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La Liga is widely regarded as one of the most entertaining football leagues in the world not just because of the presence of arguably the world's two biggest clubs - Real Madrid and Barcelona - but also because of the general technical quality of teams and players on display.
The emergence of teams like Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, Villareal and Valencia in recent times has meant that La Liga is no longer the two-horse race it is often considered to be. These teams are not as renowned for their attacking prowess as they are for their defensive solidity and resilience, which in turn has raised the profile of La Liga.
As if to take a cue from their leaves, Real Madrid last season put on an uncharacteristic defensive masterclass to win their first La Liga title in three years.
Top five right-backs in La Liga in 2020-21
Like elsewhere in Europe, the tactics of La Liga clubs, especially in defence, have also evolved over the years.
Full-backs are no longer confined to their half of the pitch. While they need to discharge their defensive responsibilities, they are also encouraged to venture upfield and create an offensive overload at the other end of the pitch.
Dani Alves is arguably the most attack-minded right-back to have graced La Liga. In more recent times, there have been a few other players who have excelled as right-backs for various clubs in La Liga.
On that note, let us have a look at the top five right-backs in La Liga at the moment.
#5 Daniel Wass (Valencia)
Daniel Wass has been one of the standout performers for Valencia since his arrival at the club in the summer of 2018.
The 31-year-old, who is also versatile enough to be deployed as a left-back or even as an attacking midfielder, recently played his 100th match for the club in all competitions, which indicates his importance to the side.
Wass, who has played 77 La Liga games for the club, has scored three goals and provided ten assists, a tally that includes a goal and an assist from ten games this season.
#4 Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid)
Daniel Carvajal has been a key player for Real Madrid for the better part of the 2010s decade.
The 28-year-old has excelled under several managers at the Spanish club, winning 16 trophies, which includes two La Liga and four Champions League titles.
Renowned for his pace, work-rate and ability to find key passes, Carvajal has scored six goals and produced 48 assists in almost 300 games in all competitions for Real Madrid.
Carvajal has been omnipresent for the La Liga giants at the right-back position. Despite injuries limiting him to only four appearances this season, Carvajal has already produced two assists.
Carvajal continues to be the first-choice right-back for embattled Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, who has been under the spotlight for his side's indifferent start to their La Liga title defence in 2020-21.
#3 Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid)
Kieran Trippier raised many eyebrows last summer when he became the first English player to join La Liga club Atletico Madrid in almost a century.
He had big shoes to fill as a certain Juanfran had donned the role at the club for nine seasons. However, the former Tottenham Hotspur right-back had an unexpectedly bright debut campaign in an otherwise underwhelming season for the Rojiblancos.
Trippier made an assist on his La Liga debut against Getafe. Although he would produce only three more assists during the season, the player went on to play 24 more games in the competition and particularly impressed in the Champions League Round of 16 second-leg win at Liverpool.
The 30-year-old, who has become a regular under Diego Simeone, has played eight La Liga games this season, producing one assist.
His impact down the right flank could be key for second-placed Atletico Madrid in ending the Real Madrid-Barcelona La Liga duopoly and go all the way in the competition for the first time in six years.
#2 Jesus Navas (Sevilla)
Considering Jesus Navas' performances at right-back for Sevilla in the last few seasons, it may be difficult to fathom that the player has plied his trade in midfield as a winger for large swathes of his career.
Nevertheless, the 35-year-old Sevilla captain's experience has brought much-needed resilience and solidity in the club's rearguard that only shipped in 34 La Liga goals last season, the fewest after champions Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Navas has belied his age to provide 12 cumulative assists in the last two La Liga campaigns. He completed the most passes and crosses in the competition last season.
This season, the former Manchester City player has already conjured three assists in just eight La Liga games. His form could be crucial in seventh-placed Sevilla's hopes of turning around their indifferent start to the La Liga season and finishing in the top four.
#1 Mario Gaspar (Villareal)
Mario Gaspar has been a standout player for Villareal since his debut for the Yellow Submarine a decade ago.
Except for his debut La Liga campaign in 2008-09, Gaspar has produced at least 22 appearances in each of the last nine seasons in the competition, making at least one goal contribution.
In just ten La Liga games this season, Gaspar has already produced three assists, his best return in the competition in three years, as Villareal have reaped rich dividends to usurp the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid to a creditable third place in the league table.
The 30-year-old is well on course to produce his best-ever season in club football as Villareal have emerged as one of the unlikely contenders for the title in a surreal La Liga season, where the usual contenders have looked off the pace.
