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As the festive break approaches quickly, Real Madrid are starting to pull away from the rest with Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla all dropping points in this round of games.
Still a way to go, but Los Merengues are already laying down a marker with 15 rounds gone.
Our team of Match Round 15 has in goal a man who’s starting to becoming a regular here, as well as being a definite stalwart for Malaga – Carlos Kameni.
The Cameroonian goalkeeper is one of the major reasons Malaga have the joint-third best defence in the division. On Saturday at La Rosaleda, he once again showed how much he means to the Andalusians delivering a Man-of-the-Match performance with eight saves.
One wonders how far the 30-year-old’s heroics could carry Malaga…
In our three-man defence are two players who featured in the Basque Derby on Sunday. Athletic Bilbao right-back Oscar de Marcos scored the equaliser for Ernesto Valverde’s side while Inigo Martinez was a rock as always delivering yet again a defensive masterpiece and was arguably the best player on the pitch.
Completing the defence is Valencia 27-year-old defender Antonio Barragan who bagged an assist in Valencia’s masterclass 3-0 win at the Mestalla against Rayo Vallecano.
In midfield, yet another Valencia midfielder Pablo Piatti continued his recent good form as Nuno Santos’ team sealed a comfortable win. The Argentine finished the scoring in a 3-0 win and Los Che will hope his good form can continue.
Christian Stuani came off the bench for Espanyol to score the winner in a 2-1 win at home against Granada. Interestingly, the midfielder’s goal came from his only shot of the game.
Villareal midfielder Bruno was a crucial ingredient in the Yellow Submarines’ vital 1-0 win away at the home of the champions. The veteran midfielder was a monster in the centre of the park, stifling Atletico Madrid time and again through the match.
Algerian playmaker Sofiane Feghouli makes the third Valencia player in the team of the round, as he returned to reckoning in style with a brace in Los Che’s 3-0 win over Rayo Vallecano.
It will take a monumental loss of form or a totally shambolic performance to get Cristiano Ronaldo off the Team of the Round, and it doesn’t seem the Real Madrid forward will be having a bad day at the office any time soon. As Almeria pushed for an equaliser at home against league leaders Real Madrid, it was the Portuguese who stepped-up with two goals to quell all their hopes.
Carlos Vela would be gutted at not finishing on the winning side for the Basque Derby, but he covered himself in glory nonetheless. The Mexican forward scored La Real’s goal in the 1-all draw three minutes into the game and was a constant threat to the Athletic defence with his attempt, dribbles and constant attacking forays all through the game.
Finally, a young man who isn’t so popular at the Calderon these days,Luciano Vietto. The 21-year-old Argentine was a constant threat upfront for Villareal against Atletico Madrid, and broke their hearts with a well-taken goal six minutes from time.
