La Liga Team Of The Week: Round 8

BEST XI

Formation: 4-3-3

Goalkeeper

Carlos Kameni (Espanyol): Produced at least three world class saves to earn his team a point. Sevilla peppered his goal and were left scratching their heads at the end after not scoring. Just edged out Sporting de Gijon's Juan Pablo, but it was tight.

Defenders

David Cortes (Getafe): Los Azulones are showing a steel that they severely lacked last term. Their defence has been central to that improvement and Cortes' display summed up the confidence now instilled in the team, producing an impressive performance.

Gregory Arnolin (Sporting): The French central defender had been something of a journeyman before joining the Asturians in the summer, but his display against Real Madrid will ensure that he may remain at El Molinon for some time to come.

Albert Botia (Sporting): Partnering Gregory in the middle of the hosts' back four on Saturday, the on-loan Barca centre-back showed why he is so highly-rated by the Catalan outfit. He produced a fine performance to help earn his side an impressive point.

Maxwell (Barcelona): Having seen Eric Abidal retain and then keep his place in the Barca side, the Brazilian had to show he was capable of playing at the same level. For the first time this season he provided the same attacking force that the Frenchman does regularly.

Midfielders

Nauzet Aleman (Real Valladolid): The former Las Palmas star may have only played 66 minutes but in that time he helped la Pucela wrap up the points with two goals in an incredible display by the home team in Jose Zorrilla. He could become one of the finds of the season.

Borja Valero (Real Mallorca): Stated this week that he hopes his loan move from West Bromwich Albion can be made permanent by Mallorca, but if he keeps playing as well as he has been recently then it will not just be the Balearic outfit who will want to sign him.

Seydou Keita (Barcelona): Pep Guardiola has called the Mali international the best player he has ever coached because of his willingness and desire to learn. Against Real Zaragoza he showed just why he is so highly-rated by the Blaugrana trainer with a superb hat-trick.

Forwards

Lionel Messi (Barcelona): They may not appreciate him in Argentina for his form in an Albiceleste shirt, but at Camp Nou he is still the hero. Sunday's performance in Barca's emphatic win showed just why. His well taken goal capped a return to form for the forward.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barcelona): There were some doubts about the Swede's ability to score as many as Samuel Eto'o when the pair swapped clubs in the summer, but not only does the current incumbent of the Blaugrana No.9 jersey score, he also creates and holds the ball up superbly.

Pablo Hernandez (Valencia): The pick of Valencia's four diminutive forward players against Almeria. He netted a fine goal from long range and set up David Villa for his strike. Creative and full of running all night. He was also responsible for Diego Alves' mad moment that saw him sent off.


Honourable mentions

Juan Pablo (Sporting)
Nacho Monreal (Osasuna)
Abdoulay Konko (Sevilla)
Mane (Getafe)
Carles Puyol (Barcelona)
Carlos Bellvis (Tenerife)
Joan Capdevila (Villarreal)
Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)
Miguel de las Cuevas (Sporting)
Jesus Navas (Sevilla)
Cani (Villarreal)
Derek Boateng (Getafe)
Mikel Alonso (Tenerife)
Kaka (Real Madrid)
Sebastian Eguren (Villarreal)
Didier Zokora (Sevilla)
Roberto Soldado (Getafe)
David Villa (Valencia)
Juan Mata (Valencia)
Alejandro Alfaro (Tenerife)
Diego Costa (Real Valladolid)


Lucas Brown, Goal.com