In Focus: Five LaLiga stars of the season

A host of top talents made their mark on another LaLiga season to remember.

Real Madrid regained their crown at Spain’s summit, while a thrilling final day saw Granada relegated and Villarreal secure European football by beating Barcelona.

But who were the standout performers in the division across the campaign?

We take a look at five of the players who set LaLiga alight this term.

Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

After years of playing second fiddle to Real Madrid’s attacking Galacticos, Karim Benzema has thrived since becoming the main man at the Bernabeu.

The striker ended his 13-season wait for the LaLiga top scorer award, claiming the accolade with 27 goals — and becoming the first Frenchman in history to do so.

Benzema, 34, is renowned for being the perfect foil for his team-mates and he has continued to be just that, contributing 12 assists and forming a deadly partnership with Vinicius Junior.

Real’s No9 spearheaded Los Blancos to the title and will now lead the line for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in this weekend’s Champions League final.

Nabil Fekir (Real Betis)

Another product of the famed Lyon academy, Nabil Fekir is finally beginning to live up to expectations at Real Betis.

The France international moved to the Benito Villamarin Stadium without much fanfare back in 2019, yet he has quietly emerged as one of the best midfielders in Spain’s top tier.

Fekir, 28, has come into his own under the guidance of Manuel Pellegrini, boasting 14 goal contributions in a side that earned Europa League qualification.

The midfield creator has been instrumental in the Andalucians’ imperious form, making the second-most key passes (83) in LaLiga.

His bold decision to move to Seville finally appears to be paying off as he played the lead role in Betis’ Copa del Rey final victory over Valencia — earning Los Verdiblancos their first major silverware in 17 years.

Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao)

Iker Muniain is linked with a move away from Athletic Bilbao in almost every transfer window — yet the forward has remained loyal to the Basque club.

Athletic have looked impressive under Marcelino and only missed out on European football at the very last hurdle, with Muniain playing a key role in their fearless displays.

The 29-year-old contributed the joint-third most assists in LaLiga this term (10), while he made the most key passes (105).

But it is not just the attacker’s distribution that sets him apart — he is also able to create chances with his raw ability to beat defenders and boasts the second-highest number of shot-creating actions (168) in the division.

Ronald Araujo (Barcelona)

After a tumultuous start to the season, Barcelona went from strength to strength after Xavi’s appointment in November.

Yet one thing remained a constant throughout the campaign — the impressive form of defender Ronald Araujo.

The Uruguayan has improved significantly this term, tackling a higher percentage of dribblers than any other player in the league (75.9%).

Araujo, 23, has nailed down a starting berth under Xavi and has quickly adapted to his manager’s possession-based philosophy — boasting a pass completion rate of 90.2%, which is inside the division’s top 10 players.

After rumours of a move to the Premier League started circulating, Barca were quick to tie their talented centre-back down to a bumper four-year contract last month.

Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

Having endured a difficult start to his Real Madrid career, Vinicius has hit new heights this season.

The Brazilian, 21, has registered 27 goal contributions in LaLiga — starring in Ancelotti’s dominant title-winning outfit.

And the Italian tactician has made no secret of his admiration for the forward.

He said: “I think Vinicius is a really talented player. He arrived here at Madrid when he was really, really young and of course it took time for him to reach the top.

“Because now, in football, talent isn’t enough to reach the top. You have to improve your tactical knowledge, your physical condition.

“I think Vinicius has done really well this season because of this reason. He was able to show his talent because of a base of tactical knowledge and a better physical condition.”