Defences with a killer instinct

They are responsible for ensuring their opponents do not score, frustrating the hopes of rival fans and driving managers up the wall. Defenders are anti-heroes as their work consists of preventing the most crucial aspect of football: goals. However, sometimes defenders move up the pitch and becomes heroes in games, and getting fans out of their seats. At LaLiga.es we have decided to look at the top goal scoring defender of the 2014-15 Liga BBVA.

Top of the list is Nicolás Otamendi. The Argentine central defender who plays for Valencia CF has scored six goals this season in five wins and a draw for the side from the capital of Turia. The first goal came in the 3-1 win against Atlético Madrid on matchday 7, and he did not score against until ten matches later in the game against Real Madrid, when he managed to make the Mestalla stadium go wild with his winning goal.

Otamendi got most of his goals in the final stage of the Liga BBVA. He finished up the goal fest against Elche CF (0-4) and opened the scoring in the win against SD Eibar (3-1). In the last two games he had a decisive role, as with his goals against RC Celta, his side managed a key points and against UD Almería (2-3) he began the comeback that led his side to a UEFA Champions League place.

Otamendi, Piqué and Lombán head the list of goal scoring defenders

 Behind the number 23 Valencia player are Gerard Piqué and David Lombán with five goals each. The central defender for the champions of the Liga BBVA, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League has had an outstanding season, and has scored in five games, helping the azulgrana side to get five wins.

Meanwhile, David Lombán, he is a safe choice from eleven metres. The Elche CF player has scored three penalties, leading to two draws and a win on the occasions when he scored from the spot. His other two goals came with a right-footed shot inside the area and a header.

Other key players...

Other defenders have also played an important role in their team’s attacking play. One example is Sergio Ramos who, with four goals, has once again had an outstanding season in this regard. The central defender from Camas has scored a total of 40 goals in the Liga BBVA when playing for the Whites.

Jérémy Mathieu got one of the most important goals of his career, the opener in the win against Real Madrid, in what was a key clash in the battle for the title. The French player got his first goal in the 2009/10 season with Valencia CF, and since then, he has managed to score every season, with the exception of 2011/12. In addition to his goal against Real Madrid this season, he scored the winning goal in the following game against RC Celta.

Alberto Lopo had two dream-like games, on matchday 36 and 37, when he scored his only two goals of the season. When the end of the Liga BBVA was drawing near, Lopo got the equaliser against Athletic Club in injury time and he got his side’s opener in the win against Levante UD. As such, the central defender contributed toward four points that were vital in helping RC Deportivo to avoid relegation.