La Liga Top Five, Round Ten: Ekambi and Odegaard top in Clasico duo's absence
Villarreal have been the team to watch for excitement this season, with their 24 goals in 10 games the most in La Liga, and they kept up that tradition with an excellent win over Alaves. Toko Ekambi is one of a number of superb attacking options available to the Yellow Submarine and he raced clear on goal to convert superbly to open the scoring, while he flicked home from close range to put his team back in front.
Valladolid finally got their first home win of the season and Salisu was involved at both ends, tapping home in the first half to double his team's lead. But it was his defensive performance that stood us, making a round-high 13 clearances as Eibar mounted pressure, as well as four interceptions and six recoveries. The 19-year-old stood tall and ensured that it was a comfortable home win.
Odegaard is emerging as one of the more impressive attacking midfield players in La Liga this season, finally meeting the expectations he had as a wonderkid, and against Celta he was once again Real Sociedad's orchestrator. His passing was virtually perfect, completely 51 out of 56, while it was his sliderule pass into Alexander Isak that settled the contest in favour of his team. There's plenty more to come from the 21-year-old, on loan from Real Madrid.
Osasuna's home record from both this season and last, when they were in the Segunda, is simply exceptional, stretching to 31 games unbeaten now, and Ruben Garcia in particular took advantage of Valencia going down to 10 men to record another great win. Garcia's fantastic cross set up Oier for the equaliser, then he himself drifted into the back post to head home and turn the match around.
Oier's veteran displays have been key for Osasuna this season and once again he drove the team forward from the engine room to clinch the 3-1 win over Valencia. It was his header that brought the score level just before half-time, and his other defensive statistics were exemplary, winning 2/2 tackles, 3/4 aerial challenges as well as six ball recoveries.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Osasuna defeated Valencia 3-1, but if not for Jaume Domenech (8.4) it could have been much, more as the Los Che goalkeeper made no less that ELEVEN saves.
ROUND TO FORGET
Denis Cheryshev (5.2) lasted 65 minutes versus Osasuna, and attempted 15 passes, with just 5 completed.