La Liga Team of the week: Near perfect Messi continues Barca's improved run
Barcelona are picking up in their form as we approach the turn of the year as they made it four wins without defeat in La Liga this week after a 3-0 win versus Real Valladolid.
Lionel Messi (9.9) was once again key to the victory, recording a goal and an assist, while he played a huge part in the other goal also.
He completed 75/84 attempted passes, 37 of which were sent into the final third which was more than anyone in this round of fixtures. He was unlucky not to have scored more than one goal, as fired a huge 11 shots on goal with seven hitting the target.
Atletico earned a huge win away at Real Sociedad, with Yannick Carrasco (8.5) assisting both goals in the 2-0 victory for Diego Simeone's men.
Ruben Garcia (8.5) makes up the front three after his goal and assist for Osasuna.
The second best performer of the week behind Messi was Betis' Guido Rodriguez (8.7) who, in addition to scoring the winner against Cadiz, won the majority of his duels and made nine ball recoveries, four interceptions, and three clearances.
Barcelona's Miralem Pjanic (8.3) and Real Madrid's Casemiro (8.3) make up the other two spots in the midfield three.
The Brazilian scored as Real Madrid beat Granada 2-0.
Marcos Acuna (7.7) won an impressive 10/15 duels at left-back for Sevilla, while he was in the top five players with the most ball recoveries with 11.
Clement Lenglet (8.7) scored a header for Barcelona and also helped them keep a rare clean sheet, with Sergino Dest (7.3) also featuring in the back four after his excellent assist for Martin Braithwaite.
Mario Hermoso (7.9) is the last player to make up the backline, with his goal key to Atletico's win.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen (8.0) helped Barca keep the clean sheet by making five saves in goal.