Eugene YS Han tips his hat to three Real Madrid players as well as an old warhorse from Valencia.

Tono - Racing
Only one man stood between Racing Satander and a hiding by Real Madrid and it was Racing's goalkeeper Tono. Although the 29-year-old could not do anything about Higuain's goal, Tono made several world-class saves to keep the scoreline down. The 'keeper is no stranger to accolades having previously won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy at the end of the 2003/04 season with Recreativo.

Ezequiel Garay - Real Madrid
It's never easy being a defender in an attacking team but Ezequiel Garay looks calm and composed at the heart of Real's defence. Playing against his former team, Garay was a colossus presence in defence and he repelled most of Racing's attacks. He even laid on the winning goal for Huguain.

Ustaritz Aldekoaotalora - Atletico Bilbao
Ustaritz shone like a beacon in the Bibao back-four as he helped his team stop the much-vaunted Barcelona attack. The 26-year-old closed the door on Messi and Pedro on a number of occasions.

Royston Drenthe - Real Madrid
Given his chance to impress for the first-team on the left-side of defence and the Dutch left wingback did not disappoint against Racing. If Drenthe keeps up his good form, he could be in line to start for Real in the El Classico against Barcelona on November 29.

Xavi - Barcelona
He was Barcelona's few effective players on the night. Xavi was the model of consistency as he single-handedly ran Barcelona's midfield as his midfield partner Andres Iniesta faded into anonymity as the game wore on. It was his pass that set up Dani Alves to score Barcelona's only goal against Bilbao.

Carlos Marchena - Valencia
Valencia's claimed a comfortable 3-1 win at Osasuna thanks to Carlos Marchena's commanding presence in the middle of the park. The versatile Marchena scored one goal and created another in an impressive performance for the Los Che as they climbed to fourth place.

Jesus Navas - Sevilla
Capped by Spain for the first time last week, Jesus Navas was a constant menace down the flanks together with Perotti on the other flank. He made the delicious cross for Perotti to score Sevilla's opener against Tenerife.

Diego Perotti - Sevilla
Impressed in an injury-depleted Sevilla side that turned Tenerife over on Saturday. Took his goal well like a veteran and it's no wonder he has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.

Nilmar - Villarreal
The former Internacional and Lyon striker is proving to be Villarreal's most astute buy this season. Nilmar, who scored Brazil's only goal against England last week, kept up his goal-scoring streak with two goals in Villarreal's 3-1 win over Valladolid to lift his side to 11th on the league standings.

Gonzalo Higuain - Real Madrid
Higuain showed why France and Argentina fought over this deadly attacker. Higuain who eventually chose Argentina showed his value in Real's star-studded by scoring the only goal against Racing Santander. His strike helped Real move one point ahead of Barcelona at the top of the table.

Gaizka Toquero - Athletico Bilbao
Gaizka Toquero is the toast of Real Madrid after the substitute scored an important equaliser against Barcelona to hold the Catalans to a draw. It meant Real leapfrogged over Barca into first place in the standings. Toquero was only on the field for just seven minutes before he clinically dispatched Fernando Llorente's flick-on into the net. It was only the third time Barcelona have conceded away from home this season.