La Liga round-up: Fornals on fire as Barcelona and Real Madrid lose

 

Following a hugely significant round of midweek matches, in which both Barcelona and Real Madrid were defeated, we run through the best and worst performers in La Liga from gameweek 6.

It was Atletico that most profited from the shock results of the top two on Wednesday, closing the gap to the pair to just two points after what had been a disappointing start to the campaign from Diego Simeone’s side.

They looked back to their best at both ends against newly promoted Huesca, however, romping to a three goal lead within 33 minutes, able to take their foot off the gas and, crucially, rest some key players in the second half.

Each of their front six had a direct hand in a goal on Tuesday night, though it was the least likely of those to do so that picked up the man of the match award. Thomas Partey notched Atleti’s second and his first of the season in the 3-0 victory, whilst completing both of his tackle attempts, four interceptions and 90 per cent of his passes for a rating of 8.65 - the third highest in Spain in midweek.

Andre Silva, meanwhile, was the star of the show as Sevilla romped to a memorable 3-0 win of their own over European champions Madrid, scoring his fifth and sixth league goals of the season for his new club. The Portuguese’s brace came in the space of four first half minutes and strike partner Wissam Ben Yedder added a third before the interval in what was one of the most shocking scoreline in recent memory in La Liga.

Silva hit the target with three of four attempts and held the ball up well too, winning three aerial duels and completing an impressive 87 per cent of his passes from the front for a rating of 9.10.

It was, however, Pablo Fornals who secured our highest score of the week (9.22), in another 3-0 victory, this time for Villarreal away to Athletic Club. After a dismal start the visitors approached the game as the underdogs but their young midfielder was the orchestrator of a fantastic result for the Yellow Submarine.

 

 

Opening the scoring midway through the second half from all of 40-yards, the 22-year-old struck a looping volley over Unai Simon in the hosts net with a goal that will prove tough to better in La Liga all season. He also produced one of the best pieces of individual skill you are likely to see with one of two successful dribbles, completed five tackles and registered the assist for Karl Toko Ekambi’s late third.

La Liga round-up: Fornals on fire as Barcelona and Real Madrid lose