Omar El Hilali

Key strength: Pace and recovery

Overlapping full-back

At the bottom of La Liga, RCD Espanyol Barcelona find themselves anchored in 20th place, their DWWLL form offering only flickering hope in a desperate relegation battle. Yet amid the gloom at the RCDE Stadium, 22-year-old Moroccan right-back Omar El Hilali is quietly establishing himself as a rare beacon of promise. With seven appearances and 540 minutes under his belt this season, the €15 million-valued defender has already registered one assist while donning the number 23 shirt. What sets El Hilali apart is his modern defensive profile—boasting genuine pace and 63-rated defensive steel that allows him to thrive as an overlapping full-back. Despite Espanyol's precarious position, his willingness to bomb forward and track back with equal urgency speaks to both his physical capabilities and mental resilience. Two yellow cards hint at the aggressive edge required at this level. While the Pericos' survival hangs in the balance, that €15 million valuation on a relegation-threatened side tells its own story about his potential—El Hilali's development trajectory suggests a bright future regardless of which division his club occupies next season.