Our round up of the best 5 wingers for defensive contribution in each of the top 5 European divisions concludes in Spain with La Liga.
All figures shown relate to the performances each player made from wide positions only and are based on WhoScored.com ratings for defensive contribution, including tackles and interceptions per game. Players analysed all played 10 games or more from wide positions last season.
None of the sides who finished in the European places in La Liga last season had a representative in our list, proving that the stronger sides in the league allow their wingers more freedom to attack. In turn this often demands some of the 'lesser' sides to ensure that even their most attacking players put in a defensive shift, with the highest ranked side with a player in our top 5 being Osasuna in 9th.
In fact, the mid-table club have two players in our leader board, indicative of the work rate insisted upon the side by both José Antonio Camacho and José Luis Mendilibar, who replaced the former Spain coach in February. 12th placed Santander and 13th placed Levante also have a player in our top 5, whilst the latter showed his all-round value to feature in the league's best 5 wingers for attacking attributes as well. The final side represented are relegated Hercules who ended the season in 19th.
Álvaro Cejudo
27-year-old midfielder Álvaro Cejudo only signed for Osasuno in January but was an instant hit at the club after joining from Segunda Division side Las Palmas. Playing 13 times from out wide, Cejudo reached list high figures in terms of defensive contribution, particularly strong in tackles per game with a score of 2.92 accompanying 2.38 interceptions a match. However, the Spaniard also offered plenty going forward, averaging an exceptional list high of 5.92 crosses per game, as well as leading figures in terms of key passes per game with another excellent score of 2.38.
The wingers joint low of 4 goal contributions, with 2 goals and 2 assists, is made far more impressive by the fact that he made just 13 starts for his side, failing to disappoint in any category having picked up decent figures for cross accuracy (23%), dribbles per game (3.08) and dribble success (32%).
Pedro Munitis
The extremely experienced figure of Pedro Munitis has shown his worth to Santander by making the top 5 at the age of 36. An all-round attacking pro, Munitis played in no less than 8 positions last season, with 18 of his 33 starts coming from wide. Though he fared worst here for tackles per game, his figure of 1.78 places him 5th in the whole division for wingers to have played more than 10 games, but it is his interceptions which make him such an asset in a defensive sense. Having cut in to win possession on an average of 2.72 occasions a match, the veteran's reading of the game cannot be questioned. He also led our top 5 with a superb cross accuracy of 30% from 3.11 deliveries attempted per match.
Despite his age, Munitis showed a willingness to get up and down the line to still attempt 3.11 dribbles per game, the second highest figure of the leader board. However, his success rate when it came to taking on opponents was the weakest by a considerable margin having beaten his man on 26% of said efforts. Having shown very few weaknesses at 36, it is no wonder that the former Spain international remained a mainstay at Santander last season, chipping in with an excellent 2.28 key passes per game.
Juanlu
Levante's Juanlu finished as the side's second best performer according to WhoScored.com ratings with 6.78, making 27 appearances from the left wing last term. The 31-year-old made it into our top 5 for attacking wingers due to his impressive crossing and dribbling stats, meaning his inclusion in the list of wingers for defensive contribution is of great significance. As well as attempting 4.67 crosses per game and beating his man with 37% of his attempted dribbles, Juanlu made a hugely helpful 2.74 tackles per game for his side, as well as weighing in with 5 assists.
The experienced wide man's list low of 19% cross accuracy is exposed by some excellent figures from his other contenders, while his total of 1.15 key passes per game also ranks 5th on our leader board.
Kiko
At just 20-years old, Kiko is by far the youngest man to make our top 5- testament to his industry and work rate at such a tender age. However, the youngster's efforts during his 20 starts from wide last season were not enough to see Hercules secure survival from the drop, though his talents did not go unnoticed, with Barcelona B snapping him up to mould into one of their future first team stars. Kiko earned his move with some standout figures for such a young prospect, including a willingness to help out defensively with 1.9 tackles and 2.1 interceptions per game. Despite this, his strongest assets are those of an attacking wide man having beaten his opponent with a list high of 38% of his dribbles attempted and assisted 6 goals last season.
His only real blemish stood in the fact that he failed to score from wide last season and he will need to improve in this department. However, figures of 26% for cross accuracy alongside his already impressive dribbling success prove that the 20-year-old may have a big future ahead of him.
Masoud Shojaei
27-year-old Iran international Masoud Shojaei is the second Osasuna winger in our top 5. Impressive figures suggest that the midfielder was unlucky to make just 13 starts on the wing last season, though he did miss a month having taken part in the Asian Cup earlier in the year. Shojaei fared well in every category analysed, and his 5th placed ranking comes due to the fact that the leader board was so hotly contested in Spain in comparison with the other divisions. Standout statistics alongside his highly commendable defensive contribution include a list high dribbles per game score of 3.46, while 7 goal contributions, including 5 assists, coming from just 13 starts is prolific.
The Iranian ranked 4th or better in every category, showing no weaknesses whatsoever with his crossing seeing him fare worst in our leader board despite attempting 3.38 deliveries and reaching his target with a more than acceptable 23%.
