With one third of the 2023/24 LALIGA EA SPORTS season in the books, there are several teams and players who have stolen the limelight so far. An extraordinary Girona FC are topping the table and the title race promises to be exciting, while players such as Jude Bellingham and Isco are shining and prodigies such as Lamine Yamal are breaking records. Here's a look at the five top storylines of the LALIGA EA SPORTS campaign thus far.
Girona FC's memorable start
Under Míchel, Girona FC have hit the ground running in the league this season. Having won 11 of their first 13 matches, Los Blanquivermells are currently topping the LALIGA EA SPORTS table with 34 points, more than any team in Europe's top five leagues. No team has scored more goals than Míchel's side (31) and as many as 11 players have already found the back of the net, with Artem Dovbyk their top scorer (seven goals) and assist contributor (four) so far this term. Meanwhile, Aleix García has achieved a historic feat by becoming the first ever Girona FC player to be called up by the Spanish national team after recording seven goal contributions (three goals and four assists).
An exciting title race
Girona FC have already made LALIGA EA SPORTS fans consider them as legitimate contenders in a title race that promises to go down to the wire. There are just six points of difference between the league leaders and fourth-placed Atlético de Madrid, who have one game in hand. It is so tight at the top and it's interesting to note that Real Madrid's only loss came against city rivals Atleti, FC Barcelona have recorded just one defeat too, at home to Los Blancos in ELCLASICO, and Girona FC's sole defeat was at home against Carlo Ancelotti's men. That makes it clear that every direct duel between these four sides is not to be missed and that all four should finish the campaign with very high points totals.
Bellingham is on fire
Jude Bellingham may have been one of the biggest signings in European football last summer, but few expected he'd be the player to fill Karim Benzema's boots in scoring terms. The England international has taken LALIGA EA SPORTS by storm, and is the top scorer with 10 goals in 11 appearances. Only Antoine Griezmann (six) has netted more game-winning goals than the 20-year-old midfielder (five), who is also the player with the most goals scored away from home (seven) in the league thus far. Featuring in a playmaking role behind the two forwards in Ancelotti's newly-introduced 4-4-2 formation, Bellingham has stood out, always in the right place at the right time. Having scored 35.7 percent of Real Madrid's goals so far, the prodigious midfielder has demonstrated that he's already an extremely important cog in Ancelotti's well-oiled machine.
The new La Masia jewel
Considered as one of the finest football academies in the world, FC Barcelona's La Masia has produced several world-class players over the years. After making his debut last season to become the youngest player in club history at just 15 years and 290 days of age, this term Lamine Yamal has become the youngest ever goalscorer in LALIGA history at 16 years and 87 days. A daring winger who can tear apart opposition defences with his agility and ability, Lamine Yamal has started in six of FC Barcelona 13 games so far, netting one goal and recording three assists. The La Masia product has already introduced himself to LALIGA EA SPORTS fans and he is now regarded as one of the most exciting prodigies in European football.
Isco rediscovers his form
After falling back in Real Madrid's pecking order in his last years at Los Blancos, Isco then didn't manage to settle in at Sevilla FC during his short-lived spell there last season. In the summer, he became one of the few players to have moved from LosNervionenses to later join city rivals Real Betis, where he was assigned with the challenging tasks of filling Sergio Canales' boots and covering for fan favourite Nabil Fekir until the Frenchman's return from long-term injury. Not only has Isco managed to fulfil his tasks, but he has already won over the fans' hearts with his performances on the pitch. His two assists and two goals in 13 games barely reflect Isco's contribution to the team thus far. The former Real Madrid midfielder ranks first in key passes in the league with 3.2 per game, as well as second in expected assists with 3.6. Meanwhile, he has been named MVP in as many as nine of Real Betis' 13 games so far despite the fact that the Andalusian side have won only five of these matches. Isco has truly rediscovered his form at the Estadio Benito Villamarín and has been an absolute joy to watch this season.
