Nacho impressed at both ends of the pitch in La Liga's final game of the weekend, as Real Madrid ran out narrow 1-0 winners over Real Valladolid, with him scoring the decisive goal 12 minutes from time.
With the clock running down, Toni Kroos took a corner into the box which was cleared. With his second attempt he successfully found his team-mate, who sent a lovely, glancing header into the bottom corner.
He helped keep the goals out at the other end, too, winning 7/11 duels, 2/4 tackles, and 100% of his aerial duels, as well as making six ball recoveries, four interceptions, and two clearances.
Osasuna claimed all three points in the league for the first time since the beginning of December, running out 2-0 winners against Levante.
Aridane Hernandez was vital to the clean sheet gained at home, stopping several Levante counters with seven ball recoveries, two interceptions, and two clearances.
In addition to that, he won 5/6 duels, 100% of his tackles (4/4), and 100% of his aerial duels.
His passing was excellent from the back too, as he misplaced just four out of 31 attempted balls to team-mates.
Real Sociedad bounced back from consecutive losses against Villarreal and Betis and moved to within just two points of Atletico Madrid in fifth after comfortably defeating Mallorca 3-0.
Portu emerged as the man of the match, scoring a goal and recording an assist.
It was a superb run down the right wing, latching on to a lofted pass to the line before reversing a cross back inside for Alex Isak which saw him set up the opening goal just a few moments into the second half.
He then deservedly got on the scoresheet himself after being at the right place at the right time to stick a rebound home after a spill from the goalkeeper. The winger enjoyed 13 touches in the opposition box which was more than anyone else in this round of Liga fixtures.
It took Real Madrid longer than they would have wanted to open the scoring against Valladolid, but Kroos was always the man keeping things ticking over for the Blancos, and looked the most likely player to open up the opposition defence.
He eventually did set up the winner with a curled cross in for Nacho.
His passing was, as usual, exemplary, as he misplaced just two passes out of 90 in the entire match. The majority of duels were won by the German, who also made six ball recoveries.
Even when Messi doesn't score, doesn't assist, and Barcelona lose, he remains their top former. All three of those things happened this weekend as the Blaugrana lost 2-0 to Valencia, but the Argentine didn't deserve to be on a losing team.
Apart from team-mate Sergio Busquets, he sent more passes into the final third than anyone in La Liga and completed 56/65 attempted passes overall.
He also had, by far, the most shots on goal of anyone in the league with 11, and was frustrated by the goalkeeper as four of those strikes hit the target only to be saved.
HONOURABLE MENTION
Sergio Reguilon (7.9) assisted a goal for Nolito for Sevilla, while Luuk de Jong (7.9) also scored in that game.
Ferland Mendy (7.9), meanwhile, won an impressive 11/14 duels for Real Madrid.
