In Focus: LaLiga stars of the season so far

LaLiga has long been home to a plethora of top players — and this season is no exception. 

Barcelona and Real Madrid are brimming with quality, which has been on full display as the pair battle it out for the summit. 

The Spanish top flight has provided the platform for some brilliant individual displays and LiveScore have picked out the five most impressive performers so far in 2022-23.

Federico Valverde

Federico Valverde has quietly developed into one of the best midfielders in the world at Real Madrid. 

The Uruguayan, 24, provides bundles of energy and verve in Real's engine room. 

Not only is he excellent off the ball, the midfielder is also having an extremely productive season in the final third, having scored six goals and grabbed two assists.

Robert Lewandowski

Barcelona signing Robert Lewandowski was very bad news for the rest of the league. 

The striker has wasted no time settling into his new environment, scoring an incredible 13 goals in 14 outings — the sort of strike rate the Poland international made the norm at Bayern Munich. 

Table-topping Barca have enjoyed a brilliant start to the campaign and 34-year-old Lewandowski’s form in front of goal has been key to that.

Mikel Merino

Real Sociedad are sitting pretty in third and appear to be on course to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2012-13. 

At the heart of their impressive showings is the creative Mikel Merino, 26, who has provided six assists and scored once in 14 LaLiga appearances this term. 

Despite his initial struggles after joining from Newcastle in 2018, Merino is now proving to be worth every penny of the £10.7million Sociedad paid for him. 

Alejandro Balde

Alejandro Balde has been one of Barcelona's most impressive performers this season after breaking into the starting XI. 

And it is no surprise Barca boss Xavi is full of praise for the 19-year-old left-back. 

Speaking earlier in the campaign, he said: "I am happy for [Balde]. He has great quality and character. 

"It never ceases to amaze me that a player his age can play at that level. Physically, he is amazing and he is going to give us a lot."

Balde was rewarded for his efforts with a spot in Spain’s World Cup squad, replacing Jose Gaya, who sprained his ankle in training.

Borja Iglesias

Borja Iglesias has always scored goals at a decent rate in LaLiga but has taken his game to the next level this season. 

The striker has eight goals and two assists in 13 appearances for Real Betis, an impressive return that would arguably put him in a great position to finish the campaign as the league's top scorer — if a certain Mr Lewandowski was not plying his trade in the division. 

Iglesias’ best return since signing for Betis was 11 goals in 2020-21 — but he is on course to blow that tally out of the water.