Top 5 performers for Real Madrid so far this season

#1 Dani Carvajal

Carvajal in action for Real Madrid in LaLiga

Arguably the standout right-back over the last four seasons, Dani Carvajal has been an essential part of Real Madrid's attacking arsenal since cementing his place in the first team in the 2013-14 season, with his bursting runs down the flanks and pin-point crosses proving too much for opposition defenders to handle.

Alongside Marcelo, Carvajal has helped Real triumph in numerous tournaments and has been an integral member of all of the club's successes in recent years.

His importance to the Real cause is perhaps best summed up by their woeful record without him this season. The 26-year-old has played in just nine of Real's 16 LaLiga matches this season, starting eight. Incredibly, Los Blancos have failed to win any of the matches which the Spanish international has not started in, drawing three and losing five (including the 3-0 loss to Eibar in which Carvajal came off the bench).

Carvajal has struggled with injuries this season, but amidst a season of underperforming players, the full-back is perhaps the only Real Madrid superstar who can genuinely claim not to have dropped his standards this season and the Bernabeu faithful would be pleased with the news of his return to fitness.