Primera Division

Super Suso the player of the round in Spain

The Milan loanee scored a perfect 10 rating after the draw against Espanyol

 
10:00am on Monday 17th February 2020
By
Martin Macdonald
Suso
W (R), AM (C) - Sevilla FC - 26 yrs
MAN OF THE MATCH
90'
10
Feb 16, 2020

In a topsy-turvy game at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Sevilla had to rely on on-loan Suso to come back from behind to draw 2-2 versus Espanyol.

The tricky Spaniard caused mayhem for the Barcelona-based side all day down the right wing by cutting in on his left foot, and it was via this avenue that he played a part in both goals. Initially, he set up the opening goal with a delightful, dinked cross to the back post for Lucas Ocampos to head home.

Then, to score the vital equaliser with 10 minutes to go, he again jinked inside only to go himself on this occasion, scoring with a low, drilled strike into the bottom right corner.

He completed 38/51 attempted passes, 31 of which were sent into the final third which was the second-most of any player in La Liga this weekend.

It was a spectacular display of wing play, as he also won 9/11 duels, completed five dribbles, and sent nine successful crosses into the area to provide ammunition for his team-mates.

Geoffrey Kondogbia
M (C) - Valencia - 27 yrs
MAN OF THE MATCH
90'
8.8
Feb 14, 2020

Both Valencia and Atletico Madrid would have been relatively content with their 2-2 draw on Friday night, but Geoffrey Kondogbia probably deserved to be on a winning side as he was excellent.

He went through his work in midfield with authority, winning 8/13 duels, 4/7 aerial duels, and 100% of his tackles (3/3), as well as making 12 ball recoveries and five interceptions.

He played a part in the final third, too, as it was his 59th minute goal which brought the game back on level terms for Los Che. There was definitely an element of luck in the strike as he catches what looks like a double touch of the ball while falling down to get on the end of a cross into the box from a free-kick.

However, he earned the luck by being in the right position to score from close range.

Toni Kroos
M, DM (C) - Real Madrid - 30 yrs
MAN OF THE MATCH
81'
8.8
Feb 16, 2020

One of Toni Kroos' best qualities is his ability to remain calm no matter the situation, and that is exactly what he did to get Real Madrid get back into contention after going a goal behind versus Celta.

Not only was his passing exemplary as usual, with 75 completed out of 85 attempts, but he actually scored the first equalising goal of the game after the break with a cool-as-you-like curled finish with his left foot into the left corner from the edge of the box.

Remarkably, he won 100% of his duels (7/7) and 100% of his aerial duels (3/3) and also made 10 ball recoveries.

He sent more passes into the final third than anyone in the league with 42.

Dani Parejo
M (C) - Valencia - 30 yrs
90'
8.3
Feb 14, 2020

Kondogbia did well to finish for that goal, but he was helped out massively by the quality of the delivery which was sent in from the free-kick from Dani Parejo, who was also good for Valencia at the Mestalla.

Parejo's rating comes from his, as usual, diligent command of the ball as he completed 82/93 attempted passes and enjoyed 114 touches which was more than anyone in this round of fixtures apart from Sergio Busquets.

His use of the ball was positive, too, as 32 of these passes were sent into the final third, while he made more ball recoveries than anyone in the league with a hugely impressive 17.

He also sent nine crosses into the box including the one for the equaliser.

Lucas Ocampos
W (R), AM (L) - Sevilla FC - 25 yrs
90'
8.0
Feb 16, 2020

While Suso will take most of the plaudits for Sevilla after the draw versus Espanyol, Ocampos was vital to the point, too, as he contributed a goal and an assist from the opposite wing.

It was a late run to the back post 15 minutes in which allowed him to score a rare header with a cushioned effort into the bottom corner after the aforementioned cross from his team-mate.

He would then return the favour to Suso after cutting into the centre of the pitch from the left wing before sliding a pass out to the feet of the Milan loanee, who did the rest to score.

Even though Ocampos was deployed down the left, he recorded the third-most touches in the opposition box in the league, behind only Karim Benzema and Eden Hazard.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Fernando Pacheco (8) may have been on the losing side as Alaves were beaten 1-0 by Mallorca, but he did everything he possibly could to keep the clean sheet, making five saves including one from a penalty.

ROUND TO FORGET

While Pacheco performed admirably in goal for Alaves, the same can't really be said for his defender, Lisandro Magallan (5.2), who only won 2/7 duels, one tackle, and 1/5 aerial duels, while also making just one interception.

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