The top 10 progressive passers in La Liga

A progressive pass is defined as any pass that moves the ball forward by 10 yards or more as well as any passes into the box. 

In La Liga a team completes an average of 30.1 progressive passes per 90 and we’ve looked into who the best passers have been. 

 

10. Luka Modrić 

Real Madrid’s Luka Modric ran the show against PSG in their second leg comeback against the French side and he comes in as the first entry onto the list. 

Modric has completed 129 progressive passes this season and he has five assists to show for it. The Croatian has played the majority of the season as a holding midfielder, but he was utilised as a false nine in the recent El Classico.  

 

9. Casemiro 

Casemiro comes in as Real Madrid’s second entry onto the list with 133 progressive passes. The Brazilian has been at the base of Real Madrid’s midfield for the past seven seasons now and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.  

Real Madrid themselves have completed more progressive passes than any other team in La Liga this season with 1262.  

 

8. Pau Torres 

Spurs have recently been linked with a move for Villarreal’s Pau Torres and it's understandable to see why when you look at his passing statistics.  

Torres is the only centre half to make it onto the list with an impressive 141 progressive passes.  

 

7. Iker Muniain 

Iker Muniain has spent his entire career with Athletic Bilbao and he has completed 141 progressive passes from the left-hand side. 

The Spanish winger also ranks amongst the best creative players in the league with seven assists this season. 

 

6. Mikel Merino 

Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino also joins the list with 141 completed progressive passes. He has mostly played at the base of midfield alongside Martín Zubimendi and just behind David Silva.  

 

5. Sergio Canales 

The versatile Sergio Canales has played in several positions for Real Betis throughout the season and he has chipped in with nine goal contributions so far. 

He ranks as the most progressive passer in the Real Betis side with 143 progressive passes this season.  

 

4. Jordi Alba 

Jordi Alba has completed more key passes than any other Barcelona player this season with 39 and he also ranks well for progressive passes.  

As the only full back on today’s list, Alba has completed 167 progressive passes and he has seven assists to show for it.  

 

3. Sergio Busquets 

While Xavi has come in and transformed Barcelona with a specific focus on their younger stars, there’s no denying just how important Sergio Busquets still is. In fact, Busquets has completed more than 200 more passes than any other player in La Liga this season with 1822.  

When it comes to progressive passes, the Spanish midfielder has completed 171 which further demonstrates his value to the team.  

 

2. Toni Kroos 

Real Madrid currently have a nine-point lead at the top of La Liga and so it probably comes as no surprise to see all three of their midfielders on today’s list. Toni Kroos completes the Real Madrid trio with 172 progressive passes, making him the most progressive passer at Madrid. 

Kroos has also completed 333 long passes this season which is significantly more than any other player at Real Madrid. 

 

1. Daniel Parejo 

Villarreal’s Daniel Parejo often goes under the radar, but his passing stats always tend to rank among the top players in La Liga.  

He has been the most progressive passer in La Liga this season with 175 progressive passes. He also ranks in the top 10 players for assists with six to his name this season as well as producing 52 key passes.