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In under two weeks, La Liga 2021-22 will be officially underway. As always, we will have an abundance of thrills, drama, and nail-biting finishes, elements that would keep us on the edge of our seats. The usual suspects will do their best to dominate while others will try their hardest to steal the limelight.
Today, we will be taking a look at a list of five La Liga stars, individuals who have either proven themselves or are eager to show their mettle in the Spanish top-flight.
Now, without further ado, let us give you a list of five players you must diligently follow in La Liga 2021-22.
#5 Lionel Messi
The best player in the country and arguably in the world, Lionel Messi, does not need an introduction. The man from Argentina has touched every milestone there is and continues to create them with each passing day.
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Even at 34, Messi comes off as a tireless individual, doing all he can to help FC Barcelona. Last season, he was the lead creator and scorer for the Camp Nou outfit, scoring 30 goals and racking up 11 assists in 35 La Liga games. He was kept on the bench on a few occasions to give the reserves a shot. But Barcelona were certainly better off with their captain on the pitch.
This season, we could see Messi making a few more appearances off the bench, especially in the 'easier' fixtures. However, such a small hiccup is unlikely to keep him from bagging his sixth straight Pichichi Trophy.
#4 Eden Hazard
When Real Madrid broke the bank (reportedly €100 million) to sign Eden Hazard from Chelsea in the summer of 2019, most Madridistas welcomed the move with open arms. They expected him to embrace Real Madrid’s legendary number ‘7’ jersey and make it his own. Two years have flown by since that triple-digit transfer, and Hazard is yet to prove his mettle in La Liga.
The Belgian international has struggled with a series of unfortunate injuries since moving to Real Madrid. He has also failed to maintain his fitness when needed. Zinedine Zidane continued to back the former Chelsea star right till the end, with current coach Carlo Ancelotti set to follow the same path.
The upcoming 2021-22 campaign will be Hazard’s third at Real Madrid, and the club expect him to put in convincing performances week in, week out. If he can keep himself fit, Hazard could get a freer role under Ancelotti. It should give him the opportunity to get some confidence-boosting goals under his belt.
#3 Rodrigo De Paul
Last season in La Liga, Atletico Madrid put on a handsome show to beat favorites Real Madrid and Barcelona in a nail-biting title race. Diego Simeone used Atletico’s deep bench to his advantage and added a new degree to their play when needed. Atletico are getting even stronger this season, particularly thanks to the addition of Rodrigo De Paul.
The Argentine midfielder, who was developed at Racing Club, has already had a taste of La Liga during his brief spell with Valencia. He shone brightly for Udinese last season and is returning to La Liga with a Copa America winner’s medal.
In Serie A, De Paul featured primarily as a central midfielder. But he also tried his hand further up the pitch. He gave a healthy return of 33 goals and 33 assists in the Italian top-flight, and it would be interesting to see how Simeone utilizes him in the middle of the park.
#2 David Alaba
After enduring a trophyless season, Real Madrid are starting the 2021-22 La Liga season without their first-choice centre-back pairing. Both Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos have moved on in search of greener pastures, and Los Blancos have lured in an unlikely candidate to fill the void.
Bayern Munich defender David Alaba has signed for Real Madrid as a free agent and is getting to wear Sergio Ramos’ legendary number ‘4’ jersey. Considering he is one of the highest paid stars at the club, Real Madrid will not be willing to bench the Austrian or play him out of his favorite position. Unfortunately, Real Madrid already have three contenders for the left-back position and throwing Alaba into the mix would only complicate things.
We believe Alaba will operate alongside Eder Militao at the heart of the Real Madrid defense and be the team’s primary set-piece taker. The defender has enough flamboyance to keep the Santiago Bernabeu crowd happy. And we are eager to see how Carlo Ancelotti manages to unlock his maximum potential under difficult circumstances.
#1 Frenkie de Jong
The Netherlands may have crashed and burned at Euro 2020, but their midfield maestro, Frenkie de Jong, did not leave the pitch without showing his touches of brilliance. His passing, movement and interceptions were on point, and he would be eager to produce more of the same in La Liga 2021-22.
Last season, De Jong was one of the first names on Ronald Koeman’s team sheet, making a whopping 51 appearances for the Camp Nou outfit across all competitions. Out of the 37 games he played in La Liga, he found the back of the net on three occasions, while also pitching in with four assists.
Despite winning the Copa del Rey trophy, Barcelona were left disappointed with last-season's performances, especially in La Liga. To regain lost ground, Barcelona need someone to command the middle of the park with authority. nd there is no better candidate than the impressive Dutchman.
