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Following every round of LaLiga fixtures, Pulse Sports presents the most impressive performers of the matchday.
In LaLiga action this weekend, Espanyol won a relegation six-pointer to give themselves a chance of survival, and both Real Madrid and Barcelona hit opponents for four. Here are the finest performers of the match week.
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Goalkeeper
Paulo Gazzaniga (Girona)
Girona posted an impressive 2-0 win over Sevilla on the road on Monday night. They may have held the hosts scoreless, but it was far from straightforward: Paulo Gazzaniga still had to earn his keep, making six saves and keeping out a cumulative 0.92xG on target. The 31-year-old Argentine has quietly put together a strong season, especially in the second half of the campaign.
Defenders
Josan (Elche)
Josan was great at right-back for an Elche side that pulled off a red card-inspired victory over Rayo Vallecano. Alvaro Garcia barely had a sniff against him, as the 33-year-old came out on top of their individual battle, winning two tackles and seven of nine duels. He also recorded an assist, playing an incisive, angled cross (one of his eight successful passes into the final third) into the path of Gerard Gumbau to score.
Sergi Gomez (Espanyol)
Espanyol recorded a desperately-needed win over Getafe to avoid being cut adrift at thr foot of the table. Joselu held his nerve upfront to convert from the spot, and then it fell to the lads at the back to keep things tight. Sergi Gomez did just that, his partnership with Leandro Cabrera holding firm to deny their struggling visitors much of any consequence. In a relegation six-pointer, being clutch in both boxes counts.
Carlos Clerc (Elche)
Rayo Vallecano may have gone down to 10 men inside half an hour, but they continued slugging just the same. Andoni Iraola's side only know one way. On that account, Elche needed to keep it tight at the back still, and thanks to Carlos Clerc, they did. Not only was the 31-year-old close to faultless in the duel, but he was the picture of composure in possession as well completing three dribbles.
Marcos Acuna (Sevilla)
Try as they could, Sevilla simply could not get past Girona. And they did try; Marcos Acuna was a ball of energy at left-back, getting forward at every available opportunity and created a number of openings for thr Europa League semi-finalists. He also made six recoveries, and came out in top in every tackle (3/3) and duel (8/9). A marauding display that arguably deserved some reward.
Midfielders
Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid)
This season has seen Dani Ceballos' relevance and contribution at Real Madrid positively soar, and it's pleasing to see. The midfielder acquitted himself with typical enthusiasm as Los Blancos cut through Almeria in a superb first-half, heading into the break with a 3-1 lead. No one won more duels than his 10, or completed as many dribbles as his four. In addition to eight ball recoveries, the picture of a complete performance.
Sergio Busquets (Barcelona)
He may be long in the tooth these days and unable to play every game, but when he does play, Sergio Busquets makes everyone around him better. He also reminds us what a master he is, specifically the finest exponent of the disguised pass through the lines. Against Real Betis, he progressed the ball into the final third an eye-watering 21 times, all the whole maintain a pass completion in the high 80s.
Lee Kang-In (Mallorca)
Korea international Lee Kang-In is one of the most exciting players to watch in all of LaLiga, and gets into the Team of the Week for the second week running. More of the same from him: irrepressible dribbling (six from six), ferocity in physical engagements (11 duels won) and boundless energy (seven ball recoveries). Oh, and a goal, coolly taken from a cut-back to finish off a move he started. If fun was a footballer...
Forwards
Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
Mr. Champions League can play in LaLiga too. Just ask Almeria, who bore the brunt of Rodrygo's outrageous skill (by all means, do check out his assist for Real Madrid's second, and then say a prayer for the stricken Sergio Akieme who is no longer with us) and enterprise. He also produced a cracker of a finish himself after the break, his turn and shot one of thr highlight reel goals of the weekend.
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
The man scored a(nother) hattrick. No one is going to leave him out of a Team of the Week in that circumstance, even if Nicolas Jackson didn't perform too shabbily either for Villarreal. Karim Benzema, like his club, has mastered the art of peaking at the right time, and here his movement and efficiency (he hit the target with every unblocked shot he attempted) wrapped the game up before the break.
Rodrigo Riquelme (Girona)
He didn't score, but Rodrigo Riquelme was an unrelenting thorn in Sevilla's side for the duration. At times, he did positively ungodly things to Gonzalo Montiel – no one completed as many dribbles (five) as he did at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. His jinking runs inside saw him hit the post in the lead-up to Taty Castellanos' goal, after he had come close to scoring in the first half when his effort narrowly missed the top corner.
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