Ranking the 10 best defenders in La Liga this year (2020)

#6 Jesus Navas (Sevilla)

Jesus Navas

Jesus Navas has led from the front for Sevilla in various competitions impressively, especially in the La Liga, since joining the Andalusian club three summers ago.

The 35-year-old former Manchester City player has made a fabulous transition from midfield to right-back and is a key cog in the Sevilla wheel. In the last two La Liga seasons, Navas produced a cumulative 12 assists and has already assisted thrice in the competition this campaign.

2 - Jesús Navas has attempted (232) and completed (55) more crosses than any other player in @LaLiga 2019/20, all of them coming from open play. Elf. #OptaBestXI@SevillaFC_ENG pic.twitter.com/FzsI89dBTT

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) July 21, 2020

This year as well, Navas has been a formidable presence at both ends of the field, producing crosses upfield for his attacking colleagues and thwarting opposition attacks down the flanks when not in possession.

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#5 Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid)

Kieran Trippier

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.

However, despite coming in to fill the big shoes of a certain Juanfran who had donned the role for almost a decade, the former Tottenham Hotspur right-back has become a key player in Diego Simeone's team.

Kieran Trippier has provided two assists in a LaLiga game for the first time.Bury Beckham providing the service again. pic.twitter.com/4n93DqeTTC

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 5, 2020

Trippier has been at the forefront of the Rojiblancos' defensive resilience this year, helping Atletico Madrid to third in the La Liga this season and to the top of the league table this campaign.

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#4 Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid)

Ferland Mendy

Ferland Mendy has managed to replace reigning La Liga champions Real Madrid's long-serving Marcelo from the starting XI since his arrival at the club last summer.

Though he is yet to score or assist a goal in the La Liga this season, something most modern full-backs are expected to do, Mendy has been a defensive bulwark for Los Blancos.

0 - @realmadriden have not lost any of their 16 @LaLigaEN games since last season with Daniel Carvajal 🇪🇸, Raphaël Varane 🇫🇷, Sergio Ramos 🇪🇸 and Ferland Mendy 🇫🇷 in the starting XI. Power. #RealMadridAtleti #ElDerbi pic.twitter.com/aXQErc84GK

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) December 12, 2020

The French left-back is renowned for his interceptions, blocking and dribbling prowess. In terms of his passing accuracy, Mendy (91.4%) is only behind his captain Sergio Ramos and Toni Kroos for the La Liga giants.