The La Liga title race came to an end after a terrific competition on the last matchday. There are very few competitions across the world that can compete with La Liga.
Spanish football’s unique blend of technicality and history has produced some of the most fascinating stories in modern football. While Spain’s top three have engaged in some intriguing league battles this season.
The 2020-21 edition of La Liga, in particular, has proffered a distinct competitive edge with teams like Sevilla, Villarreal, Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao making their presence felt in the Spanish league.
While several teams have managed to surprise us this season, but most of the applause goes to Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone’s men had put up a great show this season while clinching the league title from Real Madrid.
Over 38 rounds of exhausting football, the 2020-21 edition of La Liga made some spectacular viewing. Here is a team of players that have sparkled in Spanish football this season and have taken their clubs to new heights. The team consists of 11 players, while the formation is 4-3-3.
La Liga Team of the Season
Manager
Zinedine Zidane
La Liga saw a host of exceptional managers throughout the season. Right from Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone to Celta Vigo’s Eduardo Coudet, all coaches have done a sensational job in their own right. Still, Zidane tops them all with his performance. He has been able to take his team through great strength despite facing a huge list of injuries.
Real Madrid under Zidane only conceded 28 goals, the second-lowest in the league while scoring 67 goals, which named them the joint second-highest goal-scoring team this season in the league.
Goalkeeper
Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)
The 28-year-old kept more clean sheets (18) than any other goalkeeper in La Liga this season. He has a save success rate (84.4%) which is the best in the division. Atletico conceded fewer goals (25) than any other team in 2020/21 with Oblak deserving of a spot in the best XI.
Defenders
Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid, Right back)
Kieran Trippier has justified his decision to leave Tottenham Hotspur for Atletico Madrid by winning the league. The England international holds the right-back spot in the La Liga team of the season. Only Jose Gaya (7) registered more assists than Trippier (6) of defenders in Spain’s top tier this term.
Jules Kounde (Sevilla, Center Back)
At the age of just 22, Kounde has become the center-back for the future, and already one of the best across Europe. He was solid in Sevilla’s defense and his stock has risen considerably on the back of another commendable campaign. His sensational performances throughout the season make him the first picks of two CBs in the team.
Stefan Savic (Atletico Madrid, Center Back)
He is the third of five Atletico players in the team of the season, Kounde’s partner at the back. Savic’s ill discipline may have come to the fore again, but the 30-year-old was key to Atletico’s title triumph. Savic was solid in the air for Diego Simeone’s side, winning an average of 2.8 aerial duels per game, to help make the grade in 2020/21.
Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid, Left-Back)
Ferland Mendy has been one of his side’s better performers this season and has stepped up with some crucial performances for Zinedine Zidane’s side. Mendy offered Real Madrid a rare combination of attacking prowess and dribbling solidity and has been one of the most impressive full-backs in La Liga this season.
Midfielders
Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona, Defensive midfield)
Frenkie de Jong is one of only two Barcelona players in the team of the season. The Dutchman received a fair share of criticism last year for his poor outings but has now silenced his critics into submission with an array of brilliant performances. He has become one of Ronald Koeman’s most important players with his intelligence and poise in the middle of the pitch.
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, Central Midfield)
Toni Kroos came through with yet another sensational season, one that serves as a testament to his longevity. Real have suffered a rocky road of injury troubles all season, and Kroos has missed out on ten games himself. But his three goals and four assists are enough to include his name as one of the performers of the season. In fact, he beats out Lionel Messi as the player with the most key passes.
Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid, Attacking Midfield)
Marcos Llorente might be young for legend title but his performances this season have made him a fan favorite for Atletico. His contributions in the final third this season have often guided Atletico Madrid across the finish line. Llorente is one of only two La Liga players to register double figures for both goals 12 and assists 11 this season.
Forwards
Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Right Wing Forward)
Lionel Messi has proved his worth yet again with some astonishing individual statistics. Despite Barcelona’s disappointing league matches, they were the most prolific team with 85 goals. With 30 goals and 9 assists were from Messi. With these goal stats, he finished as the top scorer of the league. He has been successful in attacking exploits and has played an instrumental role in the victories.
Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid, Striker)
Atletico’s last player out of the five in the team of the season is Luis Suarez. Simeone’s spirit seems to have rubbed off on Suarez and the veteran striker now seems to have a visible spring in his step. He has scored 21 goals this season while scoring the winning goal in Atletico Madrid’s last two games to deny arch-rivals Real Madrid the La Liga title.
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, Striker)
Real Madrid, and now France’s talisman, Karim Benzema, rounds off our La Liga Team of the Season with a place on the left side of the strike partnership. He has single-handedly carried all the burden of Madrid’s attack, coming up trumps one too many times across the season. Benzema ended the season as the second top scorer with 23 goals, and also had nine assists in the campaign.
Honorable Mentions
Goalkeepers:- Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid); Yassine Bounou (Sevilla); Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona); Sergio Asenjo (Villarreal).
Defenders:- Jesus Navas (Sevilla); Emerson (Real Betis); Eder Militao (Real Madrid); Marcos Acuna (Sevilla); Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad); Javi Galan( Huesca); Pau Torres (Villareal); Jordi Alba (Barcelona)
Midfielders:- Casemiro (Real Madrid); Luka Modric (Real Madrid); Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad); Dani Parejo (Villarreal); Fernando (Sevilla; Carlos Soler (Valencia); David Silva (Real Sociedad)
