You've probably heard the hype about the usual suspects, but the current La Liga player stats for the 2025/26 season are telling a much weirder story than the headlines suggest. Honestly, if you just look at the standings, you're missing the real drama happening in the spreadsheets.
Kylian Mbappé is doing exactly what Real Madrid paid the big bucks for, sitting on 18 goals as we hit the mid-January stretch. But here's the thing: it’s not just about the finishing. He’s also leading the league in shots with 67 attempts. Basically, he’s a volume shooter. Some might call it clinical; others might say he's just taking every chance he sees.
The Teenage Takeover is Real
Lamine Yamal isn't just a "prospect" anymore. He’s a statistical anomaly. The kid has already racked up 7 assists, sharing the top spot with Getafe’s Luis Milla. But the stat that actually blows my mind? Dribbles. Yamal has completed 82 successful dribbles so far. To put that in perspective, Vinícius Júnior—arguably one of the best 1v1 players on the planet—is sitting at 48.
It’s almost a joke how much Yamal is carrying the creative load for Barcelona at 18 years old.
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- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona): 82 dribbles, 7 assists.
- Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid): 18 goals, 49 chances created.
- Ferran Torres (Barcelona): 11 goals, 12 big chances missed (yikes).
- Luis Milla (Getafe): 7 assists.
There’s a flip side to all that attacking intent, though. Ferran Torres has 11 goals, which sounds great on paper. Then you see he's also tied with Mbappé for the most "big chances missed" at 12. It’s that classic striker’s dilemma—you have to be in the right spot to miss them, but at some point, you've gotta bury those sitters.
Defensive Walls and Unsung Heroes
Everyone talks about the Pichichi race, but the race for the Zamora Trophy is where the real grit is. Thibaut Courtois is back to being a cheat code with 8 clean sheets for Real Madrid. However, if you want to talk about who is actually working the hardest, look at Aaron Escandell at Real Oviedo.
The guy has made 95 saves.
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That is a staggering number. While Courtois is protected by a world-class backline, Escandell is basically standing in front of a firing squad every weekend. He’s also prevented an estimated 9.3 goals according to xG metrics. That’s the difference between staying up and being buried in the relegation zone.
Passing Perfection and Midfield Engines
Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí is redefining what a teenage center-back looks like. He has completed 1,304 passes, the highest in the league. His accuracy per 90 minutes is about 85.2. He’s not just sideways-passing either; he’s the primary outlet for starting attacks.
Then you have the "dirtier" side of the game. Pol Lozano at Espanyol has committed 40 fouls. He’s the league’s leading disruptor, followed closely by Mario Martín at Getafe with 38. If you’re playing against Espanyol, you’re probably going to end up on the grass at least a few times.
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The Weird Stats Nobody Mentions
Did you know Akor Adams at Sevilla has been caught offside 23 times? It’s a frustrating stat for fans, but it shows a striker who is constantly playing on the shoulder of the last defender. Sometimes that aggression pays off, and sometimes it just results in a frustrated linesman raising a flag.
Real Madrid’s Arda Güler is also quietly becoming a creative monster. He’s created 41 chances in limited minutes. His efficiency is actually through the roof compared to some of the regular starters.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking these players for fantasy or just to sound smarter at the pub, keep an eye on the expected goals (xG) vs. actual goals. Mbappé is slightly over-performing his xG of 15.8, which suggests he's finishing difficult chances. On the other hand, Robert Lewandowski is sitting at 9 goals with an xG per 90 of 1.01, meaning the service is there, and he’s likely to see a scoring burst soon.
Also, watch the discipline. José Carmona at Sevilla already has 8 yellow cards. One more mistimed tackle and he’s looking at a suspension that could hurt Sevilla’s defensive stability during a crucial run of fixtures.
To stay ahead of the curve, don't just look at the goal tally. Follow the "progressive carries" and "chances created" metrics. That’s where you find the players like Alberto Moleiro (Villarreal) or Bryan Zaragoza, who are doing the heavy lifting before the ball even reaches the net. You can find deep-dive data on sites like FBref or FotMob, which track the 2025/26 season in real-time.