Far too often, it’s the goalscorers that get all the attention. So, it’s time to look at some of the unsung heroes in European football: The top tacklers.
You probably won’t be surprised that three defensive midfielders are among the top five, but there are also two right-backs on the list.
Here are the top five tacklers across Europe’s major leagues in 2019/20.
With the exception of Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ricardo Pereira has arguably been the most consistent right-back in the Premier League this season.
The pint-sized Portuguese is a genuine threat going forward, but as the stats suggest, his defensive work is also top notch.
The Leicester man has notched three goals and two assists in the Premier League this season, but it’s his defensive contribution that has made the biggest impact.
Ricardo Pereira is the complete modern-day full-back, and he’s streaks ahead of his nearest challengers on this list.
Eduardo Camavinga is enjoying a hugely successful breakthrough campaign with Rennes, and at just 17, he is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young prospects in the game.
The combative midfielder plays with a maturity far beyond his years, while his courageous approach is admirable.
Camavinga’s role is to sit in front of the back four and protect the defence. You rarely see an inexperience player being trusted with such an important job, but the young Frenchman has continued to go from strength to strength in 2019/20.
It’s fair to say that eyebrows were raised when Manchester United paid Crystal Palace £50m for Aaron Wan-Bissaka last summer.
It goes without saying that this is an astronomical fee for a young right-back, but the 22-year-old has given Man Utd fans plenty to be excited about this term.
Sure, he still has a lot to learn going forward. But Wan Bissaka’s tackling ability is clear for all to see. The Englishman is exceptional in one-on-one situations, so opposition players invariably struggle to get past him.
It's no surprise that Wilfred Ndidi is on this list. Leicester’s enforcer has been immense this season, and his work-rate is second to none.
The Nigerian covers almost every blade of grass whenever he plays, making Brendan Rodgers’ team extremely tough to break down.
After doing his best to replace N’golo Kante, it feels like Ndidi is finally getting the credit he deserves. The Foxes boast the third-best defensive record in the Premier League this season, and Ndidi has certainly played his part.
Baptiste Santamaria’s tackling stats are outstanding, but they’re made even better by the fact that he plays for a mid-table Ligue 1 club.
Angers are currently 10th in the French top flight, and they would arguably be in a far worse position if it wasn’t for the exploits of their star midfielder.
Remarkably, Angers bought Santamaria for the bargain price of just €500k back in 2016. Given his recent performances, Angers look set to make a tasty profit, with a number of Europe’s top clubs interested in signing the 25-year-old.
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