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From the Desk

Kelvin Leong goes for an all-Madrid strike-force in this week's La Liga Team of the Week.

Fabio Coltorti - Racing Santander

He palmed everything away and refused to let Villarreal get past him. If only his defenders were as good as him on the night, Racing would have walked off with at least a point.

Jesus Gamez - Malaga

Gamez has always showed his class as a right-back and he proved it once again with his goal-line clearance and solid defending at the weekend to help Malaga to maximum points over Mallorca.

Lopo - Deportivo La Coruna

The giant sweeper was a rock in defence. The Valencia attack could not get past him for the full 90 minutes.

Diego Godin - Villarreal

Godin almost managed a goal for the Yellow Submarines but it was his overall defensive qualities that ensured Villarreal ended 2009 on a winning note with victory over Racing Santander.

Nivaldo Santana - Valladolid

The former St Etienne defender darted his header past Pablo Colinas to put the hosts in front. Was an offensive threat down the left which kept Sporting Gijon pegged back in their own half for most of the match.

Ever Banega - Valencia

Everton wanted him in the summer and you can see why he was so highly-rated when he first moved to Europe. A complete midfielder who attacks and defends with equal ease.

Fran Yeste - Athletic Bilbao

Yeste used to be Bilbao's most creative player but this season, he has had to take a backseat with the emergence of wonderkid, Iker Muniain. Great to see Yeste grab Bilbao's first goal against Osasuna. He is after all one of Bilbao's most flamboyant forwards in recent years.

Roberto Soldado - Getafe

The Spanish forward gave Getafe a two goal advantage going into the break. Often overlooked when he was at Real Madrid, Soldado definitely deserves to be in the limelight more often.

Rafael Van der Vaart - Real Madrid

Two goals for the man who just can't find his way into the Madrid starting XI. The Dutch playmaker showed his full repertoire of tricks and combined well with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo - Real Madrid

Arguably one of the Portuguese winger's best games in a Madrid shirt. With the Los Merengues taking an early lead, CR9 was able to thrill the Bernabeu crowd with his stepovers and incredible dribbling skills.

Gonzalo Higuain - Real Madrid

Can someone stop this Argentine! Man-of-the-match performance from the man in the form of his life. Another two goals to his wonderful collection and if Higuain doesn't make it to South Africa, it will be Argentina's loss not his.