'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
With almost half the season done and dusted, LaLiga has provided fans all over the world with all they could have hoped for. From moments of brilliance to uncovering of young gems, LaLiga is truly ranked amongst the best leagues in the world, if not the best.
Considering Cristiano Ronaldo's departure to Juventus, the league has been able to compete with the best leagues with as many as three Spanish clubs making it to the UEFA Champions League knockout stages, second to only England's tally of four.
With 2018 coming to an end, we take a look at the top performers in Spain and fit them into the LaLiga Team of the Season so far.
Honorable Mentions: Marc Ander Ter Stegen (FC Barcelona), Joan Jordan (Eibar), Giovanni Lo Celso (Real Betis), Ousmane Dembele (FC Barcelona), Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo), Diego Godin(Atletico Madrid), Brias Mendez (Celta Vigo)
Goalkeeper
Tomas Vaclik (Sevilla FC)
The Czech Republic international, Vaclik was bought by Sevilla from Basel in the summer transfer window after excelling for the Swiss club during his four-year tenure.
Vaclik has been very influential for Sevilla with as many as five clean sheets to show for his efforts. Sevilla, currently placed in the UEFA Champions League spots has Vaclik to thank for with the Czech Republic keeper even awarded the LaLiga Player of the Month for November.
With a total of 59 saves made, Vaclik has been utterly sensational thus far. His crowning moment came at Levante when he made a season-high nine saves in a 6-2 away win.
With Sevilla tangled amongst perennial contenders for the coveted title, Vaclik will have to keep up his performances if Sevilla are to even come close to challenging the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid come May.
Defenders
Jordi Alba ( FC Barcelona )
Arguably the second best left back in Spain behind Marcelo, Jordi Alba has been highly influential for Barca this season. The Spain International has four assists and also a goal to his name this season which ranks him very highly amongst his fellow defenders.
His understanding with Lionel Messi on the pitch offers another dimension to the Barca attack and has already paid dividends with the club topping the table heading into 2019. While Jordi Alba has had his fair share of assists and goals, his defensive contributions have also been of great value.
Alba puts in an average of 1.9 interceptions and 1.4 tackles per game along with a pass percentage in excess of 85 according to WhoScored. With Marcelo struggling with injuries of late, this very form might see him lose the mantle of the best left back of the league to the Spanish left-back.
Marc Bartra (Real Betis)
The former Barcelona graduate has had an on-off career with an average tenure with Borussia Dortmund amidst high expectations. Ever since he was signed up by Real Betis, Bartra has been sensational and has put in performances that would make any Barca fan envy.
Ever-present in the Betis back line, Bartra puts in an average of 2.5 tackles and 4.2 clearances per game enabling Betis to a decent sixth place standing as of now. He has only conceded 19 goals and considering the fact that three of them came against a rampant Barca side, Bartra has been leading the line well. If he is able to keep up his performances, Spanish colours might be on the horizon.
Gerard Pique ( FC Barcelona )
Another La Masia graduate, Pique was said to be on a decline coming into the new season. But with crisis arises new opportunity and with the likes of Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen injured, Pique was at it again.
The Barca centre-back dealt most of the danger at the back with close to 3.4 aerial duels being won each game. With a tally of three goals and an assist to his name, Pique has played a crucial role at both ends of the field, further solidifying his status as one amongst the elite.
Barcelona are showing no signs of slipping up and Gerard Pique seems to be one of the major reasons. Only time will tell if he could keep it going until the end of the season.
Leandro Cabrera ( Getafe C.F )
A surprise inclusion to the team, Cabrera is the heart of the second best defense of the La Liga this season with only 13 goals conceded in 17 matches. Cabrera has been colossal for Getafe with a whopping 7.4 clearances per match along with an average of 1.5 interceptions too.
His performances against the likes of Real Betis and Real Sociedad have done no harm to his glowing reputation with the defender also scoring a vital goal in a 1-1 draw away to Leganes.
With aerial domination being one his major strengths, Cabrera has also added another dimension to the Getafe side with his long balls. If Getafe are to keep the mantle of the best defense in the league, they are sure in need of many more great performances from Cabrera.
Midfielders
Rodri Hernandez ( Atletico Madrid )
One of the signings of the season, Rodrigo has been sensational for Atletico. Two goals to his name say little about his contribution to the Atletico side with the defensive midfielder a major reason as to why the club has the best defensive record.
With a pass percentage of 91.2, 0.8 shots per game and 2.4 aerial duels won per game, Rodri is the perfect Simeone midfielder. His best performances have come against the likes of Alaves and Barcelona where the Spaniard was able to dictate play for the Madrid club and hold his own against Sergio Busquets.
Diego Simeone seems to have struck gold with Rodri as he seems set to nail down a starting eleven role for the better part of the next decade at least.
Ever Banega ( Sevilla FC )
The Argentinan has been the fulcrum of Sevilla's title challenge this season. The centre midfielder has been a revelation this season with as many as three goals and two assists adding to wonderful individual stats such as contributing as many as three key passes per game for Sevilla.
His link play with Roque Mesa, Vazquez and Pablo Sarabia has been exceptional and Sevilla would want more of the same for the rest of the season as well.
Pablo Sarabia ( Sevilla FC )
Pablo Sarabia has come of his own this season with stellar performances in the La Liga. The 26 year old has had a say in 12 goals (six goals and assists each) and has performed admirably in the big games against Real Madrid and Valencia.
His link play with Wissem Ben Yedder has been frightening for oppositions with Sarabia assisting four goals to the French striker with Ben Yedder also returning the same favour to Sarabia. Rated by WhoScored amongst the best midfielders this La Liga season, Sarabia is critical to Sevilla's chances of winning the title.
Strikers
Lionel Messi ( FC Barcelona )
The best player of the league and possibly the world, Lionel Messi has been on a different level since taking up the captain's armband. The Argentine has been in astonishing form throughout the season and quite remarkably leads both the goals and assists charts with 15 and 10 respectively.
In the fourteen matches he has started for Barca, Messi has won a league-high eight men of the match awards with second-placed Jonathan Calleri and Oier Olazabal having only four to their names. Messi seems to have reinvented himself after a disappointing World Cup 2018 and with the team clicking at the right moment, Messi might just have another treble to win this season.
Luis Suarez ( FC Barcelona )
While Messi has undoubtedly been the star of FC Barcelona, Suarez has quietly gone about this business with eleven goals to his name, second to Messi's fifteen. Suarez started the season slowing and was even deemed to be a liability by many but he has proved them wrong and has put in commendable performances including a brilliant hat-trick against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou.
Often looked upon us the perfect striker, Suarez has been lethal going forward with as many as 20 key passes and 55 shots goalwards this season. Suarez has linked up well with the likes of Alba, Dembele and Coutinho as the Uruguayan also has four assists to his name.
With the 32-year old's contract expiring in 2020, this might well be Suarez's last season before a replacement is bought. But while he is here, we are sure to witness more of Luis Suarez specials in the La Liga 2018-19 season.
Wissem Ben Yedder ( Sevilla FC )
Signed from Toulouse a couple seasons ago, Yedder has been at the forefront of a revolution in Seville. The Frenchmen has been utterly brilliant this season with his eight goals and five assists helping Sevilla to third place behind FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
While his movement and selfless play has been one of many highlights of his game this season, his blooming partnership with Andre Silva and Pablo Sarabia have also done wonders to Sevilla's fortunes.
While Sevilla has a whole have played admirably this season, going forward they will surely be down to Ben Yedder's goals and performances that would make or break their long-awaited title challenge.
