La Liga Team Of The Week: Round 2

Barcelona again came unstuck, this time drawing at home to Racing Santander despite a second half onslaught. Unlike their great rivals, Real Madrid did manage to record a victory in the first home game of the season having lost on the road in Round 1. It came in a crazy 4-3 goalfest at home to Barca’s opening weekend conquerors, Numancia.

In other notable contests, Sevilla came back from a shock two goal deficit at home to Sporting Gijon in another seven goal thriller, Atletico were undone 2-1 in Valladolid despite a man advantage for the majority of the match, and Valencia had to battle hard for point away to an impressive looking Almeria.

Getafe and Malaga ended in stalemate at home to Betis and Bilbao respectively, Liga hopefuls Villarreal picked up their first victory at El Madrigal against Deportivo, while Mallorca drew with Osasuna at 'Son Moix'. Finally, Luis Garcia got his own and Espanyol’s second goal in as many games, sending Los Periquitos top of the Liga pile and without a goal conceded.

Best XI

Formation: 4-4-2

Goalkeeper

Toño (Racing)
A superman performance from the Racing ‘keeper, halting Barca’s wolves at the door and securing what, in the final third of the match, looked to be an unlikely point. His efforts made it a very uncomfortable night for Pep Guardiola- the boos and whistles no doubt still ringing in his years.

Defenders

Bruno (Almeria)
Captain fantastic for little Almeria, blazing up and down the right side and constantly gave Valencia something to think about, setting up the hosts second goal.. He might look like Moby, but plays with all the heart of soul of a lion.

Ezequiel Garay (Racing)
All the talk was of the Argentine proving a point to Barca after a move to Camp Nou never materialized before Real snapped him up. He did just that, and was everywhere in defence, but also showed his typical poise, calm and class when all round him were deserted by theirs.

Baraja (Valladolid)
Helped keep out Atletico to hold on to victory after defensive team mate Pedro saw red, maintaining the lead he himself secured from the penalty spot in the first half.

Mané (Almeria)
The second of two excellent full back performances from Almeria, Mane showed boundless energy, great confidence and some good touches.

Midfield

Santi Cazorla (Villarreal)
A great strike from the Spanish international winger, showing Real what they're missing and Villarreal what they’ve held on to after Cazorla decided to stay at El Madrigal in the summer.

Rafael Van der Vaart (Real Madrid)
The type of performance, and goal, all top players would want in their first Liga outing in front of the demanding Bernabeu crowd.

Enzo Maresca (Sevilla)
Outstanding performance from the Italian dynamo. He orchestrated Sevilla’s attacking play effortlessly, proving a constant threat with his goal power, movement and endless supply chain to the forwards.

Pablo Piatti (Almeria)
Somewhat shoehorned in on the left of midfield here, but his guy could be a star this season. Almeria call him ‘our Messi on the left’, and for a time the youngster almost deserved the comparison. Scored an opportunistic goal, and is the type of player opponents Valencia would love in Silva’s absence.

Strikers

Kanouté (Sevilla)
Bagged two in an open game, but Sevilla were in desperate need of his goals (especially given the absence of a jaded Fabiano) after Sporting’s remarkable first half haul. Showed some great touches too, re-affirming just how important he will again be to Los Blanquirrojo’s season.

Mate Bilić (Sporting Gijon)
Had some luck with his first half hat-trick, but come on, a first half hat-trick! Pretty much the most unexpected individual performance of the weekend. A timely one too, as Bilic he was left on the bench for the opening home defeat to Getafe. A perfect repost to the coach, making him a surefire starter from now on .

Toño
Bruno - Garay - Baraja - Mané
Cazorla - van der Vaart - Maresca - Piatti
Kanouté - Bilić



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