Best of Jornada 22 in La Liga

Time to pay homage to those players that really impressed this past week.

GOAL:

Just for that awesome save that was just out of this world, My hat goes off to Vicente Guaita from Valencia. Incredible piece of skill and timing against Hercules in the derby Valenciano. What vision! What reflexes! What a stretch! Mystifying.

DEFENSE:

Kudos go to a player out of position (Eliseu), an over the hill veteran (Ballasteros) and one who stepped up to the captaincy (Fernando Navarro).

Normally a left winger, Eliseu was asked to play at Left Back for Pellegrini in the Andaluz derby against Sevilla. That said, he was solid and handled his defensive and offensive duties with ease. Shame the finishing by the anchovies was lacking.

Big, thick, over the hill, these are some of the names often heard by Sergio Ballasteros, but this week the central defender had a massive game (no pun intended). He was part of the five man defensive wall, that coach Luis Garcia played at the back against the red hot Villarreal in El Madrigal. The Granotes surprised the Yellow Submarines and Ballasteros did the same. Quality display.

Fernando Navarro was one of the few shining stars for Sevilla in the Andaluz derby. He came through with some critical tackles to halt the Malaga attack and the Euro champion let his actions speak, as he allowed very little goal penetration by the opposing side.

MIDFIELD:

Brasilian superstar, Rikki Kaka had one of his best games with Los Merengues this season. He played with calmness, stealth and velocity. He opened the flood gates, with the opening goal against Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu. The best man on the pitch without a doubt.

After a poor run of form and a consecutive string of losses, Getafe came back to life and trounced Deportivo La Coruña. The one man who was involved in nearly every single play was Jaime Gavilan. Incredible game.

Solid in the center and even bagging a goal, Hernan Bernardello has been a key player for Almería over the past few games. The ex-Newell's hard man has really made the difference for the little Andalusian club. He was instrumental in holding the win against a very difficult Espanyol.

The trickster, el travieso Iker Muniain has been playing out of his skin. The 17 year old enganche received his first call up tothe Spain U-21s and was eager to show Coach Milla that this was not a fluke. Against Sporting Gijon, he started on the wings, but moved into the middle and became the sublime playmaker. I love watching this kid grow and fulfill his potential at Athletic, in front of our very eyes. He is the real deal. It was fantastic to see him play with Ander and Javi Mar in the U-21s this week, as well.

UPFRONT

Messi, Messi, Messi - hat trick king extraordinaire now tied with Cristiano Ronaldo for the pichichi. He ran rampage over Atletico de Madrid with ease. Doesn't he link up so well with Alves, El Guaje Villa and Pedro?

Cristiano Ronaldo was fit to be tied. He is obsessed over that pichichi trophy, so he netted two against Real Sociedad. Incredible drive and skills.

Finally Getafe's coach Michel plays two strikers upfront and brings back Adrian Colunga into the starting eleven. Well, the ex-Recreativo striker proved his worth by scoring a brace and spurring the team on to win in the process. Colunga started off the season slow and nervy, but it looks like the mighty mite has finally found his groove. Stupendous game.

GUAITA (VALENCIA); ELISEU (MALAGA), BALLASTEROS (LEVANTE), FERNANDO NAVARRO (SEVILLA); KAKA (REAL MADRID), GAVILAN (GETAFE), BERNARDELLO (ALMERIA), MUNIAIN (ATHLETIC); MESSI (BARCELONA), RONALDO (REAL MADRID), COLUNGA (GETAFE)