Here are some key stats to consider before selecting your La Liga fantasy team this week.
Finding new ways to quantify Lionel Messi's success as a Tier 1 La Liga forward gets tougher and tougher each week. Despite playing only 26 minutes last week, Messi still put up 17.8 fantasy points. The 31-year-old, whose 26.6 fantasy points per game this season are the most out of any player in Europe's top five leagues, should continue to be your Tier 1 forward -- and captain -- this week in an away fixture against Girona. After not starting last week's game, and being left out of the squad altogether for Barcelona's Wednesday Copa del Rey fixture, the Argentine should be well-rested come Saturday. Messi averages over 29 fantasy points in three career matches against Girona. What's more, since Dec. 10, no La Liga team has conceded more goals than Girona's 10 over that span.
For those looking to shake things up, Wissam Ben Yedder has a juicy matchup against Levante at home this week. Levante have allowed a league-worst 17 goals to opposing forwards this season and are thin at defender, with injuries to Chema and Sergio Postigo. Ben Yedder, who netted a hat trick in his last game against Levante, leads all Sevilla players with 13.1 fantasy points per game. As a team, Sevilla have struggled to score recently and will look to regain their confidence this week against a clearly inferior Levante squad.
Stay away from Atlético Madrid and Getafe forwards for your Tier 2 forward spot in what will be a matchup of the two stingiest defenses in La Liga this season. Elsewhere, Brazilian forward Willian José is arguably playing the best football of his La Liga career, with four goals and an assist over his past three games. The only players with more fantasy points than the Real Sociedad forward since Three Kings Day are Lionel Messi (71.8) and Luis Suárez (63.6). La Real have a home game against last-place Huesca, who have allowed the most goals in La Liga this season.
Daniel Parejo -- the top-scoring midfielder in the game -- should stay in your lineup as Tier 1 midfielder one more week ahead of a home fixture against Villarreal, who are winless since Nov. 25. Parejo averaged 20-plus fantasy points per game during his past four matches and managed to score at least 15 points in every home game he played since Oct. 20.
Tier 2 midfielder Rodrigo is the only Atlético Madrid player with a pass completion rate higher than 90 percent this La Liga season, and he also leads the league's midfielders in points from successful tackles (18.0), so expect him to score many points from passes and recoveries against Getafe given that Los Colchoneros have been very solid at home, allowing a league-low 23 shots on target while Getafe only averages 3.4 shots on target per game (third-worst in La Liga).
The commander of Real Sociedad's midfield, Asier Illarramendi, stands out in the Tier 3 department ahead of a home match against last-place Huesca, a team that has allowed the most fantasy points to central and defensive midfielders this season (556.8). After a four-game losing streak in the month of December, Real Sociedad started the year earning seven points from a possible nine, thanks in big part to Illarramendi.
Jordi Alba should get the nod for your Tier 1 defender spot this weekend. The Catalan defender has been more consistent than Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid recently, as the latter has been taking far fewer touches in the attacking half than he did earlier in the season. Barcelona's opponent, Girona, have allowed 32 chances created to outside backs this season, sixth-most in La Liga. In his last game against Leganés, Alba set season highs in chances created (four) and assists (two). He also tied a season high with 10 recoveries.
Raphaël Varane is also worthy of your consideration at the Tier 1 spot. Since the New Year, Varane has the second-most fantasy points among La Liga defenders with 43.2. Varane has been especially effective on the road, averaging 10.5 fantasy points per game in those fixtures. Real Madrid travel to face Espanyol this week.
Girona Tier 2 defender Bernardo Espinosa has been consistent this season. He hasn't missed a single minute of playing time and leads all players with 140 clearances. Expect Espinosa, who has the fifth-most fantasy points (192.8) among defenders this season, to have to clear the ball a lot against Barcelona on Sunday.
Between the posts, Sergio Asenjo could benefit from Villarreal's visit to Valencia. Asenjo scored 30-plus fantasy points in each of his past two road games and leads all goalkeepers in total fantasy points since the start of the month. In addition, Valencia ranks fifth in shots on target at home this season, which could lead to Asenjo adding many points from saves in this matchup.