Stats Analysis: WhoScored's Top Rated Centre-Backs

WhoScored continues our series of articles, as we rundown the top five players per position across Europe’s main five leagues. We’ve had a look at the goalkeepers and full-backs in the past, so this time round it’s time to turn our attentions to the centre-backs. It’s a Serie A dominated list, with as many as four of our featured five plying their trade in Italy’s top division.

1. Giorgio Chiellini, Juventus. WhoScored rating 7.56

Appearing in all but two of Juve's 26 league games so far, Chiellini's versatility has seen him feature 10 times at left-back, in addition to 14 appearances at centre-half. An average of 3 tackles is second only to Arturo Vidal (4.8) from any of Antonio Conte’s regular performers, with Andrea Barzagli’s 2.2 the next best amongst the back-four.

Chiellini’s reading of the game and ability to break up opponents’ attacks is highlighted by 4 interceptions and 6 clearances per game; in both instances his tally is better than any team mate and sums up just how important his contribution has been to his side’s unbeaten season. He’s number one for aerial duels, too; an average 2.6 is far superior to Barzagli’s 1.5 at the back.

In terms of distribution, Chiellini makes 66.1 passes per game - second only to Andrea Pirlo (80) for Juve. He plays an average of 3.9 long balls from the back and produces 0.9 key passes per game, with an overall 86.1% accuracy.

Going forward, Chiellini makes just 0.4 successful dribbles, taking little chances in possession, though his 1 shot per game is double that of the next best defender, Stephan Lichtsteiner (0.5) - as a result, he’s found the net twice and has also picked up an assist. A total of 5 WhoScored man of the match awards is the most in Conte’s squad and with a 7.56 rating at centre-half combined with 7.51 at left-back, Chiellini has averaged 7.54 over the season, just pipped by Pirlo’s 7.59 in the only unbeaten side left in Europe’s top five leagues.

2. Lucio, Inter Milan. WhoScored Rating 7.46

It says a lot about his performances that, in spite of Inter tasting defeat 11 times in just 26 matches, Lucio is still the second top rated centre-half in the WhoScored rankings. Unsurprisingly, then, he makes more tackles (3.4) than any Inter player, and almost double the number of his central defensive partner, Walter Samuel (1.8).

The Brazilian is also top when it comes to interceptions, with an average 4.7 indicative of his reading of the game and ability to break up the opponent’s play - Samuel manages just 2.3 per game, less than half. There’s no surprise to see Lucio also make the most clearances for Claudio Ranieri’s side, either; his average of 10.1 easily betters Samuel’s 7.3, while in the air, he wins 1.5 duels per game.

While Lucio makes just 38.7 passes, his tally is still relatively impressive, given that Wesley Sneijder is top for Inter, with 49.1. He plays 3.8 long balls, less than Samuel’s average of 5, though the Brazilian has a tendency to bring the ball out of defence instead; 1.4 successful dribbles per game indicates his skill in possession and is third of any Inter player, just behind Ricky Alvarez’s 1.6.

Given his exertions at the back, Lucio can be forgiven for not offering too much at the other end of the pitch. In terms of goal threat, he’s managed 0.5 shots per game over his 23 appearances, and has created 0.6 goalscoring opportunities (key passes) - as a result, he’s grabbed a goal and assist so far.

Thiago Motta was Inter’s top rated player with an average of 7.61 before departing leaving for PSG, leaving Lucio, rated 7.46 in the WhoScored ratings, as number one in the current squad; it makes you wonder just how much worse the San Siro giants’ season could have been if it hadn’t been for Lucio at the back.

3. Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid. WhoScored rating 7.42

Similar to Chiellini, Ramos has been utilised at both full-back and centre-half this season, and has missed just 2 of Madrid’s 25 games so far. He’s excelled in both roles and although he’s proved better at full-back in the WhoScored ratings with an average 7.51, his displays in the heart of defence still, nevertheless, make him second top for centre-halves, with 7.42 per game.

Ramos is joint-top for interceptions for the La Liga leaders, with an average 2.6 per game equalled by Marcelo, while an average of 2.5 tackles is second amongst Jose Mourinho’s backline, though some way behind the combative Lassana Diarra’s 4.3 in midfield. He’s top for aerial duels, with 2 per game almost double fellow centre-half Pepe (1.2), with 4.7 clearances just pipping the Portuguese star’s 4.3.

With 62.9 passes per game, Ramos is second only to Xabi Alonso (85.5) and, with an impressive 86.9% accuracy, also plays 6.1 long balls from deep. Although he’s made less than half the number of key passes as Marcelo (0.6 to 1.3), Ramos has provided more assists for Madrid than the left-back, by 3 to 2.

In attack, Ramos averages 0.7 shots, only just behind Mesut Ozil’s 0.8 but he’s outscored the German, by 3 goals to 1, equalling Marcelo as the side’s top scoring defender. A lowly 0.3 successful dribbles is, like Chiellini, indicative of Ramos’ safety first approach - as a result, he’s been dispossess just 0.4 times per game, the lowest of any regular Madrid player. Picking up a couple of WhoScored man of the match awards, Ramos is the fifth highest in our rankings for Mourinho’s table-toppers.

4. Thiago Silva, Milan. WhoScored Rating 7.40

Playing in all but two of the league leaders’ 26 games, Silva’s reading of the game is obvious. He’s top for interceptions, with 3.6 per game; a figure far superior to his partner in central defence, Alessandro Nesta, with 2.3. Silva tends not to make many challenges; indeed, he makes three times as less (1.2) in comparison to interceptions. He also leads the way for clearances (7.1 v Nesta’s 6.2) and is also superior in the air to the Italian, with an average 1.7 successful duels more than three times Nesta’s 0.5.

Silva also has more possession than any player in Massimo Allegri’s side. He makes 62.5 passes per game and, despite playing an average of 11.2 long balls from deep, the Brazilian has a superb 90.7% accuracy - once again, top for Milan. His assuredness on the ball is also highlighted by the fact that Silva is dispossessed just 0.3 times per game.

Going forward, Silva has offered a decent threat from the back, with 0.7 shots per game far more impressive than Nesta’s 0.2; as a result, he’s contributed a couple of goals so far. He’s failed to provide any assists, though, with just 0.3 key passes per game, and a lowly 0.4 successful dribbles shows how his game differs from Lucio (above). With a WhoScored rating of 7.40, Silva is the third top rated player for Milan, behind front pair Zlatan Ibrahimovic (8.17) and Antonio Cassano (7.62).

5. Hugo Campagnaro, Napoli. WhoScored Rating 7.36

Playing on the left of a back three in Napoli’s 3-4-2-1 system, the Argentine is second only to compatriot Ezequiel Lavezzi (7.45) in the WhoScored rankings, with a score of 7.36. Campagnaro has played 22 times in Serie A this current campaign, missing only 4 of his side’s fixtures to date. He’s top for tackles, with 3.6 per game showing just how crucial his ball-winning ability is at the back, particularly when compared to his fellow centre-backs, Salvatore Aronica (2.3) and Paolo Cannavaro (1.7).

Of the back three, he is second for both interceptions (3.2) and clearances (7.2), demonstrating a strong consistency across the board. Campagnaro is also the best in one-on-one situations of the back three; he’s beaten by just 0.5 dribbles per game, with both Aronica and Cannavaro on 0.8. In the air, the Argentine again leads the way again, winning 1.8 per game - more than Cannavaro (1.2) and Aronica (0.1) combined.

An average of 42.6 passes is fourth highest at Napoli, not too far behind central midfielder Gökhan Inler’s 48.4. When it comes to creating goalscoring opportunities, Campagnaro has also proved far superior to his fellow centre backs, with an average 0.6 key passes compared to Cannavaro and Aronica, both with 0.1; so far, he’s provided a couple of assists as a result.

His 0.7 successful dribbles per game also highlights how confortable the Argentine is when bringing the ball out from the back and pushing forward, while from a total of 8 shots, he’s scored twice. Campagnaro’s eye-catching displays have seen 4 WhoScored man of the match awards come his way, joint-top with Lavezzi for the fifth-place side.