Goal.com

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Radamal Falcao all feature as Goal.com looks at the standout performers from the opening half of the Primera Division campaign

La Liga has almost reached its halfway point and there is one team well and truly on top as the winter break approaches - Barcelona.

The Catalans lead the Primera Division by nine points from Atletico Madrid, with rivals Real a further four back in third. Tito Vilanova's team have won 15 of their 16 matches and three of their players feature in Goal.com's Liga Team of the Season so far.

In goal we find Betis' Adrian, who has proved himself to be one of the revelations of the season in the Andalusians' impressive start to the campaign. The goalkeeper shook off an error-strewn showing in the derby at Sevilla to produce a wonderful display in the win over Real Madrid recently, and there have been many more performances like that.

At the back, Jordi Alba has slotted in seamlessly at Barca - both in defence and going forward. He is joined by Spain team-mate Sergio Ramos, now an unmovable object in Madrid's central defence, while Malaga's Martin Demichelis has been in the form of his career as the Boquerones kept nine clean sheets in 16 games.

Andres Iniesta is the brains in this team. After his majestic performances at Euro 2012, the midfielder has picked up where he left off and has looked simply sensational at times this season. Madrid's summer signing Luka Modric is also included, even though his side have been below their best so far this term, while the last place goes to Valladolid's Patrick Ebert. The German has been his team's standout performer in La Liga and has won many fans at Pucela with his goals and dynamic midfield play in 2012-13.

Further forward we have Lionel Messi, who has already scored 25 times in La Liga this term and continues to break records at Camp Nou. As expected, the Argentina star is the player with the highest rating in this selection. He is joined by rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been below his best in 2012-13 but is still good enough to make the XI along with Atletico Madrid's on-form Colombia striker Radamel Falcao, who has 17 goals in La Liga already this season. The last place goes to Celta Vigo's Iago Aspas, who has shone away from the spotlight and gained hero status at Balaidos.

ADRIAN

Avg Rating: 3.33

BETIS

Games: 10 Clean sheets: 4

SERGIO RAMOS	MARTIN DEMICHELIS	JORDI ALBA
Avg Rating: 3.28	Avg Rating: 3.23	Avg Rating: 3.38
REAL MADRID	REAL SOCIEDAD	BARCELONA
Games: 16 Clean sheets: 6	Games: 15 Clean sheets: 9	Games: 14 Clean sheets: 4

PATRICK EBERT	ANDRES INIESTA	LUKA MODRIC
Avg Rating: 3.54	Avg Rating: 3.59	Avg Rating: 3.50
VALLADOLID	BARCELONA	REAL MADRID
Games: 13 Goals: 3	Games: 11 Goals: 1	Games: 12 Goals: 1

LIONEL MESSI

Avg Rating: 4.06

BARCELONA

Games: 16 Goals: 25

IAGO ASPAS	RADAMEL FALCAO	CRISTIANO RONALDO
Avg Rating: 3.60	Avg Rating: 3.67	Avg Rating: 3.59
CELTA	ATLETICO MADRID	REAL MADRID
Games: 15 Goals: 6	Games: 15 Goals: 17	Games: 16 Goals: 14