Strikers are all the rage at the moment considering the form of players such as Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku and Edinson Cavani, but it’s important to give players in other position their due credit too.
Spare a thought for the centre backs who often go unnoticed and unpraised despite launching themselves into physical battles with brutish centre forwards and flinging their bodies on the line to deflect goalbound shots for 90 minutes each week.
Taking into consideration performances this season as well as reputations forged over the past few years, Squawka has attempted to rank the top ten central defenders in Europe’s top five leagues. For the purpose of this article, we’ve made one selection per team.
Here goes…
10. Sokratis Papasthopolous (Borussia Dortmund)
Games: 7
Standout stat: Sokratis has won 9/11 attempted tackles in the Bundesliga this season.
Dortmund boast one of the most fearsome attacking units in Europe but defensively they have been extremely solid, conceding only twice in seven league games and Sokratis’ form has been key to that. The towering Greek international has led by example this year, winning 57% of his duels and helping BVB build from the back by completing 90% of his passes.
9. Marquinhos (PSG)
Games: 6
Standout stat: Marquinhos has completed 97% of his passes in Ligue 1.
For the past five years, Thiago Silva has been regarded as far and away PSG’s best and most influential defender but suddenly his status is being challenged by his young compatriot Marquinhos. In possession, the Brazilian is almost peerless as shown by his record of 387/401 attempted passes in the league this term.
8. Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich)
Games: 7
Standout stat: Mats Hummels has made 12 interceptions in the Bundesliga.
Bayern Munich have endured a difficult campaign so far and have conceded more goals (seven in the Bundesliga) than usual, largely due to the absence of both Manuel Neuer and Jerome Boateng through injury. Mats Hummels has had to hold things together at the back and while he isn’t in top form he has still achieved an 89% pass accuracy rate and scored one goal.
7. Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid)
Games: 4
Standout stat: Atletico Madrid have only conceded two goals in the four league games in which Diego Godin has played in.
An absolute titan at the back for Atletico Madrid for a number of years, Diego Godin has epitomised the team’s doggedness and resilience during the Diego Simeone era. Although he has been guilty of making a defensive error that led to a goal (in a 5-1 win over Las Palmas) the Uruguayan has otherwise been as dependable as ever, winning 60% of his duels and averaging eight defensive actions per game.
6. Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham)
Games: 7
Standout stat: Jan Vertonghen has succeeded with 7/8 (88%) of his attempted take on attempts in the Premier League.
Toby Alderweireld is often earmarked as Spurs’ top defender and Davinson Sanchez has made an impressive start to his career in England, but honestly, Jan Vertonghen has been the club’s best defender over the past 12 months. Spurs’ tactical switch to a 3-4-2-1 has managed to get the best out of the Belgian: he’s top for passes (545), headers (16) and take ons (7) out of the club’s defenders.
5. Miranda (Inter)
Games: 7
Standout stat: Miranda has won 12 aerial duels in Serie A.
Diego Godin’s long-time partner at Atletico Madrid, Miranda has flown under the radar somewhat after joining Inter given their lack of Champions League football, but he is inspiring their early title challenge. He rank top for headers won (12) and interceptions (8) out of Inter’s defenders and has formed a brilliant understanding with summer signing Milan Skriniar.
4. Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan)
Games played: 7
Standout stat: Leonardo Bonucci has won 10/14 aerial duels in Serie A.
Leonardo Bonucci’s move from Juventus to AC Milan was one of the biggest moves of the summer but as yet he hasn’t been able to inspire a new-look Milan side to a title challenge. Nevertheless, Bonucci’s quality is not in doubt and he remains one of the very best defenders in the game. He’s been typically assured on the ball in a red and black shirt, averaging an 85% pass accuracy rate this season.
3. Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
Games played: 6
Standout stat: Ramos has completed 90% of his passes in LaLiga.
As ever with Sergio Ramos, you have to take the rough with the smooth. The Spanish superstar has already been sent off in La Liga this season but when he is on the pitch, he is a supreme player and the provider of key moments for his side. So far this season, he has won 12 headers and completed 21 clearances in a Real Madrid side that has made a stuttering start to their title defence.
2. Gerard Pique (Barcelona)
Games played: 5
Standout stat: Pique has a pass accuracy rate of 91% in LaLiga this season.
In the news again due to his perfectly reasonable stance over the Catalan independence issue, Gerard Pique will be glad to return to his club following the international break. Barcelona have been rampant in LaLiga so far this season and while Lionel Messi, as usual, has been their star man, Pique has helped keep things tight at the back with Barcelona only conceding twice.
1. Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)
Games played: 5
Standout stat: Chiellini has made 22 clearances in Serie A.
Juventus are currently being kept off top spot in Serie A by Napoli but they are still unbeaten in Serie A and ominously look as good defensively as they do going forward. Giorgio Chiellini might have been shorn of his long-term buddy Bonucci, but he has played well alongside Daniele Rugani this season and will be key if Juventus are to win a seventh successive title.
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