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Another match day packed full of goals and drama in the La Liga can only mean one thing, that we have to sift through and pick out the best performances.
With so many finishes slamming into the back of the net over the weekend, it was no mean feat to narrow it down to the 11 best performers of Jornada 3.
Goalkeeper - Raul Fernandez (Levante)
Levante’s number one had to be in top form for his side’s visit to Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, and so he proved to be. Gareth Bale was denied by a brilliant one-on-one save by the 29-year-old goalkeeper, with Las Granotas able to scrape a 1-1 draw with Los Blancos on the proviso that he kept things extraordinarily tight behind his back four.
Left back - Jordi Alba (Barcelona)
After having a difficult period under Luis Enrique at Barcelona, the Jordi Alba of old appears to have returned. The Barcelona left back was in excellent form against Espanyol, haring down the left-hand side with regularity to help give width in the final third. The chemistry between himself, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi is a joy to watch.
Right back - Sebastian Corchia (Sevilla)
The Frenchman only came off the bench for the last 20 minutes against Eibar, but highlighted why Eduardo Berizzo should be considering him immediately for his first-team starting plans. Corchia nabbed his first assist for Los Nervionenses, curling in a great cross for Nolito to guide home inside the penalty area. His drive and willingness to get forward is a real asset for Sevilla.
Centre back - Unai Nunez (Athletic Bilbao)
The absence of Yeray raised big questions ahead of Athletic Bilbao’s league season, but 20-year-old centre back Unai Nunez has stepped up to the plate in quite impressive fashion. Against Girona, the youngster had the physical frame to deal with Christian Stuani, as well as the ability to read the game to deal with the pace of Portu. He appears to be a very well-rounded defender indeed.
Centre back - Gustavo Cabral (Celta de Vigo)
Celta Vigo broke their duck at the weekend, picking up their first win of the campaign at Alaves’ expense, with a clean sheet the icing on the cake for La Celeste. Cabral was at the heart of it at Balaidos, as his robust and physical style ensured that the likes of Bojan and Munir had little chance unless they received the ball to feet.
Centre midfield - Jefferson Lerma (Levante)
Continues to impress this season, offering a good balance of both physical presence and technical ability. Picked up a yellow card, as is becoming customary, but his energy and harrying is key to Levante’s organised pressing in midfield. Vital to his unit and was a thorn in Real Madrid’s side.
Centre midfield - Geoffrey Kondogbia (Valencia)
His debut against Real Madrid was exceptional, with his second match in a Valencia shirt coming mightily close. Kondogbia was at the heart of everything for Los Che, making plenty of interceptions and key challenges in midfield, even winning balls that didn’t appear to be his for the taking. The Frenchman appears to have his confidence back, and he is a force to be reckoned with.
Centre midfield - Asier Illarramendi (Real Sociedad)
Two goals help to paint the picture of a glorious afternoon for Illarramendi, as Real Sociedad maintained their excellent start to the new La Liga campaign. Two excellent finishes from the Spaniard helped La Real to a 4-2 win over Deportivo, with the ex-Real Madrid man both dictating the tempo and getting forward when the opportunity arose. A complete outing.
Forward - Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
End product has often been a criticism levelled at Inaki Williams, but there are promising signs at the start of the 2017/2018 season. Athletic Bilbao’s match against Girona this weekend saw the Basque wide man provide two assists for his side in a 2-0 win. From the right-hand side, his pace caused a lot of problems for a slightly slow visiting defence, with his contributions proving vital for another good three points for Kuko Ziganda.
Forward - Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
The Catalan derby ended up being won at a canter by Barcelona, with Lionel Messi firing home the first three goals to put Espanyol to the sword at Camp Nou. The first was offside, but there could be no complaints about the finishes, with the Argentine appearing to be enjoying his role as a false nine once again. His early-season form is pointing towards a very prolific season.
Forward - Maxi Gomez (Celta Vigo)
Uruguay has some interesting striking talent to choose from in the future, with Maxi Gomez looking like one of the best bargains of the summer transfer window so far. Another goal for the young striker came against Alaves, enough to take three points and put plenty of smiles on the faces of the fans at Balaidos. His instincts in the box, mixed with his physicality, make him a real threat for any team, regardless of how much or little Celta manage to create.
