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After the international break, it was back to business for LaLiga clubs this past weekend. There was yet another shuffle at the top of the table, with a new side now sitting atop the division.
The action began on Friday evening, as Deportivo Alavés and manager Abelardo had a wonderful chance to vault up to first place at Leganés. Instead, Los Pepineros and manager Mauricio Pellegrino earned an important three points in a 1-0 win. The result moves Leganés out of the relegation zone into 17th.
The weekend’s absolute stunner was in Saturday’s early kick-off, as Eibar secured a thrilling 3-0 victory against Real Madrid. The Basque side brought their best against the European title-holders and were rewarded with a historic finish. It was Eibar’s first league win versus Los Blancos. For Real manager Santiago Solari, it was his first loss since taking the job last month.
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Valencia enjoyed a strong showing at home against Rayo Vallecano, cruising to a comfortable 3-0 triumph. Huesca and Levante battled to a 2-2 draw. The highlight of the weekend was in the capital, as Barcelona visited Atlético Madrid in a top-of-the-table clash.
A second-half strike from Diego Costa had the home side set for an important victory until Ousmane Dembélé’s late goal produced a 1-1 final scoreline.
Sunday began with yet another draw for Athletic Club, this time versus Getafe. It is Los Leones’ eighth draw in 13 league matches and dropped them into the relegation places.
Thanks to Atlético’s result against Barcelona, Sevilla then had an opportunity to jump to the top of the table with a win versus Real Valladolid, and they took advantage of that chance. A 1-0 final now puts manager Pablo Machín’s team first in LaLiga.
Girona earned an impressive 3-1 away win at Espanyol, with a 2-1 home victory for Villarreal against Real Betis finishing off the day’s fixtures. Monday evening brought a 2-1 loss for Celta Vigo at Real Sociedad, the visitors' fourth consecutive game without a win across all competitions.
European matches are on the horizon this week for several Spanish clubs, as the Champions League and Europa League reach the fifth matchday of the group stage.
We review and highlight the top players in LaLiga for Matchweek 13:
Goalkeeper - Tomáš Vaclík - Sevilla FC
André Silva ultimately delivered the winning goal for Sevilla on Sunday versus Real Valladolid, but it was Tomáš Vaclík’s work at goalkeeper that helped to produce an important result.
The 29-year-old made 5 saves and positioned himself effectively throughout the game, earning his fourth league clean sheet of the 2018-19 season.
Defenders
RB - Rubén Peña - SD Eibar
Eibar’s tactical performance against Real Madrid was magnificent. Defenders were sharp, and Rubén Peña was excellent at full-back.
The former Leganés right-back had four tackles, and his work out wide helped to keep the visitors from finding a goal on Saturday.
CB - Ximo Navarro - Deportivo Alavés
It was an opportunity lost for Alavés on Friday night at Leganés, although it certainly was not due to Ximo Navarro on the back-line.
The centre-back made six tackles and won two aerial duels, but it was not enough in a 1-0 defeat.
CB - Lucas Hernández - Atlético Madrid
Atlético manager Diego Simeone has been dealing with several injuries this season in central defence, including Diego Godín and José Giménez. Lucas Hernández stepped into the centre-back role once again and was effective versus Barcelona.
The French international had four tackles and showcased accurate passing on the ball.
LB - Carlos Akapo - SD Huesca
It was a wild game at the Estadio El Alcoraz for Huesca versus Levante, and Carlos Akapo seemed to be everywhere on the pitch.
The 25-year-old defender recorded six tackles and won three aerial duels, along with four shots when he got forward into the attack.
Midfielders
MF - Santi Cazorla - Villarreal CF
After fighting his way back into football following injuries and fitness concerns, it is truly tough not to be cheering for Santi Cazorla. The former Arsenal man was at his vintage best for Villarreal this past Sunday, controlling the middle of the pitch with accurate passing and excellent vision.
Cazorla assisted both of the Yellow Submarine’s goals during their 2-1 win against Real Betis.
MF - Gonzalo Escalante - SD Eibar
The entire Eibar line-up deserves praise for their win over Real Madrid. But in the midfield, it was Gonzalo Escalante who shined bright. Up against quality opposition such as Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos, it was never going to be easy. Escalante responded with non-stop effort, and he scored his team’s first goal of the match.
The Argentine international also displayed great skill on the ball, with three successful dribbles in the game.
MF - Aleix García - Girona FC
Girona secured a fantastic away victory at Espanyol on Sunday, with Aleix García having a massive influence in the midfield. The 21-year-old is with the Catalan side on-loan from Manchester City.
García assisted on Girona’s second goal, won possession on several occasions and made key tackles when necessary.
Forwards
FW - Cristhian Stuani - Girona FC
Lethal. Clinical. Deadly. All three of these adjectives would work for Cristhian Stuani, who continues to be a significant threat to any LaLiga defence.
The Uruguayan international netted two goals on Sunday at Espanyol, bringing his league-leading tally to ten goals thus far for 2018-19. Stuani will be tested next weekend when Girona host Atlético Madrid.
FW - Sergi Enrich - SD Eibar
Eibar’s forwards kept the pressure on Real Madrid this past weekend, and Sergi Enrich was almost too much to handle for the visitors.
The 28-year-old scored a goal and assisted on another, as he never really let Madrid’s back-line settle into the game.
FW - Santi Mina - Valencia CF
While he has not always been getting many minutes, Santi Mina has proven to be a reliable option up front for Valencia. His two goals powered Los Che to a 3-0 victory against Rayo Vallecano, as the youngster continues to make the most of scoring chances.
His two goals on Saturday came from only three shots, as a brace earlier this month in the UEFA Europa League against BSC Young Boys featured similar efficiency.
Manager - José Luis Mendilibar - SD Eibar
We have all heard the tale before. One of football’s true giants visits a smaller club without the same type of resources or quality in the line-up. But somehow, the minnows find a way to pull off a miraculous upset and shock the world.
Eibar and manager José Luis Mendilibar delivered a thrilling 3-0 win against Real Madrid, but they were not about to sit back and hope for the best.
What made this result so refreshing to watch was the way Eibar came at their opponent. In many cases, a defensive and conservative approach may be utilised in this situation. Real boast a talented group of players, but the home team were not short on confidence. In a classic 4-4-2 formation, Mendilibar and his squad went for it all.
Marc Cucurella and Fabián Orellana were spectacular out wide. The back-line cleared out dangerous scoring opportunities in their own half, while goalkeeper Asier Riesgo made critical saves when called upon. Sergi Enrich and Kike were relentless in the final third, and this was a deserved victory for Los Armeros.
José Luis Mendilibar believed in his players, and they backed up their coach against Real Madrid. Eibar will look to continue their good form at Rayo Vallecano on Friday evening.
