'%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)
#3 Dani Parejo (7.20)
Villarreal got themselves a gem when they signed a top midfielder with La Liga experience, Dani Parejo, from rivals Valencia in 2020 for just €6 million. The midfielder was captain of Valencia before a crisis at the club forced him to change clubs. Since arriving at the Estadio de La Ceramica, Parejo has immediately raised the level of the team.
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Parejo has made 18 La Liga appearances for Villarreal this season and has one goal and six assists for the side. The mercurial 32-year-old has created eight big chances and averages 2.2 key passes per game for the Yellow Submarines. He has a 83% pass accuracy and has won 18 of his 27 attempted tackles. Parejo also has 20 interceptions in La Liga this season.
Parejo will be looking to keep up his quality performances so far and help Villarreal achieve their goals in the league this season. The side are currently in seventh place in the league and will be looking to finish in European places.
#2 Toni Kroos (7.25)
Germany and Real Madrid ace Toni Kroos is easily one of the best midfielders in world football, so seeing him on this list is no surprise. A UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup winner, Kroos has been brilliant for Real Madrid this season, as always.
Kroos has played 15 times this season in La Liga and has a goal and three assists to his name. The 32-year-old midfielder has created six big chances this season, and averages 2.4 key passes per 90 in the league.
Kroos is an extremely efficient passer of the ball, with his 91.9% success rate a good indication of this fact. He has won 13 of 22 tackles and made 14 interceptions this season.
Kroos' contribution is a very big part of why Real Madrid are cruising in La Liga at present, as his presence in midfield gives his side an instant edge. The German will look to continue in this manner and lead Los Blancos to another league title this season.
#1 Casemiro (7.31)
Brazilian midfielder Casemiro has established himself as one of the top defensive midfielders in the world for club and country. The 29-year-old has played a key role in each of Real Madrid's successes in his time at the club.
Casemiro has made 20 league appearances this season in the league and has three assists under his belt. The Brazilian does his job mostly on his side's half of the pitch to stifle opposition forays forward.
He has attempted an astonishing 68 tackles and won 49 of them. He also has 38 interceptions and has a passing accuracy of 86%. Remarkably, Casemiro has received only seven cautions in La Liga this season despite the number of tackles he has attempted.
Casemiro works in tandem with Kroos and Modric, both of whom he has played with regularly since 2015. The Brazilian is vital to Real Madrid's set-up and title pursuit this season.
