5 reasons why Villarreal CF are at the top of the La Liga table

La Liga has already had its fair share of spills and thrills this season, a pattern that doesn’t look like abating any time soon.So far, Villarreal are top of the table having secured their position there before the international break. Ahead of Barcelona, Real Madrid and the rest of the chasing pack, they have surprised many with their early season form.Club boss Marcelino Garcia Toral will be pleased with his side despite having only a slender 1-point lead over Real Madrid, Celta Vigo and Barcelona, who are all on 15 points. Los Galacticos are second only by merit of goal difference. Harking back to their glory days from the mid 2000s, the Yellow Submarine have proven their worth and even gone one step beyond what their predecessors managed by climbing to the top of La Liga for the first time in the club’s history.How have they managed it? Has it been by accident or design? Let us take a look at five reasons behind their lead.

#1 They possess a clinical strike-force

Between them, Roberto Soldado and Cedric Bakambu have bagged five goals this season in the league. Combining effectively up front, the duo have produced some swashbuckling football at times to give their fans plenty to cheer.

Teeing each other up, devoid of any selfishness, the free-flowing nature of their attacking play has allowed them to be reactionary with their passing and open to spreading the goals as well.

Although much of the limelight has been on the ex-Spurs flop, the truth is that the attackers have all been key to the team's scintillating start, including Leo Baptistao, who has taken some time to settle in.

That said, the general consensus is one of relief (from many quarters outside the club) that Soldado is no longer the disappointment he once was at Tottenham Hotspur, where he scored just 16 times in nearly 80 appearances. There is contentment about the fact that Soldado looks a player reborn in Spain. Showing much more confidence on the ball, he has benefitted from a set-up which has given him the licence to become his old self.

Of course, there is plenty of the season to come and it won’t all be smooth sailing. But Villarreal's forwards have certainly gotten off to an excellent start.

#2 A winners\' mentality

Having scored in six of their seven games, it’s clear that Villarreal have the ability to find goals on a consistent basis. Yes, their attackers have all been singing from the same hymn sheet, but their record hints at something a little more fundamental than mere form.

When they do score, they not only show that they are dangerous, but they also underline just how keen they are to take control of games. Far from afraid to impose themselves on a contest, Villarreal are comfortable with their own ability and have put forth some really dominant displays, especially when they flood forward in droves.

Against Levante, where they lost 1-0, they recorded less shots and had less efforts on target than their vanquishers. But the possession stakes were unevenly spread in their favour, which hints at their desire to control games. That said, they will hope they don’t get sucked into chasing perfection at the expense of results.

Nobody really expects this group of players to go on and steal Barcelona’s league crown. But with a new-found sense of worth and a strong desire to win, the league has certainly benefitted from their exciting exploits.

Indeed, it’s a reservoir that can continue to be added to over time, because they now have confidence where there was little before. And that is a crutch that can often find one points throughout a long and arduous season, even when things are far from running smoothly on the pitch.

#3 Home has become a fortress

With three home games at the Estadio El Madrigal already played, Marcelino Garcia Toral’s side have managed to make their back-yard into a really testing place for teams to visit. They have picked up nine points from those ties so far, the most they possibly could have.

Every team has the potential to pick up a maximum of 57 points at home, so it’s vital that any side harbouring ambitions of European football or silverware don’t let too many opportunities pass them by in these games. In the La Liga, no team can afford to rely on anybody else for points or favours.

It’s been a case of ‘so far, so good’ for the league’s surprise package. But with the in-form Celta de Vigo scheduled to visit soon, their barricades and tactical turrets will come under scrutiny like never before this season.

It’s no coincidence that the only domestic game they have lost has come away from the safety of home, and that is a trend that might just continue if they keep the faith and continue to impose themselves on contests without fear.

#4 Solid defence a tremendous foundation

Possessing the third best defence in the league, Villarreal have conceded just five goals. Not many would have seen that coming before the season kicked off in August.

So far, the Yellow Submarine have kept two clean sheets, against Atletico Madrid and Malaga. However, that doesn’t tell the full story of just how excellent they have been with their defensive duties.

Proving incredibly resolute and disciplined in their defending, the back four have often found ways to shut down some of the best strikers in the league. Fernando Torres and Jackson Martinez both drew a blank against them when they visited with Los Rojiblancos recently.

Implementing the basics effectively, they have worked hard for each other as a unit at the back. Keeping tight to their men, showing determination to get to every loose ball and exhibiting a good work ethic, they’ve looked thoroughly polished.

What’s more, with their keeper Alphonse Areola pulling off some tremendous saves in key matches, they have been able to call on him to step up on many of the occasions he’s been needed.

All that remains to be seen now is how long they can defend their lead at the summit of the table.

#5 Stealthy submarine have used the element of surprise

Sure, they completed last season in sixth position, but they were a full 16 points behind Sevilla when the denouement arrived. So the gap between themselves and the elite was a great deal wider than might first have been suspected by glancing at the final league standings.

To put that into context, Sevilla had a much better domestic experience than them, despite the fact that Los Rojiblancos also went all the way to the Europa League final where they won a crazy game against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.

Starting off this season, not many expected Villarreal to do much of note, with pretty much all eyes on Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico. But they have taken full advantage of that, and are giving the teams around them a real run for their money.

Can they keep it going?