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In Spain, football is played at a slightly more controlled pace than in England. The systems are a little different and there are a lot of fine technicians who run the play from the centre of the park. Spain is viewed as the home of beautiful football and it is not difficult to understand that sentiment.
Spain has also regularly produced some of the finest midfielders in the game. Barcelona have consistently churned out fine technicians who are excellent at controlling the game from midfield. Some of the Spanish giants like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico among many others have consistently housed some of the best midfielders to have ever graced the game.
Let's take a look at the five best midfielders in the La Liga this season so far.
#5 Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona)
Though he had already been written off in many circles and the fans may have fell out of love with him owing to his underwhelming performances in his sophomore season at the Camp Nou, Philippe Coutinho might just win all that love back if he kicks on in the same vein over the course of the season.
Coutinho returned to Barcelona from his loan spell at Bayern Munich this summer and has been one of the best players for Ronald Koeman and co. so far this season. The Brazilian got off to a great start to the season by turning in an excellent performance against SD Eibar.
He followed that up with yet another dominant display from midfield against Celta Vigo. Coutinho has scored one goal and provided two assists from five appearances in the La Liga so far this season and it looks like he is set to put the demons from his previous spell at the Camp Nou behind him.
#4 David Silva (Real Sociedad)
Real Sociedad are at the top of the La Liga table after nine gameweeks and it is no short part thanks to the experienced David Silva pulling the strings from midfield. He has been so good since joining from Manchester City that he has got the Real Sociedad fans dreaming of a first La Liga title in 37 years.
Real Sociedad were expected to miss Martin Odegaard who returned to Real Madrid at the end of his loan spell. However, David Silva's entry to the fray and has been so good that he has improved the team.
Though he is 34-years-old, Silva hasn't showed many signs of slowing down and continues to operate at an elite level. He has had a marked effect on the players around him and has been a leader in the dressing room as well. This is a signing that works well on so many levels for Real Sociedad.
#3 Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
It's a pity that Fede Valverde will be out of action for a while now after sustaining a fracture on his right leg right before the international break. Valverde has been one of the best Real Madrid players so far this season and has scored three goals and provided an assist from six starts in the La Liga.
The 22-year-old is definitely one for the future as he is already a vital cog in Zinedine Zidane's system at Real Madrid. He has displaced several top players from the side at a young age and the future seems bright for the Uruguayan international.
Valverde is an excellent passer of the ball and can pick a pass. With several young runners in their attack, Valverde can put his skills to good use at Real Madrid and he has been doing exactly that so far.
#2 Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid)
Selling Marcos Llorente to rivals Atletico Madrid could prove to be a decision that could come to bite Real Madrid in the back in the very near future. The 25-year-old has been excellent for Diego Simeone's side and has been one of the Rojiblancos' best players for a while now.
After initially slotting into a holding role, Llorente has now burgeoned into one of the finest attacking midfielders in the country. His role has become so advanced that he players more or less as a second striker these days and always pops up in dangerous areas to score goals or set one of his teammates up for one.
His excellent performances have now earned him a call up to the national side and the future is looking bright for Marcos Llorente. He already has three goals and two assists from seven appearances in the league so far and only four of them have been starts.
#1 Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad)
The 24-year-old Real Sociedad Mikel Merino has been outstanding this season so far. He has been pulling the strings from the heart of midfield for La Real alongside the veteran David Silva and is now one of the main reasons why they look like formidable title contenders for the season.
He is one of the best young central midfielders in the game right now and that's simply by virtue of his patience and sheer will after struggling to settle down at various clubs before finally washing up at Real Sociedad.
Merino is just as adept in joining his team going forward as he is in adding an extra layer of protection for his backline. He is an enterprising presence in the centre of the park. Merino loves to take on defenders and test the goalkeeper from range and also has excellent vision when it comes to passing.
Merino has finally become a reliable presence in midfield and also recently earned a call up to the national team. He has been impressive in his international outings so far and he is definitely one to watch out for in the future.
