Keeping an Eye on La Liga: 1 Player to Watch on Every Spanish Team This Season

Andres EhrliOct 12, 2011

Six weeks into the La Liga 2011/12 season, the Spanish teams have already shown who the top men will be this season. All 20 teams have one man who will define where their season will end up, and these are the players who we'll have to look over this season.

They aren't necessarily the best in their respective teams, but they will be the men that will define whether their clubs achieve their goals in La Liga if they perform up to standards, and that will doom them to fail if they underperform.

In short, these 20 men will be the defining factors in how this season's Spanish football league will turn out.

Athletic Bilbao: Iker Muniaín

1 of 20

Position: Winger

Number: 19

Age: 18

Nationality: Spain

Height: 1.69

Transfer Market Value: €15 million

Muniaín is one of the top Spain and the world's U-20 talents, and Marcelo Bielsa knows that Iker is the key to taking Bilbao to Europe.

He's still young, but this could definitely be his breakout season for Athletic.

Atletico Madrid: Radamel Falcao

2 of 20

Position: Striker

Number: 9

Age: 25

Nationality: Colombia

Height: 1.77

Transfer Market Value: €35 million

Atlético's season depends on Falcao's ability to compensate for both Kun Aguero and Diego Forlan's losses.

Here's the thing: it seems like "El Tigre" can do it.

FC Barcelona: Cesc Fabregas

3 of 20

Position: Midfielder

Number: 4

Age: 24

Nationality: Spain

Height: 1.79

Transfer Market Value: €55 million

If Barcelona is to reach new heights, Cesc Fabregas will be the man to take them there this season (with Lionel Messi, evidently).

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Real Betis: Roque Santacruz

4 of 20

Position: Striker

Number: 16

Age: 30

Nationality: Paraguay

Height: 1.88

Transfer Market Value: €5 million

The Manchester City loaned Roque Santa Cruz is a big part of why Betis are having a good start this season.

He'll have to remain healthy and important if the green and white side are to remain up top (or avoid promotion) this season.

RCD Espanyol: Héctor Moreno

5 of 20

Position: Central Defender

Number: 15

Age: 23

Nationality: Mexico

Height: 1.84

Transfer Market Value: €5 million

Espanyol sold all their stars this season, and their most important buy was Moreno.

If he's not every bit the successor to Rafa Márquez he's praised to be in Mexico, Espanyol will struggle to remain in Spain's top flight.

Getafe CF: Miku

6 of 20

Position: Striker

Number: 7

Age: 26

Nationality: Venezuela

Height: 1.85

Transfer Market Value: €5 million

Venezuelan striker Miku has become a force in La Liga.

He scored twice at the Bernabeu, showing this could be his season.

Granada CF: Carlos Martins

7 of 20

Position: Midfielder

Number: 17

Age: 29

Nationality: Portugal

Height: 1.72

Transfer Market Value: €5 million

Loaned by Benfica, Portuguese International Carlos Martins will have to fight to avoid relegation with Granada.

If he doesn't lead them, you won't see them in La Liga for another season.

Levante UD: Sergio Ballesteros

8 of 20

Position: Central Defender

Number: 18

Age: 36

Nationality: Spain

Height: 1.88

Transfer Market Value: €500 thousand

Ballesteros has become the heart and soul of Levante.

He leads the player in the pitch and off the pitch in shirt sales as well.

Málaga CF: Santi Cazorla

9 of 20

Position: Attacking Midfielder

Number: 12

Age: 26

Nationality: Spain

Height: 1.68

Transfer Market Value: €25 million

If Málaga wants to be a big club, then Cazorla will have to show he's a big player as well.

Malaga's big aspirations will be hard for him to realize, though.

RCD Mallorca: Emilio Nsue

10 of 20

Position: Striker

Number: 8

Age: 22

Nationality: Spain

Height: 1.81

Transfer Market Value: €3 million

Emilio Nsue is talented even though his haircut is hideous.

Mallorca will need him on his best level to escape relegation this season.

CA Osasuna: Raúl García

11 of 20

Position: Mifielder

Number: 14

Age: 25

Nationality: Spain

Height: 1.83

Transfer Market Value: €4 million

Raúl García was a star at Osasuna, and now he's been loaned back by Atlético to his hometown team.

Pamplona will be glad they got him if they can avoid the bottom positions this season.

Racing De Santander: Kennedy

12 of 20

Position: Winger

Number: 16

Age: 30

Nationality: Sweden

Height: 1.81

Transfer Market Value: €3 million

Former Ajax player Kennedy is Racing's (only) star.

That should be enough to tell you they are more than likely to play in Liga Adelante next season.

Rayo Vallecano: Lass Bangoura

13 of 20

Position: Winger

Number: 27

Age: 19

Nationality: Guine

Height: 1.74

Transfer Market Value: €500,000

The league's other Lass had a great showing against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

He'll have to play like that all season long if Rayo are to play at Madrid's home again next season.

Real Madrid CF: Karim Benzema

14 of 20

Position: Striker

Number: 9

Age: 23

Nationality: France

Height: 1.84

Transfer Market Value: €30 million

Benzema is supposed to be one of the wolrd's best strikers.

He's not.

At least, not yet.

If he doens't break out this season, Real will be looking to sell next summer for sure.

Real Sociedad: Xabi Prieto

15 of 20

Position: Attacking Midfielder

Number: 10

Age: 28

Nationality: Spain

Height: 1.86

Transfer Market Value: €10 million

One of La Liga's most underrated players and a personal favorite, Xabi Prieto (a.k.a The other Xabi) is Real's hope of playing in La Liga and avoiding relegation.

They are a long-shot to a Europa League spot thanks to him, too.