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La Liga has been often described as the most technically compelling league, even though it lacks the intensity of the Premier League. Usually, the title is decided between two teams - Real Madrid and Barcelona although recently, Atletico Madrid has provided a bit of competition to the two giants but have not been able to break their dominance.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are two of the most utilized teams in FIFA as well. In online matches or even in career mode, the two Spanish teams are popular because of the high ratings assigned to their players.
There are teams and players in the Spanish league who have shone this season, a little more than the others. Some of these players have been highly influential in their respective teams' good form. La Liga has thrown some surprise packages as well, in the form of Real Betis and Girona FC.
Here is a look at the achievements of five of these individuals whose performances have helped their clubs and who merit recognition both in the real and the virtual world.
#5 Christian Stuani (Girona FC)
Premier League fans, remember Stuani? The same Uruguayan who scored a beauty on Matchday 2 of the 2016/17 season and then disappeared from our TV screens never to appear again.
He was part of a Middlesborough side that struggled to score in the 2016/17 Premier League season and had a hand in only four goals in his twenty-three appearances for the Riverside club.
Stuani reappeared in Spain, a year later, and surprisingly, has done amazingly well for his new side Girona. The Catalan side was promoted to the top division just this season and have been the surprise package, battling sides for a Europa League spot.
Much of Girona's success can be owed to the experienced Uruguayan who has scored 18 goals in just 33 shots. 9 of his 18 goals have been headers.
Stuani has stunned fans with his goalscoring exploits and was rated 76 in FIFA 18. Given his current form, this should definitely increase for FIFA 19, an overall total of 80 will do just fine for the Uruguayan.
#4 Paulinho (FC Barcelona)
How different things were before the start of 2017/18 season. Fans and experts everywhere used the signing of Paulinho to mock Barcelona and indicate the beginning of the decline for the Catalan club.
There were signs too, that one of the biggest clubs in the world was going backward as Lionel Messi's heir Neymar was also taken away by the riches of PSG and Barcelona responded by signing his less-heralded countryman.
Paulinho was judged harshly by the Spanish media and fans before he even kicked a ball as his previous European adventure with Tottenham didn't have a happy ending.
It's fair to say that the Brazilian midfielder has proven more than a few people wrong with his performances.
The 'Tottenham flop' has so far scored eight goals for the Catalan club, while also providing 2 assists from midfield. He has been impressive defensively as well, making 15 interceptions and 108 recoveries.
The 29-year-old has given the footballing fraternity a lesson that no player in the world is bad. Rather, it's the system they play in which defines their performances and performances have shown that he deserves to be rated higher than his current FIFA rating, which is 81.
#3 Marco Asensio (Real Madrid CF)
Marco Asensio has been the 'Golden Boy' of Spanish football for a couple of year's now. It still feels unreal that Real Madrid were able to get Asensio on their books for a meagre €3.5 million.
The 22-year-old has been Madrid's ace in the pack for the whole season, stepping in when needed the most. Asensio has had a hand in 10 goals in 27 appearances for the Los Blancos this season. He has scored 6 goals and provided 4 assists.
Asensio has even completed 22 dribbles and 946 passes, even though he has been resigned to a bit part role. Even coming on from the bench, the Spaniard has been instrumental.
EA already rates the 22-year-old highly, giving him a rating of 84 the last time around. He has done his bit to prove that he not only earns this rating but in fact deserves even more. An overall of 86 is what we are going for, for the Spaniard.
#2 Maxi Gomez (RC Celta Vigo)
There are two things common to the following players- Edinson Cavani, Diego Folan, Luis Suarez. One, they are great strikers and two, they are all Uruguayans. Next in line, to follow this great tradition is Celta Vigo's Maxi Gomez.
Gomez has been brilliant for Celta Vigo this season. He has contributed by scoring 14 of their 53 goals so far in the La Liga. He has also contributed to some important goals, most notably against giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. His goals against both the teams helped Celta earn a point each against both the teams.
Gomez has scored 14 goals for Celta Vigo and provided 3 assists. Even more notable is the fact that Maxi Gomez has done all this, aged 21.
Whether it is the more popular ones such as Asensio and Dembele or whether it is the lesser known gems such as Gomez himself, La Liga is filled with promising youngsters. Maxi Gomez's relatively unknown status before moving to Spain earned him a rating of 70 in FIFA 18. He has since gone through multiple squad updates to reach a total of 78. Expect this to go even higher in the next edition of the game.
#1 Marc Bartra (Real Betis)
Marc Bartra's career has been marred by bad luck. The Spaniard is yet another graduate of Barcelona's famous La Masia academy, havng made his breakthrough into the first team in the 2012-13 campaign, under manager Tito Vilanova. Bartra's most memorable moment in a Barcelona shirt came at an unfortunate end when Real Madrid's Gareth Bale outsprinted the Spaniard from the halfway line, overtaking him from outside the field of play. Fans all around the world made sure that Bartra never forgets this moment.
Then came the move to Dortmund. Everything was going fine for Marc until he was a victim of an explosion which took place near the Dortmund team bus. He sustained injuries and was scarred mentally. Although he came back stronger, Dortmund coach Peter Stoger decided to let Bartra go.
Te 27-year-old returned to Spain in the January transfer window, when he joined Real Betis and has since been superb. His form for Betis has propelled the team to the fifth position in the league and has put Bartra on the cusp of a national team call-up.
In the 13 matches, Bartra has played so far for Betis, he has made 23 tackles, 24 interceptions, 93 recoveries, and 82 clearances. Bartra has even won 64 duels against his opponents. During this time, Betis have only lost three matches.
Marc Bartra was given an overall rating of 81 in FIFA 18. However, with him being a key cog in Betis' magnificent run, an increase in the overall ratings is highly likely and fully deserved.
