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Sports Mole's La Liga Team of the Week

Sports Mole picks out its 11 star performers from week one of La Liga.

Real Madrid and Barcelona both won in La Liga's opening round of fixtures, but champions Atletico Madrid were held to a goalless draw at Rayo Vallecano on an incident-filled start to the new 2014-15 campaign.

The action started on Saturday evening, with Malaga beating Champions League hopefuls Athletic Bilbao - who had a late equaliser from goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz controversially disallowed - before Granada came from a goal behind to beat newly-promoted Deportivo La Coruna.

Back-to-back 1-1 draws arrived in the final two games of the night, with Valencia holding Sevilla at the Estadio Ramon and Espanyol picking up a point at Almeria.

On Sunday, Eibar picked up their first-ever La Liga win with a 1-0 success over Real Sociedad, before Barcelona beat Elche 3-0 at the Camp Nou.

Celta Vigo also got off to a winning start with a 3-1 victory over Getafe, before the night's events were concluded in Valencia, where Villarreal beat Levante 2-0.

Real Madrid matched Barcelona's tally of three points with a 2-0 win over Cordoba on Monday, but Atletico could not break down a spirited Rayo in the capital.

Here, Sports Mole picks out its 11 star performers from Spain's leading division.

Carlos Kameni (Malaga)
The Cameroonian was a surprise starter for Malaga in Saturday's 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, with new signing Guillermo Ochoa, who impressed for Mexico at the World Cup, named on the bench. Kameni certainly took the opportunity with both hands, making a number of brilliant saves to help his side pick up all three points.

Juan Angel Crespo (Cordoba)
Crespo was of a number of players making his Cordoba debut at the Bernabeu and the defender picked up Sports Mole's man of the match award. The full-back was defensively sound in the capital, while he also proved a threat down the other end. It was a fine all-round display.
Jean-Sylvain Babin (Granada)
The powerful centre-back made a big impression on his Granada debut, registering what proved to be winner in his side's 2-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday. Babin looked incredibly mobile across the ground and a real physical presence in the air.
Abdoulaye Ba (Rayo Vallecano)
The 23-year-old was a tower of strength on his Rayo debut against Atletico. He saw off the threat of both Mario Mandzukic and Raul Jimenez, while he was also calm and composed in possession of the ball. The centre-back looks to be a shrewd signing by the capital outfit.

Javi Lara (Eibar)
It was Lara's brilliant strike against Real Sociedad on Saturday that secured what proved to be Eibar's first La Liga win in their history. The midfielder radiated class each time he had possession of the ball and looks set to make a big impact in Spain's top league.
Daniel Parejo (Valencia)
When his side were reduced to 10 men with 25 minutes remaining at Sevilla, Parejo came to the forefront, controlling possession from the middle of the park and threatening with a series of dangerous free kicks. He played a key role in helping Valencia claim a late point.
Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona)
The Croatian set up Munir El Haddadi for Barcelona's second in Monday's 3-0 win over Elche and made a big impression during his league debut for the Catalan outfit. Seen as the natural successor to Xavi and made his mark with a box-to-box all-round performance at the Camp Nou.
Javier Aquino (Rayo Vallecano)
Gave the Atletico defenders a torrid time in the second half of Monday's goalless draw in Madrid. It was a surprise that Villarreal let the Mexican leave this summer and Rayo will be pinching themselves at securing a player of his quality on loan. Delivered cross after cross as he showed his quality on the ball.

Manucho (Real Valladolid)
The former Manchester United striker was only given the second period of Monday's 0-0 draw with Atletico, but he made a serious impact. It was a disappointment that the free signing could not find the back of the net with any of his chances, but he caused panic in the Atletico box with an all-round centre-forward's display.
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Did not take long to get up-and-running in terms of goals for the new La Liga season, scoring twice in Monday's 3-0 win over Elche. Both of the Argentine's strikes were of the highest order, while he also set up a number of chances for his teammates. Looked a much happier player than last season.
Joaquin Larrivey (Celta Vigo)
Celta beat off a host of competition to sign the powerful forward on a free transfer this summer and he opened his tally for the club in Sunday's 3-1 win over Getafe. The away side just could not deal with Larrivey's physicality in the final third.

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Atletico Madrid's players celebrate after scoring during the UEFA Champions League Final Real Madrid vs Atletico de Madrid at Luz stadium in Lisbon, on May 24, 2014
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Season preview: La Liga
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
10am
Blanch
Nadal
Result
Cachin
Ofner
6 6
3 3
Result
Elahi Galan
Bautista-Agut
64 6 1
77 4 6
Result
Gasquet
Sonego
2 5
6 7
Result
Hanfmann
Mensik
4 63
6 77
10am
Koepfer
Carballes Baena
10am
Kovacevic
Medjedovic
Result
Lajovic
Monteiro
4 3
6 6
Result
Machac
Ruusuvuori
6 1 6
4 6 2
10am
Michelsen
Fonseca
Result
Nishioka
Auger-Aliassime
6 1 4
4 6 6
Result
O'Connell
Arnaldi
4 1
6 6
Result
Purcell
Giron
4 6 77
6 4 62
10am
Ramos-Vinolas
Kotov
Result
Tabilo
Cobolli
7 4 4
5 6 6
Result
Zhizhen
Kecmanovic
3 2
6 6
Result
Azarenka
Maria
6 6
3 1
10am
Eala
Cirstea
10am
Annie Fernandez
Potapova
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Gauff
Rus
6 6
0 0
Result
Keys
Camelia-Begu
77 78
63 66
Result
Podoroska
Navarro
2 1
6 6
10am
Karolina Schmiedlova
Jabeur
10am
Swiatek
Wang
10am
Baez
Van Assche
10am
Coric
Zverev
10am
Martin Etcheverry
Shapovalov
10am
Humbert
Van De Zandschulp
10am
Hurkacz
Draper
10am
Marozsan
Cerundolo
10am
Paul
Klein
10am
Rublev
Bagnis
10am
Alexandrova
Krueger
10am
Andreeva
Noskova
10am
Bejlek
Kalinskaya
10am
Boulter
Montgomery
10am
Bronzetti
Rybakina
10am
Collins
Danilovic
3pm
Cristian
Krejcikova
10am
Dolehide
Kalinina
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Garcia
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10am
Linette
Sabalenka
10am
Pavlyuchenkova
Saville
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Sorribes Tormo
Svitolina
6 7
3 5
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Vekic
Sakkari
3 2
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Arango
Yastremska
6 5 4
0 7 6
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Osaka
Samsonova
2 6 5
6 4 7
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Ostapenko
Bouzas Maneiro
6 6
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Errani
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2.30pm
Lourdes Carle
Kudermetova
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Mertens
Stephens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid32256170224881
2Barcelona32217464372770
3GironaGirona32215667402768
4Atletico MadridAtletico32194959382161
5Athletic Bilbao321610652302258
6Real Sociedad321312746341251
7Real BetisBetis32121284038248
8Valencia32138113534147
9Villarreal32119125155-442
10Getafe32913103844-640
11Osasuna32116153746-939
12Sevilla32910134145-437
13Las PalmasLas Palmas32107153039-937
14AlavesAlaves3298152838-1035
15Rayo Vallecano32713122739-1234
16Celta Vigo32710153747-1031
17Mallorca32613132638-1231
18CadizCadiz32413152245-2325
19Granada3239203361-2818
20Almeria32111203164-3314


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