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What a season it has been! From the coronavirus enforced lockdown bringing football all across Europe to a halt to the subsequent resumption of live-action without fans in two action-packed months of June and July, we got more than we bargained for.
On 2nd August the last games of the Serie A 2019-20 campaign were concluded and thus this delayed season came to an end two months after everyone thought it would be over. Now only the UEFA Champions League and Europa League remain to be played out this month.
This year so far has been full of surprises but when it comes to top performers in the European leagues, the usual suspects have delivered yet again.
As expected Juventus, Barcelona, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Manchester City all find representation in the team while no player from Ligue 1 (season ended in March), finds a place here.
So, without further ado, let's take a look at this extremely attack statistical best XI from Europe's top five leagues according to Whoscored ratings. (All the ratings are out of 10)
Goalkeeper: Jesse Joronen (Brescia) - 7.01
A surprise entry in the team of the season, Brescia goalkeeper Jesse Joronen, was as solid as they come between the sticks for the Serie A side that was relegated this season.
The Finnish international was not helped by his defence throughout the season with Brescia shipping in 59 goals in his 29 appearances, in which he made a whopping 123 saves.
His return of 4.3 saves per 90 was the second-best in Europe's top five leagues. Though the club failed to retain their top-flight status, Joronen's performances
Defence
Right-Back: Ricardo Pereira (Leicester City) - 7.50
Ricardo Pereira is the first representative from the Premier League in our team and makes it into the best XI despite missing the final 10 games of the season due to injury.
He was on track for having one of the best seasons of his career with Leicester City this term and looked really confident down the right flank for The Foxes. His marauding runs deep into opposition territory and linkup play with Harvey Barnes and Ayoze Perez were key for creating goalscoring chances in the first half of the season.
He had three goals and two assists before his injury in March but he was also solid in defence, as he ended the season with the third-most tackles (119) in Europe's top five leagues. He surprisingly beat Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold to this spot.
Centre-back: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) - 7.32
Only one player from Premier League's title-winning Liverpool squad makes it into this team and it is none other than their most important player on the pitch, Virgil van Dijk.
The Dutch defender was an ever-present figure for The Reds during their stellar campaign playing every single minute and contributing at both ends of the pitch. Under his composed leadership, the Liverpool defence conceded just 33 goals this season, the best defensive record in the Premier League.
He showed off his distribution this season as he attempted more passes than anyone in the league (3259) and also completed more accurate passes (2903) than any other player in his position.
Centre-back: James Tarkowski (Burnley) - 7.19
Burnley defender James Tarkowski joins Van Dijk as the other centre-half in the defensive line dominated by Premier League players. His contributions helped his goalkeeper Nick Pope keep 15 clean sheets this season.
Like Van Dijk, the Englishman too started and finished every single game for his side and put in a tremendous shift at the heart of the defence as the Clarets finished 10th in the league.
Though not as prolific as the Liverpool defender in the final third, he was one of the busiest defenders across Europe's top five leagues as he made more clearances (200) than any other player and was a force in the air as he won crucial aerial duels (198) for his team.
Left-back: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) - 7.52
Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies completes the four-man defence in this team on the back of an amazing season. The teenager lit up the left-flank with his explosive pace and insane dribbling skills as he effectively replaced David Alaba as the team's first-choice left-back.
He regularly clocked speeds of 35 km/h in his sprints that allowed him to move into dangerous positions resulting in three goals and five assists for the defender. He also completed more dribbles (82) than any other defender in Europe's top five leagues.
The 19-year-old was on top of his game when the Bundesliga ended and the Bavarians would be hoping for similar exploits from him in the UEFA Champions League, as they chase a second treble this term.
Also See: 10 best defenders in European football this season
Midfield
Right winger: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 8.71
Lionel Messi is the only representative from La Liga in this years European Best XI and has been the highest-rated player across Europe's top five leagues thanks to another stellar season with Barcelona.
He gave everything on the pitch for his team, rescuing them time and again but in the end despite the best of his efforts he could not help his side retain their La Liga title.
Messi scored 25 goals and provided 21 assists for the Catalans in 2019/20, breaking the La Liga assist record in the process and bagging a record seventh Pichihci trophy. He also completed more dribbles per game (5.5) than any other player.
Central attacking midfielder: Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.64
Jadon Sancho continued his rise as one of the most promising talents of his generation with a wonderful season with Borussia Dortmund. He was their top scorer and top assists provider for the season and registered double-digit figures for both the stats for a second season running.
The 20-year-old was an absolute joy to watch as he scored 17 goals and provided 16 assists in the Bundesliga this term. He impressed with his pace, immaculate dribbling and link-up play with his teammates.
His performances have given rise to transfer links with Manchester United of late and given his style of play all we can say is that he will fit perfectly in the Premier League.
Central midfield: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 7.97
In the current scenario, no European Best XI would be complete without Manchester City's midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian excelled yet again for the Cityzens as he was heavily involved in creating goalscoring chances for his team.
He won The Premier League Playmaker of the Season award for the second time in three years of its existence after he notched 20 assists this campaign, equalling Thierry Henry's long-standing record.
He missed out on the PFA Player of the Year Award last season thanks to Van Dijk's incredible 2018-19 campaign but it would be incredibly cruel if he is snubbed for the honour this season too.
Left winger: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) - 7.82
Cristiano Ronaldo might've crashed out of the Champions League but he was exceptional in the Serie A for Juventus, as he helped them to a ninth consecutive Scudetto this season and added two league titles in as many seasons to his cabinet.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was even more influential than his debut season this term as he scored 31 goals and provided five assists in 33 appearances. Even at the age of 35, he showed no signs of slowing down and even netted his first free-kick goal for The Old Lady.
Also Read: Top 10 midfielders in European club football this season
Attack
Striker: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) - 8.13
Just like Kevin De Bruyne, if there's one player who cannot be replaced in this team it has to be Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski. The Polish international has been on fire this season and has been prolific in every single competition for the Bavarians.
He won the Bundesliga Golden Boot award for the fifth time in his career after scoring 34 goals and was unlucky to have been beaten to the European Golden Shoe by Lazio's Ciro Immobile, who scored 36 goals but also played seven games more than Lewandowski.
He is a complete forward who scored all kinds of goals and this season and even bagged more headed goals (8) than any other striker. He now has the golden opportunity to become the top scorer at UEFA Champions League this season, as he already has 11 in the competition and is on track to end Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's 12-year long duopoly over the honour.
Striker: Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) - 7.60
Timo Werner joins Lewandowski upfront to form an all-German partnership in the attack of this team. The player who agreed to join Premier League club Chelsea in June had a memorable final season with RB Leipzig, in which he scored a whopping 28 goals and bagged eight assists as well.
His goals were one of the main reasons RB Leipzig stayed in the Bundesliga title race as long as they did and as the tweet above indicates, his goals earned the most points for his team.
The player has grown a lot at the Red Bull Arena and has added finesse and decisiveness in the final third to his incredible pace. He can follow the suit of former Bundesliga star Christian Pulisic and set the Premier League on fire next season.
Also Read: 5 Managers who were sacked after winning trophies
