La Liga's five players to watch in the 2015/16 season
Wednesday 19 August 2015 11:41, UK
With the new La Liga season fast approaching, we profile the five players to look out for in 2014/15.
The new term kicks off on Friday night with Malaga v Sevilla, live on Sky Sports 3 from 7.25pm, while champions Barcelona travel to Bilbao and Real Madrid visit Sporting Gijon on Sunday, both live on Sky Sports 3 from 5pm.
But who will catch the eye over the next 10 months?
Luciano Vietto (Atletico)
Fernando Torres, Sergio Aguero, Radamel Falcao, Diego Costa... Atletico Madrid fans are used to having world class strikers at the Vicente Calderon over the past decade, and with the departure of Mario Mandzukic in the summer, young Argentine Vietto could be next on the list.
Alongside summer signing Jackson Martinez from Porto, 21-year-old Vietto will be a big part of another push under Diego Simeone.
Years ahead of his age on the ball, adept at finishing and a hugger of space, Vietto has 38 goals in 85 starts in all competitions, and was one of the top performing young players in La Liga last season with Villarreal.
The intensity of his involvement will depend on Simeone's preferred style, and with Martinez, Antoine Griezmann, Fernando Torres and Angel Correa for company, Vietto will be out to impress.
Paco Alcacer (Valencia)
Having come through Valencia’s youth set-up, one of the very best in European football, 21-year-old forward Alcacer played a pivotal role in bringing the club back into the top four of La Liga with 11 goals and five assists last term.
Alacer is speedy, strong and adept at finding space inside the penalty area, and already has four goals in six appearances for Spain.
Next on his list should be more consistency, having gone long periods without a goal over the past two seasons.
Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
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His qualities are by no means a mystery, but the Croatian's influence was amplified between November and March last season.
Modric's absence with a hamstring injury shook Real Madrid's midfield balance, and a direct path to the La Liga title soon became a trip and a fall as Carlo Ancelotti's side lost at Atletico Madrid, Valencia and Athletic Bilbao after the winter break.
Gareth Bale in particular suffered without him, while Real often lost the midfield battle against sides with their tails up, without Modric's calming presence and pinpoint passing accuracy.
Modric said he played his best football under Ancelotti, while the Croatian team doctor Boris Nemec insisted it was the then-Real manager who caused Modric's injury because of his tendency to overuse players. Now, Rafa Benitez's use of the 29-year-old will be under scrutiny, and could make or break the Spaniard's first season at the Bernabeu.
Aymeric Laporte (Bilbao)
Linked to Manchester United in the Spanish press in January, the 21-year-old French centre half caught the eye last term as Bilbao finished seventh in La Liga.
Comfortable on the ball, pacey and strong in the tackle, Laporte was a regular for Bilbao at just 18, despite two red cards in his opening 15 games.
Aside from a few moments of indecision common with a defender of his age, Laporte's positional sense improved over a 33-game season with Bilbao, and further strides over the next 12 months will see more clubs calling.
Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona)
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Barcelona's transformation enters another phase this season after the exit of legendary midfielder Xavi, but the treble winners look well stocked.
Rakitic's arrival last summer was arguably their most important, embracing his place in Luis Enrique's side in a deeper role than asked of him at Sevilla.
Dropped for Xavi for Barca's El Clasico defeat in October, the Croatian then returned to the midfield as a shield for the defence, an industrious cog in Barca's machine.
Chipping in with eight goals to boot, the 27-year-old could be as influential this season as any of the three south American superstars ahead of him.
