Liga MX Player of the Week: Diego Valdés

Santos Laguna’s Diego Valdés was named Liga Bancomer MX Player of the Week for Jornada 8 by a poll of Liga MX English-language writers and broadcasters.

Valdés had two goals in Santos’ 4-0 win on Sunday evening against Toluca, including the first and final goals of the bunch.

Just five minutes into the match, Santos won a free kick in dangerous territory. This would’ve been an appropriate moment for Santos to miss Osvaldo Martinez, who’s now scoring free-kick goals for Atlas, but Valdes stepped up to the plate and struck the ball with such force that not even a veteran keeper like Alfredo Talavera could do much to stop Los Guerreros’ first goal.

Two goals later and Santos were looking comfortable with a 3-0 lead and half an hour left. After Toluca’s Jonatan Maidana intercepted a ball, teammate Rodrigo Salinas tried to head it back to Talavera but botched it and Valdes was there to take advantage. Just like that Santos scored its 12th goal in one week.

It wasn’t just all goals for Valdes, either. The Chilean earned an 8.9 match rating from SofaScore by being active all over the pitch. Valdes had a 90 percent pass accuracy to go along with one key pass, seven accurate long balls, five won tackles, and even had a clearance and two interceptions.

Valdés’ two goals were his first since joining Santos from Monarcas Morelia in the offseason for about $7 million, according to Transfermarkt. The 25-year-old has proven to be an effective player alongside Gallito Vazquez and Brian Lozano in Santos’ midfield.

The win over Toluca, who were left without a coach following the match, pushed Santos up to fourth place in the league with 14 points. The team from La Comarca will face a red-hot Club Leon side next week.

For more information on Liga MX and to keep up with the Player of the Week poll, follow @FMFSoM on Twitter.