'%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 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.
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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.
