'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The level of football in Italy has definitely stepped up. Having 3 clubs in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, the race for the Scudetto has been very competitive. Here’s a look at the team of the season so far.
Goalkeeper
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
After returning from a serious injury last Jan, the Juventus blocker has made sure he has led by example from the back. The “Old Lady” have conceeded just 11 goals in 16 games. Buffon’s biggest strength is how error free he is. Of course there has been some errors from him in last 2 seasons, but still pretty rare. The legendary figure at Turin is the key to the unbeaten run of Juventus this season. Buffon’s organising, co- ordinating, shot-stopping and positioning have been excellent.
Defenders
Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus)
Lichtsteiner is one of the jey men behind the success of Juventus. Conte’s “most” important outfield player. On having scored a goal on his debut, Lichtsteiner became the first non- Italian to score the opening goal for Juventus in top flight Italian football. He provides energy and a lot of pace along with good crossing abilities and solid defending on the right flank. He has featured in all the 16 games having scored once, providing one solitary assist and only two yellow cards.
Lichtsteiner becomes the first ever player to score for the Bianconeri in their new stadium
Andrea Barzagli (Juventus)
Barzagli has been a revelation this season. The Bianconeri centre back has been a rock at the back. He has potrayed some brilliant defensive abilities repaying the faith entrusted in him by Conte. He has featured in all 16 games having conceeded only 11 times with no bookings and has also provided an assist. He has definitely made the Juventus staff think twice in buying a defender. He has been awarded with a call up for the national team.
Andrea Barzagli standing tall above all
Thiago Silva (A.C.Milan)
Silva was voted the best defender last Calcio and was one of the key figures who was mainly responsible for Milan’s Scudetto win. He has started 15 games this season and has not disappointed. Milan have managed to keep six clean sheets in their last seven games and have leaked in 16 goals. Silva has been a consistent performer for the Rossoneri in the league and Europe. Silva’s accuracy in tackling is magnificent as he is yet to receive a booking this season.
Silva has signed a new contract that keeps him at Milan until 2016
Senad Lulic (Lazio)
The Bosnian left back has been performing consistently for the past few months. Lazio are in contention for the Scudetto and Lulic has become one of the key players. He has featured in all the 16 games this season starting 12 of them and coming from the bench 4 times. He has scored 3 goals and has picked up only 2 yellow cards.
Lulic celebrates after scoring against Udinese
Midfielders
Claudio Marchisio (Juventus)
The ” golden boy ” of Juventus has been phenomenal so far. Marked by everyone as the next ” Tardelli ” , he has scored 6 goals and has an assist to his name as well. He has been a matchwinner on more than a couple of occasions. He is an important feature in Conte’s team. He has started 15 games and has been suspend only once for picking up 4 yellow cards. He has been a top feature of Prandelli’s Italy as well.
Marchisio is wanted by many foreign teams
Alberto Aquilani(A.C.Milan)
After a mediocre season at Juventus, Aquilani made a move to Scudetto champions A.C.Milan. The loan move turned out to be magnificent as Aquilani’s performances have been terrific. He has started 12 games for the Rossoneri and has appeared thrice from the bench. He has 6 assists and 1 goal to his name. After a bad start at Milan, he quickly regained his form after Allegri employed swapped his position from left to right side of the central midfield area. He scored the winner for the Azzurris against the present European and World Champions in Bari.
Alberto Aquilani, a team player.
Marco Rigoni(Novara)
Rigoni is a surprise inclusion into the team of the season. Novara made it into Serie-A after 55 years. The former Juventus player has been top class for the Biancoazzurri putting in 4 assists and scoring 6 goals. On being the matchwinner against Inter where he scored a brace, he has been very influential this season. He has started 15 games and has been given the yellow card only once. If Novara have to remain in the Serie-A, they need Rigoni in his hot form.
Rigoni put the nail in the coffin for Gasperini
The midfielders have put in 11 assists and scored 13 goals together.
Forwards
Germán Denis
Who would’ve thought Atalanta to be in 11th position at the start of the season after an initial 6 point deduction at the start? Atalanta and their fans have a lot to owe it to German Denis. The former Udinese man has scored 12 goals in 16 games with a solitary assist. He is the top scorer in the Italian Serie-A, ahead of worldclass strikers such as Ibrahimovic, Cavani and Di Natale. Atalanta would be in 5th position joint with Inter Milan if not for the initial loss of points. He has scored against the likes of Napoli, Fiorentina and A.S. Roma proving to be a big match player.
Denis comes to Atalanta's rescue
Zlatan Ibrahimovi?
Ibrahimovic continues his hunger for goals. The former Barcelona, Inter and Juventus player has made it into the scoring charts yet again. He has scored 11 goals and has provided 2 assists in the 13 games he has featured in. Milan may well go on to score a century of goals this season if Ibrahimovic continues this way. Ibrahimovic wins the league wherever he goes. Ibrahimovic is in close distance with achieving the league as Milan are joint top in the Calcio.
Ibrahimovic rises again when Milan needed him the most
Antonio Di Natale
The ” Capocannoniere ” last season, Toto is in the third spot this time scoring 10 goals. Two goals behind Denis, Di Natale has been inspirational this season. He has played 15 games and apart from scoring so many he has set up 3 goals as well. The ” Bianconeri ” are second runners up presently sitting behind the ” Old Lady ” and the ” Rossoneri “. Di Natale is playing at his prime at the moment and Udinese have completely taken advantage as a result.
Di Natale to lead the scoring charts yet again?
The strikers have an astonishing score of 33 goals and 6 assists between them.
Head Coach
Francesco Guidolin
On losing worldclass players such as Inler to Naples and Alexis Sanchez to Barcelona, Guidolin’s men have been mindblowing this season. Employing a usual 3-5-2 formation they lie third in the table scoring 20 goals and conceeding just 9. The ” Bianconeri ” have won 7 out of their 8 home games and drawing just once. However, away from the ” Friuli ” they have won twice, drawn four and lost only twice. Guidolin has got his tactics spot on so far establishing a team that contains all the pressure and are threatening on the counter. They have scored most of their goals in the last 20 minutes of the game potraying their fitness levels. They have beaten Roma, Inter and are unbeaten to Milan and Juventus this season. Udinese fans have to thank Guidolin a lot since he has taken over as the head coach, Udinese have qualified for the Champions League and are now pretty much in contention for the Scudetto.
Amdist strong competition from Antonio Conte(left) and Massimiliano Allegri, Guidolin(right) makes it into the team of the season
Formation
4-3-3
