 74 points for the season.

Defender: Serginho Dest- Barcelona 5pts

Serginho Dest has had a good personal season with Barcelona and when he was called into action he helped Barca to keep a clean sheet as they drew 0-0 with Atletico Madrid in a tense game. Dest has helped to keep 10 clean sheets.

Defender: Robin Le Normand- Real Sociedad 5pts

Le Normand helped Real Sociedad to keep a clean sheet as they beat Elche 2-0 at the weekend. That is the 11th time the club have been able to do that when he has been in the team.

Midfielder: Ivan Rakitic- Sevilla 6pts

This was an interesting game for Ivan Rakitic who scored the penalty for Sevilla which seemed to have condemned Real Madrid to defeat. It felt as though Rakitic had done his former club Barcelona a huge favour as he scored a penalty which put them 2-1 up against Real Madrid, but the game ended 2-2.

Midfielder: Jose Luis Recio del Pozo- Eibar 6pts

Also known simply as Recio the midfielder scored the only goal of the game as Eibar won 1-0 against Getafe. It was a tense time too as it was an 89th minute penalty but Eibar with the help of Recio got all 3 points in the end.

Midfielder: Carlos Soler- Valencia 4pts

Carlos Soler is in great form and he earned another 4 points as he assisted in the clubs 2nd goal of the game in which they beat Valladolid 3-0. That was his 7th assist of the season and he has been involved in 16 goals so far this season.

Midfielder: Fernando- Sevilla 4pts

Fernando opened the scoring for Sevilla as they nearly stunned Real Madrid in a game which in the end finished 2-2. That was only the midfielder’s third goal of the season.

Striker: Jose Luis Morales- Levante 8pts

What a great weekend for Jose Luis Morales who scored both of his clubs goals as they drew 2-2 away to Alaves. Morales scored the goals in quick succession but the final results wasn’t to be. He has an impressive 13 goals so far now.

Striker: Maximiliano Gomez- Valencia 8pts

Gomez was able to score 2 goals as Valencia beat Valladolid 3-0 and it was an important win for the home side as they recorded their first victory in five games. Gomez now has seven goals for the season and is valued at 7.5m.

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Best La Liga Players so far 2020/21

La Liga took a break this past week and they will play instead in midweek, so this gives us a chance to reflect on the players that have been lightning up the league season.

Two players will be picked from each position and we will look at how they have contributed so far be it with clean sheets, assists or goals. Based on their fantasy points they will make this elite list and you can check to see if any of your players make the best La Liga players of this season so far.

Goalkeeper

1. Jan Oblak- Atletico Madrid 75pts

Jan Oblak has been far and away the best goal keeper in Spain and is probably the best in Europe right now. Oblak is 29 points ahead of Remiro and his team are 1st in La Liga. Oblak has kept 11 clean sheets from 16 starts and his value is 11m.

2. Remiro- Real Sociedad 45pts

Real Sociedad started the season in fantastic form and Remiro was key to this. He has earned 45 points so far and has kept 8 clean sheets the same as Thibaut Courtois for Real Madrid.

Defender

1. Kieran Trippier- Atletico Madrid 59pts

An Englishman is currently the best defender in Spain and Kieran Trippier deserves more good press than perhaps he is getting in his home country. Trippier has been able to adapt and fit right into this Atletico Madrid team. He hasn’t scored yet this season in the league but that isn’t his job, he has assisted in 5 goals though and has helped to keep 10 clean sheets.

2. Mario Hermoso- Atletico Madrid 52pts

Mario Hermoso along with Trippier has been outstanding in defence for Atletico. It is incredible to think that after 16 games the club has only conceded 6 goals especially when some teams can concede that in one game. Hermoso has scored 1 goal, assisted in 1 and like Trippier he has helped to keep 10 clean sheets.

Midfielder

1. Marcos Llorente- Atletico Madrid 50pts

Yet another Atletico Madrid player makes it to the best players of the season so far, that is 4 out of the 8 players chosen playing for one club. Llorente has been incredible in midfield and contributed in 9 goals this season, 6 goals and 3 assists. He isn’t afraid to back track too and has been as solid as a rock.

2. Portu- Real Sociedad 42pts

At least for the first 3 months of the season you would be hard pressed to find a better and more inform midfielder than Portu. Every week his name seemed to pop up with a goal or an assist and it was no wonder that Sociedad were early pacesetters. Portu has scored 5 goals so far and assisted in another three and his current value is 8.5m.

Striker

1. Iago Aspas- Celta Vigo 45pts

The strikers are dominated by two 33 year olds. One is expected to be here the other less so. Iago Aspas has scored 9 goals for Celta Vigo and assisted in another six. Now here’s the amazing fact Celta Vigo have scored 22 goals in the league and Aspas has been involved in 15 of them, that works out at 70% of the goals coming from Aspas, not a bad return. His value is 8.5m.

2. Lionel Messi- Barcelona 43pts

A list of best players in Spain wouldn’t feel complete without Lionel Messi and he would be making lists like this every year for the past 13 years at least. By his standards it has been a quiet start and at times Barcelona have struggled with form. Still Messi has earned 43 points and scored 11 goals and assisted in another 2.

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Is Atletico Madrid’s La Liga title in danger after Kieran Trippier’s 2 month ban?

Kieran Trippier has been one of Atletico Madrid’s best players this season but there has been bombshell news as he is now set to miss the next 2 months with an English FA ban.

That ban is related to alleged inside knowledge of the football world that could have been used as an advantage to then bet on that market. It must be said that Trippier has denied all of these allegations from the English FA, but for now the ban stays.

Trippier’s name has been cleared on some charges but not all and in line with UEFA’s rules it means that Trippier has been banned from all football activities for the next 14 weeks. Because of the Christmas period that means that Trippier won’t be back in action until the very end of February, and this is obviously a blow for his club.

Trippier has been a success for Atletico since his switch from Tottenham and this season so far seemed to have been his best. With 52 points so far Trippier is the best ranked defender for Atletico Madrid where he has helped keep an impressive 9 clean sheets already. Though he hasn’t scored yet that isn’t his job but he has assisted in 4 goals. Overall Trippier is only 2nd to Jan Oblak, the goalkeeper who has 61 points.

Trippier’s contribution to the team simply cannot be underestimated and of course one of the problems was his key presence, and how that will be missed. Under Diego Simeone Trippier has become a stable figure in the team and the last year has felt like a second coming for the club who were so successful in the 2010s.

Could Trippier’s ban trip up Atletico Madrid in the league and Champions League? pardon the pun. Currently the club are looking at their first La Liga title in seven years and are in 1st place with 29 points. Real Madrid their rivals and neighbours have the same points however Atletico have played 2 games less.

There is also the question that up until a few weeks ago Atletico had conceded just 2 goals, and even now it is only 5. Sure the team are full of great defenders in the likes of Mario Hermoso and Felipe but Trippier is seen as the one where the players look to both on the pitch and in the dressing room.

Trippier is pleading his innocence and will appeal and coach Simeone and thousands of fans will be hoping that his charge can be overturned, if not this could be an act of trying to get his sentence shortened.

The next few weeks after the Christmas season will be intriguing between London and Madrid and could get rather tense, watch this space.

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Fired up by Diego Simeone: Atletico Madrid the club that won’t go away

The 2010s were amongst the most successful years in Atletico Madrid’s history. A league title success was seen as an exceptional achievement given how strong both Barcelona and Real Madrid were at the time. But Atletico also won the Europa League 3 times and were runners up in the Champions League twice. It has been quite a ride for the club.

So after such an incredible decade and with coach Diego Simeone starting his 10th season in charge of the La Liga team you would have been forgiven for thinking that Atletico were not up to spec.

But Atletico are not a team that have good moments and wield that thorn into the sides of Barcelona and Real Madrid temporarily. No Atletico are here to stay. They sell Antoine Griezmann no problem they bring in Joao Felix. Diego Godin veteran swashbuckler moves on, no problem in comes the underrated Kieran Trippier from the Premier League. They move stadium, no problem, they won’t suffer the Arsenal syndrome anytime soon. Atletico do what they do best and that is continue to compete and move on.

This season the club has taken advantage of Barcelona’s many off the field problems that almost saw Lionel Messi leave the club. In fact in being 2nd and Barcelona being out of the top 10 the clubs have changed places from the beginning of  last season. Atletico know the real threat is from their city neighbours Real Madrid but they will also be respecting how Real Sociedad have started the season.

With Atletico though they look the real deal this season to go on and win the title. You want goals, well Atletico have 18 of them and only Real Sociedad in 1st position have scored more with 21.

One of the revelations in terms of attack for the club has been Joao Felix. True we knew that last season when the club signed him he was something special but Felix didn’t get a good run of games and would need time to adjust to his new surroundings. It wasn’t the mind blowing debut season that many expected. This season could be it though. Felix has already scored 5 goals and assisted twice and there will be plenty more to come from him.

But a lot of credit also needs to go to Luis Suarez, the surprise signing in the summer who was let go by Barcelona. While it may be easy to laugh at Barcelona’s decision Suarez had lost something in the past 18 months. It felt like he was a few yards slower, but the truth is he needed change, now he is thriving under a coach that has been part of the set up for 10 years and Atletico are seeing the results. Suarez has scored 5 goals also like Felix.

But let’s talk about what is happening in defence. It is rare that an English player goes abroad and does really well but Trippier is carving out a name for himself and the fans love him. The former Tottenham player has been part of a mean defence that has conceded only 2 goals so far this season from 8 games played. One at home and one away and that is simply remarkable.

Trippier has the most clean sheets in the team with six. Another player who has impressed at the back is Mario Hermoso. His value is just 5m and he has helped keep five clean sheets.Of course it also helps when you have one of Europe’s best goalkeepers and in Jan Oblak Atletico sure do have that. Oblak has 42 points already and has six clean sheets.

Presently six of the top 10 players in La Liga in the fantasy rankings play for Atletico Madrid. They are all inspired and fired up by the pure energy, passion and intelligence of Simeone, who this year celebrated his 50th birthday- how fitting then if the club can indeed go on to win La Liga for the 2nd time in seven years.

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Espanyol could be forced to SELL star names before they buy new players

espanyol-hermoso

New Espanyol manager David Gallego could find himself faced with a particularly unpopular decision to make ahead of the 2019-20 La Liga season.

Despite securing a dramatic last-day-of-the-season Europa League qualification, the Catalan side are likely to be be pursuing European football again, but without the budget to match their ambitions.

With that in mind, Gallego is likely to have to sell one of the club’s big names, in order to bring fresh faces through the door at the RCDE Stadium.

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Espanyol need to spend to keep key pair

Rubi Espanyol

Espanyol’s final day heroics changed the make up of La Liga’s European qualification in dramatic fashion.

Rubi’s side won 2-0 at home to rivals Real Sociedad to overhaul the Basque side in the race for the Europa League, with Athletic Bilbao also losing at Sevilla, to leave the path clear for the Catalan side.

Roberto Rosales and Wu Lei were the heroes against Imanol Alguacil’s side, and the significant cash injection that European football brings will need to be smartly invested in order to prevent the vultures circling over Espanyol’s key players.

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Espanyol looking to keep pushing their progress

espanyol

Espanyol are certainly a surprise name to be included in La Liga’s Top Five, as the season approaches the end of its first quarter, but their results have warranted their rise up the table.

New manager Joan Francesc Ferrer arrived in June, after steering Huesca to promotion from the Segunda Division last season, and he faces his former club this weekend as Espanyol head to Aragon.

He has looked to establish a solid back bone in the team, as his first port of call as manager, with the same defensive back four starting over 80% of their games so far this season.

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La Liga Weekend Picks – Round 4

oblak2Two weekends ago, Barcelona recorded a massive 8-2 victory over Huesca and Celta Vigo earn an impressive home win against Atletico Madrid, this weekend’s lineup is shaping up quite nicely. Atletico will be looking to get things back on track as they host Eibar, while Espanyol hosting Levante could be well worth a watch considering both sides’ early season form. Let’s now take a look at which players to keep an eye on in the fourth round of games in the Spanish top flight this weekend.

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La Liga Weekend Picks – Round 3

rakiticA great card of matches this past weekend saw the La Liga table almost seem to take shape and hit the status quo fairly early in the campaign. Real Madrid’s 4-1 win at Girona was a great team performance, while a four goal thriller saw Athletic Bilbao draw 2-2 at home to Huesca. After another exciting weekend of action in La Liga, let us now cast our minds ahead and see which players will be getting special attention in the Spanish top flight in the third round of matches. It will be a 4-3-3 this week.

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