La Liga Team of the Week: Round 18 - Messi & Sanchez star for Barcelona, Real Madrid players miss out

Goal.com picks the best from Spain's top flight in the most recent round of action

Jan 16, 2012 9:10:00 AM

More On :  Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid, Betis, Espanyol, FC Barcelona, Getafe, Granada, Levante, Malaga, Mallorca, Osasuna, Racing, Rayo Vallecano, Real Madrid CF, Real Sociedad, Sevilla, Sporting de Gijon, Valencia CF, Villarreal, Zaragoza
La Liga

Team Of The Week:

Round 18

Table/Results

GOALKEEPER

Kiko CASILLA
Espanyol
TOTW Apps: 1
Kiko Casilla is the third-choice goalkeeper for Espanyol and featured against Sevilla away as Carlos Kameni has joined Malaga and Cristian Alvarez is injured. However, the 25-year-old produced a solid display and made a number of saves, helping the Barcelona outfit to a goalless draw in Seville.
DEFENDERS

Fernando AMOREBIETA
Athletic Bilbao
TOTW Apps: 1
Juan FORLIN
  Espanyol 
  TOTW Apps: 1
Mikel GONZALEZ
Real Sociedad
TOTW Apps: 1
Athletic Bilbao comfortably saw off Levante 3-0 at home and centre-back Fernando Amorebieta was one of the star players for the Basque giants. He opened the scoring after just 11 minutes when he headed home Markel Susaeta's corner and stood strong at the back throughout. Juan Forlin’s performance for Espanyol against Sevilla was laudable as the centre-back held his ground in front of his side’s citadel, and so did Mikel Gonzalez for Real Sociedad in their 1-0 win against Valencia at Mestalla while also looking good going forward.

MIDFIELDERS

Antoine GRIEZMANN
Real Sociedad
TOTW Apps: 1
MICHU
Rayo Vallecano
TOTW Apps: 1
DIEGO
Atletico Madrid
TOTW Apps: 1
Iker MUNIAIN
Athletic Bilbao
TOTW Apps: 3
Antoine Griezmann was the best player for Sociedad in their shock win at Valencia, the Frenchman expressing his qualities in the second half and scoring the winner on 56 minutes. Michu was the key for Rayo Vallecano in their 2-1 away triumph over Granada. He scored his side’s opening goal, went close on a number of other occasions and was a constant threat to the hosts’ defence. Brazilian playmaker Diego pressed the creative button for Atletico Madrid in their 3-0 home win against Villarreal, helping Atleti play free-flowing football and also netted his team’s third goal. Iker Muniain continued to impress for Bilbao and could have found the target twice had it not been for the saves from Levante goalkeeper Gustavo Munua.

FORWARDS

Lionel MESSI
Barcelona
TOTW Apps: 6

Radamel FALCAO
Atletico Madrid
TOTW Apps: 3
Alexis SANCHEZ
Barcelona
TOTW Apps: 2
Lionel Messi and Alexis Sanchez were the star players for Barcelona in their 4-2 victory over Real Betis at Camp Nou on Sunday. While the three-time Ballon d’Or winner found the target twice, Sanchez was the key figure for the Blaugrana as he provided one assist and scored the all-important third goal. Radamel Falcao was on the scoresheet twice for Atleti at the Vicente Calderon against the Yellow Submarine, his second coming from the penalty spot.


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