LaLiga 2017/2018 Team of the Week: Marco Asensio, Andres Guardado and Juanmi prove key in big results

Another week of LaLiga football brought with it more goals, last-ditch challenges and, surprisingly, less refereeing controversy. Real Madrid dropped points, Barcelona did not, but there were plenty of other success stories around the division that deserve our due attention.

Goalkeeper - Kepa Arrizabalaga (Athletic Bilbao)

The 22-year-old was excellent during the summer for Spain's under-21 side in Poland, helping that team to the final, and after a nervy opening performance against Getafe he appears back to his steady self.

Kepa made some key saves as Athletic scraped their way to an arguably undeserved three points against Eibar on Sunday evening, ensuring that the likes of Kike Garcia and Sergi Enrich were suitably frustrated. His reflexes were razor-sharp, with Kuko Ziganda having the youngster to thank for his first three league points as Los Leones boss.

Full backs - Ander Capa (Eibar) and Toni Lato (Valencia)

Ander Capa of Eibar impressed despite the team eventually losing

Despite Eibar falling to a cruel 1-0 defeat at the hands of Athletic Bilbao, one man that definitely didn't need to hang his head in shame was Ander Capa. The flying wing back was a big presence in both his final third and Athletic's, with his lung-bursting runs causing all kinds of issues for both Inigo Cordoba and Enric Saborit.

On the attack, he was unafraid to get to the byline or deliver crosses from deep, with his pace and physicality ensuring that Athletic didn't have a weak spot to exploit on their own adventures forward. A solid all-round showing from the full back, who is a vital cog in Jose Mendilibar's Eibar machine.

At just the age of 19, a visit to Estadio Santiago Bernabeu might be intimidating, but on Sunday night Toni Lato took the occasion in his stride. Despite not matching up with Gareth Bale in terms of physical stature, the young left back was tenacious and a tough nut to crack on the defensive.

When allowed to get forward, the Spaniard provided a lovely assist for Carlos Soler's equaliser to make it 1-1 on Sunday night, showing his composure and awareness to pick out his fellow young teammate. His understanding with Jose Gaya was important down Valencia's left, with a point from Madrid the icing on the cake.

Central defenders - Casemiro (Real Madrid) and Zouhair Feddal (Real Betis)

Casemiro bounced back from a slump in the match

It was a case of needs must for Zinedine Zidane on Sunday, with the suspension of Sergio Ramos forcing the Frenchman's hand. With Raphael Varane and Jesus Vallejo struggling with fitness problems, Casemiro was deployed at the heart of the Real Madrid back four alongside Nacho - and he didn't look out of place.

After getting caught out slightly in the build-up to Carlos Soler's equaliser at 1-1, the Brazilian bounced back brilliantly. He made a number of last-ditch interceptions and tackles to frustrate Valencia, with Simone Zaza unable to squeeze any joy out of what appeared to be a weakness for Los Blancos.

Zouhair Feddal played his much more familiar role of centre back when Celta Vigo came to Seville on Friday, and capped a solid performance with a brilliant headed goal. The former Alaves defender used his height and stature to thump home a great finish, but the Moroccan was also good on the ball.

Quique Setien's style of play relies on his defence to be comfortable in possession, and Feddal was just that. On top of offering a tough presence to deal with the bulky figure of Maxi Gomez, the Betis centre back did the finer details well.

Midfielders - Geoffrey Kondogbia (Valencia), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Andres Guardado (Real Betis)

Koke's curling efforts did not go unrewarded

As debuts go, Geoffrey Kondogbia couldn't have hoped for one better than his against Real Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. In terms of his job of marshalling the midfield third, he made a number of fantastic interceptions and sliding challenges, offering some nice balance to Dani Parejo in the centre of midfield. Just as Marcelino had envisaged before his signing.

When Marcelino may not have seen, however, was a bursting run to the edge of the penalty area, where the Frenchman didn't think twice before slotting a neat finish into the bottom-left corner to put Valencia temporarily 2-1 ahead. His presence was felt throughout.

Koke doesn't score all too often, but when he does, they're worth the wait. That was the case in Gran Canaria, as Atletico Madrid quickly turned over Las Palmas to romp to a comfortable 5-1 win. Despite perhaps being thought of as a creator, rather than a goalscorer, the Spanish midfielder had other ideas.

His first was a curling effort that left Leandro Chichizola with no chance of reaching, before his second came in the form of a close-range, acrobatic over-head kick. To cap his 325th Atleti match, Koke netted his first ever professional brace.

One man who is no stranger to LaLiga, despite being a recent signing for Real Betis, is Andres Guardado. Having spent spells with both Deportivo La Coruna and Valencia in years gone by, Real Betis' win on Friday against Celta Vigo could certainly be thought of as the Mexican midfielder announcing himself back on the scene.

Two of his assists helped Betis to a 2-1 victory. His first, an inch-perfect cross for Sergio Leon to direct home from close range, before Zouhair Feddal rose highest to thump home a header from a Guardado-guided corner. His control in midfield was excellent, with Quique Setien's side now looking rather formidable at the Benito Villamarin.

Forwards - Juanmi (Real Sociedad), Lionel Messi (Barcelona) and Marco Asensio (Real Madrid)

Lionel Messi scored a brace on Saturday

A super sub turned into a potential long-term starter on Friday evening, as Juanmi helped Real Sociedad to dismantle a rather sorry looking Villarreal at Anoeta. Ruben Semedo and Alfred N'Diaye had been thrown together at centre back at short notice for the visitors, and the ex-Southampton forward's movement made their evening a nightmare.

Whether it was his neat control, pace to get in behind or intelligence, Juanmi was always looking like a threat in a La Real side that loved to retain possession. Just before the half-time break, the Spaniard streaked through on goal to scoop a delicate finish over Andres Fernandez and into the back of the net to make it 3-0.

He wasn't at his best, but he made the difference for Barcelona.

Lionel Messi scored a brace on Saturday, after being frustrated by the woodwork on three occasions against Real Betis. It was the case against Deportivo Alaves, too, as the frame of the goal stood firm two further times.

Fernando Pacheco saved a penalty from the Argentine in the first half, but Messi stayed composed and capitalised on two defensive errors from the home side to put Barca 2-0 ahead. Luis Zubeldia's men defended well, but Ernesto Valverde's team celebrated a much-needed three points down to some neat finishes from the 30 year old.

Marco Asensio just continues to do it on the big stage. But for a brace from the youngster, Valencia would have been leaving the Bernabeu with more than just a point, but two neat finishes put paid to that. He made his first goal look easy, coaxing a curling finish into the bottom-left corner from outside the box, before firing home a free-kick effort to restore parity at 2-2 on 83 minutes.

For a player so young, Asensio is the full package. He showcased his speed, precision on the ball, trickery and maturity on Sunday, all when Real Madrid needed a hero. When the clock ticked into the last 10 minutes, it was he who was entrusted with the vital free-kick attempt - and he proved all those who have faith in him absolutely right. The 21-year-old may well have made himself undroppable for now.