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Barcelona were dealt a huge blow in the title race as the fell 0-1 at home against a spirited and tactically superior Malaga side. Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid got good wins, while Valencia took a huge step towards Champions League football with a good 2-1 win away at Cordoba.
La liga Blog’s best XI of this week is led by Malaga goalkeeper Carlos Kameni, who makes yet again another appearance after a while away. The Cameroonian was at his calmest best – which was what Malaga needed – and kept an enviable clean sheet at the Nou Camp against a rampaging Barca side. He made three saves, including a simple yet tricky catch in the last minute of the game.
Defence
Kameni’s teammates Roberto Rosales and Weligton Oliviera made their presence felt in Malaga’s 1-0 win at Nou Camp. Rosales was solid at right back and never shied away from putting in a good and telling tackle whenever his side desired it. Weligton was also key in defence, and made a superb goalline clearance of what could easily have been Barcelona’s equaliser.
Real Madrid’s Portugese defender Pepe returned to the starting lineup for a league tie, and showed the league leaders what they were missing while he was out with a rib injury. Pepe was business-like, as always, and marshaled Los Blancos’ defence as they kept a clean sheet away at Elche.
Completing the defence is Athletic Bilbao’s Mikel Balenziaga who also did a yeoman’s job in defence for Ernesto Valverde’s men in their hard-fought 1-0 win against Rayo at San Mames. The 26-year-old left back was on top of his game, and won a joint game-high five tackles in the game.
Midfield
Real Madrid’s midfield magician Isco makes yet again another appearance in our team of the round after he put up a fantastic display – which is fast becoming a normal sight at Real Madrid games. Isco seems unstoppable at the moment and was involved in every as of the Real Madrid game.
Star of the round’s most exciting and thrilling game Xabi Prieto also makes the cut. The Real Sociedad captain hit a brace, including a late near post winner in his side’s 4-3 win against Champions League hopefuls Sevilla at Anoeta.
Pablo Piatti is the final man in a midfield three. The Argentine who’s in resurgent form hit an 81st minute winner for Valencia in a hard fought and key 2-1 win away against Cordoba.
Forwards
In attack, Cristiano Ronaldo ended his three-game barren run in the league with a well-taken headed attempt, and makes the cut. The Portugese talisman was full of life again, and looked a shadow of the toothless figure he cut in recent games. The 30-year-old was willing as always, and hit an amazingly game-high nine shots!
Two Atletico Madrid players, Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic round up the Team of the Round after both players played pivotal roles in the champions’ 3-0 win at home against Almeria. The Frenchman continued his excellent run of form with a brace and was a handful for the visitors, while Croatian Mandzukic was simply the Man of the Match, having a hand in all three goals with a goal and two assists.
