5 potential stars for the 2015-2016 season – Liga BBVA
Five potential stars for the 2015-16 season – Liga BBVA
We’ve had Micho’s five potential stars from both the Bundesliga and the Serie A, as well as my five potential stars from the Barclays Premier League, so that can only mean one thing. It’s time for my five potential stars from the Liga BBVA in the 2015-16 season, and trust me, there are some players in here you’ll want to remember…
Shkodran Mustafi (Valencia CF)
I still find it bizarre that this chap played for Everton and even more bizarrely, that they let him slip through their fingers.It’s been a relatively disappointing start to the season for Valencia and all those at Mestalla. With only one home win and five goals to their name this season, it’s obvious where the majority of the problems lie, however Valencia’s defensive five has been without it’s problems. Injuries to both first and second choice goalkeepers, Diego Alves and new signing Australian Mat Ryan, as well as constant injuries summer signing Aymen Abdennour, means that the likes of Shkodran Mustafi are constantly playing amongst a different back line.
The German was outstanding last season alongside Nicolas Otamendi as Los Che claimed themselves a spot in this season’s Champions League, however the sale of the Argentinian means Mustafi has big boots to fill. And so far, he seems to be doing just that. In the six apperances Mustafi has made this season, Valencia have only conceded four goals, including two clean sheets, which has had to make up for their poor goalscoring tally; he did score a goal himself too, in Valencia’s 1-0 win over Granada.
Oliver Torres (Atletico Madrid)
Oliver Torres could perhaps be a little disappointed with how he’s begun this season; it’s October and he has a grand total of zero goals and zero assists to his name. However, fans of Porto will tell you he’s more than capable. The little Spaniard scored seven goals and assisted six more in last season’s Primeira Liga as Porto came ever so close to claiming the title. Yes, the standard of Spanish football is a little higher than that of Portuguese football, however that’s no reason why Oliver shouldn’t be able to strut his stuff, especially with the calibre of player he has around him.
Perhaps Simeone’s system is a little too different to that he was used to a Porto and he’s taking a little while to adapt, but, with the likes of Koke, Jackson Martinez, Antoine Griezmann, Angel Correa, Luciano Vietto and of course, Fernando Torres around him, I fully expect his attacking skills to blossom in the coming weeks and months.
Nolito (Celta Vigo)
Nolito’s had a funny career. The club he left in 2011, after joining in 2008, is now wanting to sign him again after and his current club, Celta Vigo, stuffed them 4-1, with Nolito putting in an outstanding performance in said match. Did I mention the club I’m talking about? Oh, only FC Barcelona.
In all seriousness, since leaving the Catalonian club in 2011, Nolito’s career has gone from strength to strength. He joined Portuguese side Benfica after leaving Barcelona, where he scored 11 goals in his debut season. In his second season, he joined Spanish side Granada on loan, and the season after, he decided to make his return to Spanish football permanent as he joined Celta Vigo. He was an instant hit, scoring 14 goals upon his return to Spanish football, as well as 13 goals in the season after.
This season though, he wants to take his game that extra step, and I supposed five goals and three assists from your opening seven appearances isn’t a bad way to start. Bear in mind, these seven apperances included both wins, and goals, against Champions League sides Sevilla and Barcelona; impressive, ey? Celta Vigo remain unbeaten in the league and the only way that run will ever continue is down to the likes of Nolito.
Alen Halilovic (Sporting Gijon – on loan from FC Barcelona)
Does anyone else remember the picture that went viral of Halilovic posed after a match with Zlatan Ibramovic that went viral a couple of seasons ago? Halilovic looked like a spotty teenager, and funnily enough, it’s because he was! He was 16 at the time when Dinamo Zagred played PSG in the 2012-13 Champions League, and he may have only have been introdueced into the game in the 91st minute, however everyone in Croatia knew what this young man was capable of.
In 2014, he decided to make the switch from Zagreb to Barcelona, and in his first season in Spain he was a regular in the Catalonian’s “B” team. However, this season, Barcelona decided to send the young Croatia out on loan to a Liga BBVA side, one at which he’s flourished at. The city of Gijon was his destination and the creative midfielder has been a relvation for the newly promoted side, winning the September “Player of the Month” at Sporting Gijon; his last apperance included a goal in a very impressive 2-1 away victory at Espanyol. This kid is one that shall receive a TOTY item in the future, for sure.
Borja Baston (SD Eibar – on loan from Atletico Madrid)
It must be hard as a football being permanentely out on loan. However, Borja Baston appears to be releshing the challenge; he scored nine whilst out on loan at Huesca in the Liga Adelante as well as 10 the season after; he then scored 23 out on loan at Real Zaragoza last season in the 2nd tier of Spanish football last season!
This season however, his home club, Atletico Madrid, decided to send him out on loan to a side that plays in the top tier of Spanish football, SD Eibar. Now, those that follow Spanish football will know all about Eibar, their meteoric rise and the fact their club is free of debt, unlike most of the football clubs in Spain. However, I doubt many know about Borja Baston and his goalscoring prowess in Spanish football – as well as his goals in the second divsion in Spain, he’s already netted four times in the first tier, something I’m sure he’ll add to and label himself as one of Spain’s top marksman.
