Best Premier League XI v Best La Liga XI 2019-20

Which team would come out on top?

While the La Liga XI comprises of seasoned veterans including one of the greatest players to have graced the game in Lionel Messi, it is hard to hard to argue with the fact that the quality of Spanish football, in general, has taken a hit in the last 18 months or so.

While Real Madrid went trophyless last season, Barcelona suffered another embarrassing capitulation in the UEFA Champions League, which led to the eventual downfall of former manager Ernesto Valverde.

The Premier League Team of the Season, on the other hand, is largely dominated by Liverpool players who in the last 18 months have secured 97 points in the league, won the UEFA Champions League and look all set to break the Premier League points record on their way to winning their first league title in 30 years.

Aside from that, Belgian superstar Kevin de Bruyne could break Thierry Henry's assists record of 20 from the 2002-03 season, representing that several players are in contention of breaking long-standing records. While the game is expected to be a close encounter, the PL team should emerge victorious on paper, with the key battle coming down to the one between Lionel Messi and Virgil van Dijk.

The pair were involved in what was one of the closest Ballon d'Or chases in history, as the Argentine pipped the Liverpool defender by 9 votes to win the award for a record-breaking sixth time in his career, becoming the first player in the history of the game to do so.

While we have indicated that the PL side could emerge victorious, the situation could turn around dramatically if Messi decides to take matters into his own hands, as has been the case so often over his decorated career.