La Liga Team Of The Week: Round 35

Formation: 4-3-3

Goalkeeper

Roberto Gago (Real Zaragoza) – The 24-year-old on loan from Atletico Madrid has become one of the most in-form goalkeepers in recent weeks. And against Deportivo La Coruna, he came to his team’s aid again as he made a number of crucial saves to make sure his side didn’t surrender three valuable points in their relegation fight.

Defence

Adriano (Sevilla) – Played in midfield in the 3-1 win over Atletico Madrid, but the utility man has frequently slotted in quite effortlessly as Sevilla’s makeshift right-back. The Brazilian was one of the best performers on the pitch for the Nervionenses outfit, as he ran non-stop to create openings for his team-mates and harried the Atleti midfielders off the ball.

Sergio Fernandez (Osasuna) – The Pamplona-based outfit may have leaked in three goals against Real Madrid, but it could have been much worse without the ginger-haired tough man. He completely marked Gonzalo Higuain out of the game and was always first to the scene to intercept crosses and to break up Los Blancos’ fancy build-up play.

Nunes (Mallorca) – Another no-nonsense defender who marshalled his side to victory from the back. He had a daunting task trying to keep Athletic Bilbao’s Gaizka Toquero and Fernando Llorente quiet at San Mames, but he performed admirably. Scored early in the second half with an exquisite volley from a corner to regain the lead for his team.

Marcelo (Real Madrid) – The best of a bad lot of Madrid defenders in the laborious come-from-behind win over Osasuna. The Brazilian spent most of the game inside the opposition half, but worked hard to track back down the left flank to break up or slow down the Navarran’s counter-attacks. His biggest contribution undoubtedly was scoring Madrid’s second equaliser right before half-time.

Midfield

Xavi (Barcelona) – After being choked to death by Inter in midweek, Barca’s midfield conductor was finally given the chance to express himself, and didn’t he show it! The maestro singlehandedly ran the show against Villarreal, setting up two goals, scored a delightful freekick, and played a part in a wonderful team-build up that led to the fourth goal. Player of the round.

Roman Martinez (Tenerife) – The Canary Islanders continue to fight for their La Liga lives and they earned three priceless points against Racing Santander thanks in part to midfielder Roman. He scored his side’s opening goal on the stroke of half-time and his industrious performance in the centre of the park kept his side in control of the game and restricted the Cantabrians from creating problems.

Vicente (Valencia) – With David Silva and Juan Mata ahead of him and a young Jordi Alba breathing down his neck, Vicente’s first team chances seem to be diminishing. But the 28-year-old winger was given a rare start on Saturday against Espanyol, and he showed that he still has plenty of life and pace left in his legs. He was a livewire on the left side of midfield as he provided the assist for his side’s first goal and also had a hand in the second.

Attack

Lionel Messi (Barcelona) – ‘El Mesias’ finally ended his five-match goal drought with a double strike against Villarreal. It wasn’t a vintage Messi display, and some would even argue his two goals at El Madrigal were fortunate more than anything, but he showed how lethal he can be as a centre-forward without always having to leave fans spellbound.

Nikola Zigic (Valencia) – From the small to the big. The giant Serb has been used as nothing more than a back-up striker this season, but he was Los Che’s hero at the weekend. Replacing David Villa on the half-hour mark against Espanyol, he took just two minutes to score before adding a second goal with another typical poacher’s strike to seal three vital points for his team and a step closer to automatic Champions League qualification.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) – Another two-goal star in the attacking line-up. CR9 may have just paid back his €94 million transfer fee in one single evening after scoring two pivotal goals for Real Madrid, one of which was an 89th minute header that saved his team’s season by keeping their title hopes alive. At the moment, he seems to be carrying Los Blancos on his own.

Roberto

Adriano - Sergio - Nunes - Marcelo

Xavi - Roman Martinez - Vicente

Messi - Zigic - Ronaldo

Honourable Mentions

Fabio Coltorti (Racing Santander)
Gerard Pique (Barcelona)
Ever Banega (Valencia)
Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid)
Gonzalo Castro (Mallorca)
Bojan Krkic (Barcelona)
Adrian Colunga (Real Zaragoza)

Become a fan of Goal.com International on Facebook! Just click onto Facebook.com/Goal to join the beautiful game's leading fan community...