Defensive Midfielder
Francis Coquelin has overshadowed Sergio Busquets statistically this season. The Barcelona midfielder may have created more chances per game (0.6 to 0.2) and matched Coquelin for blocks per game (0.2), but the Frenchman has led the way in every other key area this season. The Frenchman has a better pass completion rate (90 to 89%), has won more tackles (2.3 to 2), made more interceptions (2.3 to 2) and more clearances (1 to 0.8) per game.
Central Midfielder
Aaron Ramsey has justified why Barcelona were linked with a move for the Welshman, dominating Ivan Rakiti? in a host of key areas this season. The 25-year-old has completed more successful passes (59 to 43), created more chances (1.4 to 1), more key passes (1.3 to 1) and has won more tackles (1.9 to 1.2) per game. Ramsey has also registered more assists (3 to 0) and more goals (4 to 3).
Playmaker
Mesut Özil gets the better of Andres Iniesta in the playmaker role. The players share the same pass completion rate (88%), while Iniesta has made more successful passes per game (61 to 53). However, the German has led every other key stat this term. Özil has created more chances (4.4 to 1.3) and made more key passes (3.7 to 1.2) per game. He has also registered more assists (17 to 1) and scored more goals (4 to 1).
Left Forward
Neymar comfortably takes the left-sided forward spot from Alexis Sánchez. The Chilean edges pass completion (81 to 80%), but then the Brazilian takes over. Neymar has made more key passes (2.8 to 1.8), created more chances (3.2 to 1.8) and has completed more successful dribbles (4.6 to 3.2) per game. He has also scored more goals (18 to 6) and recorded more assists (9 to 1).
Right Forward
Lionel Messi unsurprisingly beats Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to the right-sided forward spot. Messi has scored more goals (15 to 1), registered more assists (7 to 0), made more key passes (1.5 to 0.9), created more chances (1.9 to 0.9) and completed more dribbles (4.1 to 1.6) per game. Chamberlain fights back with the better pass completion rate (82 to 81%).
Centre-Forward
Luis Suarez dominates Olivier Giroud in every key area. The Uruguay international has scored more goals (25 to 12), enjoyed a better shot accuracy (57 to 54%) and a better conversion rate (28 to 16%) from a higher number of shots per game (3.8 to 3). Suarez comes out on top creatively too. He has created more chances per game (1.4 to 0.9) and has registered more assists (10 to 4).
