5 of the best centre-backs in Europe this season

A large majority of leagues in Europe have reached the half-way stage. With the continental competitions; UEFA Champions League and Europa League also done with the group stages, the season has entered the second half.

It has been a chastising campaign for some of Europe's most heralded centre-backs. Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane have two World Cups and four UCL titles between them. Yet both men have been terrible for Real Madrid, gifting opponents easy chances.

The esteemed Bayern Munich pairing of Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng have been just as bad. Carrying their Russia 2018 form into the club season, both men have been very average for the struggling Bavarians.

However, there are other centre-backs who have come to the fore brilliantly in the past couple of months. These men; experienced and upcoming have been playing significant roles in their teams' pursuits.

Here is a look at 5 of the best so far this season.

#5 Guillermo Maripán (Deportivo Alaves)

Maripán has been one of La Liga's finest this season

Tiny Basque club Alaves have been one of the biggest stories in European football this season. Led by former Barcelona centre-back, Abelardo, El Glorioso (The Glorious One) as the club is known currently occupy the 4th place on the La Liga table.

This has been down primarily to the solidity of the defence. Of special note is the Chilean centre-back, Maripán. The former Universidad Católica player joined last season and was ok for the team.

He has truly blossomed this season, being the leader of a defence that has conceded just 18 times in 18 La Liga matches. Tough in the tackle, he has shown remarkable finesse in shielding goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco.

Maripán's quality is enhanced when one considers that he has already missed 6 games this season to suspension and injuries. Yet he has stayed very consistent, outshining the bigger-names at Real, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona among others.

Such has been the 24-year-old's displays that he is already being linked to clubs like AS Roma and Barca.

Also see : Real Madrid Transfer News, Barcelona Transfer News, La Liga Transfer News

#4 Matthijs De Ligt (Ajax AFC)

Matthijs De

Ligt

has been imperious for Ajax and Holland

Just about every big European clubs have been linked to the brilliant Dutchman. Judging by his displays this season, it is not hard to see why. His upward trajectory has been as rapid as it has been brilliant to watch. Despite his young age (he is still just 19), he has emerged as a leader for both club and country.

An almost permanent fixture at the back for Ajax, he has been one of the main reasons why the Amsterdam giants have kept step with arch-rivals, PSV for this season's Eredivisie title.

His passing out from the back has been there for all to see. A very confident player, De Ligt has acted as the initiator of attacking moves sometimes. This is despite having more experienced heads like Daly Blind and Dusan Tadic in the team.

While his passing has been very good, his defensive work has been just as excellent. Using his pace to great effect, he has improved on his marking and tackling and anticipates danger better than ever.

He has not been awed by the quality of attackers he has had to face this season; Robert Lewandowski, Kylian Mbappe amongst others. De Ligt has more than held his own

FC Barcelona has long held an interest in him. Same as Spurs, Real Madrid and even Manchester United and Juventus have been linked to Europe's Golden Boy.

#3 Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)

Chiellini has been Captain Fantastic for Juve

It has long been said that Italian centre-backs like wine, get better with age. The tradition that has seen brilliant defenders like Alfio Gentile, Franco Baresi, Alessandro Nesta can now claim Chiellini as its latest.

The hawk-nosed Masters' degree holder has continued to be excellent at the heart of the Bianconeri's defence. Re-united with partner-in-crime, Leonardo Bonucci, the 34-year-old has been imperious.

He has never been the fastest player on a football pitch. However, it seems his best qualities; organization, anticipation, man-marking and aerial prowess have gotten even better this season.

With the exit of Gianluigi Buffon, he has taken over as team captain, a role he has fulfilled diligently. La Vecchia Signora is well on its way to an 8th consecutive Scudetto thanks to having the best defence in the land.

He has been the lynchpin on which a lot of the 1-0 wins have been built on. Juve fans will be hoping that solidity extends all the way to the UCL final.

#2 Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool)

Van Dijk has been the best defender in the Premier League this season

It needs to be said more; without the towering Dutchman, Liverpool fans will not be dreaming of a first Premier League title. The pony-tailed giant has added steel to the finesse the team possessed before. What has emerged has been a brilliant side seemingly without weakness.

His brilliance has led to many brain -proclamations by certain pundits and the ever-crazy Liverpool online fanbase. What is not in doubt, however, is his quality and importance for the Reds.

Unflappable, strong, brilliant in the air, aggressive and a great reader of the game, he has added steel and most importantly, organisation to the Liverpool defence. With him in the side, Jurgen Klopp's frontline has found the courage to attack in the same style they did last season.

The 27-year-old has played every minute of Liverpool's 21-Premier League games so far and all six of their group games in the UCL. If the Reds can hold their nerve and win the league title, a lot will be down to the quality Van Dijk brought.

#1 Kalidou Koulibaly (SSC Napoli)

As usual, Koulibaly has been a rock for Napoli

Undoubtedly one of the best centre-backs in world football currently, Koulibaly has continued where he left off last season. Despite the exit of Maurizio Sarri and the challenges the team has had adapting to Carlo Ancelotti's tactics, the Senegalese international has kept his standards high.

He is dominant in the air and on the ground. He combines strength with a keenly-tuned sixth sense that helps him sniff danger out. Koulibaly is also a brilliant passer whose presence has freed up the likes of Allan and Piotr Zielinski to attack more.

With their goalie Alex Meret still finding his feet and partners; Raul Albiol and Nikola Maksimovic also struggling, the Senegalese has had to cover for his teammates His passing has setup counter-attacks while his organization has seen the team concede less than it should have.

Like he was under Sarri, Koulibaly has been an ever-present in Ancelotti's team and will be key to the team's Serie A and Europa League pursuits.