'%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 curtains have finally been drawn on the 2019/20 edition of the Serie A and the past year has seen several Italian teams transform into potent attacking forces that are creating ripples in the Champions League and across the world.
Juventus managed to secure its ninth consecutive Serie A title with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala becoming a crucial part of the Bianconeri's march to the title.
Lazio and Atalanta managed to thrill all of Italy with their stunning attacking exploits and Inter Milan made steady progress under Antonio Conte. Juventus will not find it particularly easy to make it ten in a row next season.
Serie A giants Juventus clinch the Scudetto as Lecce, Brescia, and SPAL suffer relegation
The Serie A also saw its fair share of trepidation and heartbreak as Lecce slipped into the relegation zone after suffering a 4-3 loss against Parma. Genoa managed a miraculous 3-0 victory against Hellas Verona on the final day of the season to hold on to its spot in the Serie A.
Several other teams in Italy have also moved in the right direction since the Serie A restart. Napoli continues to improve under the leadership of Gennaro Gattuso and the likes of Nicolo Zaniolo and Federico Chiesa have made ripples in Rome and Florence. AC Milan has been one of the best teams in Europe since the Serie A restart and will be a force to reckon with next season under Stefano Pioli.
While several superstars in the Serie A have lived up to expectations this season, the league has also witnessed the emergence of some new names who have managed to make their mark on Italian football. This list represents a fairly balanced team that boasts an exceptional blend of experience and youthful exuberance.
Goalkeeper - Thomas Strakosha (Lazio)
Lazio shot-stopper Thomas Strakosha has managed to narrowly pip the likes of Samir Handanovic and Wojciech Szczesny to the goalkeeper's spot in this eleven. The Albanian goalkeeper has one of the best save percentages in the Serie A this season and has been one of the most dependable shot-stoppers in the league.
Strakosha is the only Serie A goalkeeper to play all 38 league fixtures this season and has made 125 saves for Lazio. The Serie A has not lived up to its defensive reputation this season but Strakosha's heroics have seen Lazio concede only 42 goals this season.
The Albanian star has been an unsung hero in Lazio's sensational season and is one of the most promising goalkeepers in Europe. Strakosha has improved considerably since the start of the season and looks comfortable in Lazio colours.
Honourable Mentions: Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus), Samir Handanovic (Inter Milan), Juan Musso (Udinese), Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan)
Also Read: 5 footballers who have won the most trophies in their careers
Left-back - Theo Hernandez (AC Milan)
Theo Hernandez has often been forced to struggle in the shadow of his more illustrious brother, Lucas Hernandez, but that has not been the case this season. The former Real Madrid full-back has been sensational in the Serie A under Stefano Pioli and offers a potent attacking threat on the left flank.
The left-back has played 33 of AC Milan's 38 Serie A fixtures and has recorded 6 goals and 3 assists in the process. Theo Hernandez has a propensity for potent diagonal runs and has been able to break defensive lines with his sheer pace and skill on the ball.
The defender is also capable of making overlapping runs and provides an attacking outlet wide on the left flank for AC Milan. Theo Hernandez has become a force to reckon with since the Serie A restart and is one of the best full-backs in Italy.
Centre-back - Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan)
Antonio Conte's teams are generally known for their defensive prowess and Inter Milan have lived up to the billing in the Serie A this season. While Milan Skriniar and Diego Godin have put in decent performances, Dutch defender Stefan de Vrij has been the pick of the lot.
The Serie A has always been known as one of the most defensive leagues in the world and Inter Milan has been the only team that has managed to maintain the league's legendary reputation. The Nerazzurri have conceded only 36 goals in the Serie A this season and a large portion of the credit must go to Stefan de Vrij.
The Dutch centre-back has been a rock in Antonio Conte's defensive line as Inter Milan threatened to steal the Serie A title from Juventus' hands. De Vrij also scored four goals in the process and had one of the best seasons of his career.
Centre-back - Francesco Acerbi (Lazio)
Lazio has won plenty of plaudits for its attacking exploits in the Serie A this season and Francesco Acerbi has lost out on much of the limelight in the process. The Biancocelesti were in the running to win the Serie A title for most of the season and have also managed to finish with a better defensive record than Serie A champions Juventus.
Francesco Acerbi has emerged as a leader in Lazio's defence and has provided the platform for the side's more creative players to freely express themselves in the Serie A. The experienced Italian centre-back is currently one of the most reliable defenders in the Serie A and has grown into his role at the club.
Acerbi has started 36 games for Lazio in the Serie A and also played a crucial part in the team's resounding victory over Juventus in the Italian Supercup final in December.
Right-back - Juan Cuadrado (Juventus)
Juventus has not had the best of seasons under Maurizio Sarri but has still managed to grind its way to yet another Serie A title. The Bianconeri have been uninspiring for large parts of the season and it has often fallen to explosive Colombian right-back Juan Cuadrado to provide some much-needed sparks of inspiration.
The full-back has often played high up the pitch for Juventus and has managed to bag five impressive assists in the process. Cuadrado has also scored twice in the Serie A this season and is Juventus' best full-back at the moment.
Juan Cuadrado has made 33 appearances in the Serie A under Maurizio Sarri and has established himself as a potent force on the right flank. The Colombian defender can be lethal on his day and will play an important role at the club next season.
Honourable Mentions: Hans Hateboer (Atalanta), Davide Faraoni (Hellas Verona), Robin Gosens (Atalanta), Chris Smalling (AS Roma), Milan Skriniar (Inter Milan), Alessio Romagnoli (AC Milan), Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus)
Also Read: Juventus plans squad overhaul as eight players are set to face the axe
Defensive Midfielder - Ismael Bennacer (AC Milan)
Ismael Bennacer has been one of AC Milan's best players in the Serie A this season and has been a mainstay in Stefano Pioli's side. The talented Algerian midfielder has been brilliant since the Serie A restart and has blown teams away with his tenacity and poise on the ball.
Bennacer has formed a formidable partnership with Franck Kessie in AC Milan's midfield and is one of the most promising talents on offer in the Serie A. The young midfielder can play as a deep-lying playmaker and is also an energetic presence in the middle of the pitch.
Ismael Bennacer has already attracted interest from several European giants and is one of the only good holding midfielders in what has been an otherwise shoddy year defensively for the Serie A.
Central Midfielder - Luis Alberto (Lazio)
Luis Alberto's incredible tryst with the Lazio faithful has been one of the stories of the Serie A over the past few years. The Barcelona youth product joined Lazio in 2016 and is now an undisputed starter for the club.
The Spaniard has managed 6 goals and 15 assists this season and has pulled the strings in the midfield for the Lazio side. The playmaker is one of the most technically gifted players in the Serie A and has become a hero at the Roman club.
Lazio has exceeded expectations this season and Luis Alberto has been the primary catalyst for Simone Inzaghi's side. The Biancocelesti have qualified for the Champions League and will need Luis Alberto to be at his best next season.
Central Midfielder - Alejandro Gomez (Atalanta)
Atalanta has been Serie A's biggest surprise package this season. The Bergamese club has benefitted from Gian Piero Gasperini's fluid style of play and the talents of the skilled Alejandro Gomez have come to the fore to propel Atalanta to Champions League qualification for the second consecutive season.
The Argentine midfielder has the highest assists in the Serie A this season and has set up his teammates on 16 different occasions. The 32-year-old midfielder has blossomed into an incredible creative force under Gasperini and is one of the best midfielders in the league.
Gomez has also scored 7 goals this season and often has often found himself in advanced positions as Italy's proverbial shape-shifters have gone about baffling and dismantling the Serie A's widely acclaimed defences. Gasperini has unearthed an absolute gem of a team and Alejandro Gomez is arguably the most important piece of the puzzle.
Honourable Mentions: Sofyan Amrabat (Hellas Verona), Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Nicolo Zaniolo (AS Roma), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo)
Also Read: La Liga 2019/20: Team of the season
Attacking Midfielder - Josip Ilicic (Atalanta)
Atalanta's surge to the highest echelons of Italian football has been a fascinating story. While Luis Muriel and Duvan Zapata have been the most prolific players for Gian Piero Gasperini's side in the final third, neither have created the impact that Josip Ilicic has managed in the Serie A this season.
The Slovenian star has been the link between the midfield and the attack for Atalanta and is the fulcrum of Gasperini's tactical setup. Ilicic has shown a brilliant understanding of the game and his ability to seamlessly glide into excellent positions on the pitch has yielded 15 goals in the Serie A.
The Slovenian midfielder has also picked up 5 assists and the reports that have emerged regarding the struggles with his health are extremely troubling and unfortunate. Josip Ilicic is one of Atalanta's most important players and his intelligence in the final third is crucial to the side's success.
Striker - Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Juventus has been far below its best this season and has scrapped its way to a ninth consecutive Serie A title. The Bianconeri have relied heavily on the talismanic Cristiano Ronaldo to make something happen in the final third and while the Portuguese superstar has not been at his electric best, his 31 Serie A goals have effectively secured Juventus his league title.
Cristiano Ronaldo has morphed into a striker over the past few seasons and recent weeks have shown signs of a flourishing partnership with Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala. The Argentine forward has taken up a more creative role for Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo has usually been on hand to finish off most of the champions' attacking moves.
While Cristiano Ronaldo may have missed out on the Golden Boot, the Portuguese superstar has won his second Serie A title and is starting to etch himself into the Bianconeri's famous folklore.
Striker - Ciro Immobile (Lazio)
Strikers across Italy have tried and have failed to match Ciro Immobile's goalscoring prowess in the Serie A this season. The prolific striker deservedly won the Golden Boot this season with an astonishing 36 goals and is arguably one of the best hitmen in Europe.
Immobile's conversion rate and his ability to finish the most difficult of chances saw Lazio challenge Juventus to the Serie A title for most of the season. While both Immobile and Lazio had a few moments after the Serie A restart, the Italian striker has kicked on and has managed to secure the coveted individual prize.
Lazio has been one of the most interesting teams in Italy this season and has managed to qualify for the Champions League. Immobile has led from the front and his confidence and exuberance in the final third have made the rest of Europe take note.
Honourable Mentions: Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Luis Muriel (Atalanta), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta), Francesco Caputo (Sassuolo), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan), Joao Pedro (Cagliari)
Serie A Team of the Season (2019/20): (4-3-1-2)
Thomas Strakosha; Theo Hernandez, Stefan de Vrij, Francesco Acerbi, Juan Cuadrado; Ismael Bennacer, Luis Alberto, Alejandro Gomez; Josip Ilicic; Cristiano Ronaldo, Ciro Immobile
Also Read: Premier League 2019/20: Team of the season
