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The 2019/20 European league campaigns have finally come to and after an eventful (and extended) schedule of games. The English top-flight saw a new winner in Liverpool, who won their maiden Premier League title, and first league victory just about three decades.
Elsewhere, it was the same old story for other enormous football institutions as Juventus won their ninth successive title, while Bayern Munich lifted their eighth consecutive one. Paris Saint-Germain were declared champions in a curtailed Ligue 1 season, picking up their third title in as many years.
Clasico giants Barcelona and Real Madrid fought a tightly-contested battle which saw the former lose a two-point lead and relinquishing their LaLiga Santander crown to the latter. Real won their 34th Spanish title, and their first after the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.
In what was a scintillating season of football, a host of records were shattered and replaced with new ones, in terms of goals, assists, and other metrics. Here, we take a look at the players with the most number of assists in Europe's top five leagues for the 2019/20 campaign.
#10 Trent Alexander-Arnold | Liverpool | 13
Liverpool's magnificent right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is arguably the best player in his position in the world, given his achievements, ability and what he provides to his side. The Englishman has been pivotal for Jurgen Klopp's men and their recent success.
Alexander-Arnold broke the record for most assists in a single Premier League season in 2018/19 when he assisted 12 goals en route a second-place finish. This year, he bettered his tally by assisting one more in 38 games, while his counterpart Andy Robertson finished on just one assist lesser. Both have had superb seasons, but the 21-year-old has taken his game up by a few notches with some stunning goals, and devastating set pieces.
It's often hard to believe that Alexander-Arnold is still just 21 as there is a belief that he could go on to become one of the best players England has ever seen, let alone the best right-back.
#9 Thorgan Hazard | Borussia Dortmund | 13
Although he certainly isn't the Hazard that the Real Madrid and, up to an extent, Chelsea faithful would have hoped to see on this list, Eden's younger brother Thorgan has had a commendable season in Germany. The Belgian has quietly played his part and did so efficiently for a side with other big-name stars stealing the headlines, such as Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland.
Hazard accumulated 20 goal contributions (seven goals, 13 assists) in 33 Bundesliga games this year for Borussia Dortmund en route a second-place finish on the table. The 27-year-old enjoyed a fantastic debut season at the Signal Iduna Park, and has played all across the front six positions for Lucien Favre's men. It has also been an impressive to follow up his 2018/19 one, where scored ten and assisted ten with Borussia Monchengladbach.
The BVB creator will undoubtedly have an even more significant part to play next year given the inevitable departure of Jadon Sancho.
#8 Angel Di Maria | Paris Saint-Germain | 14
Angel Di Maria could have potentially smashed his career-best goal/assist tally in the 2019/20 campaign if he played the full 38 games. However, the Ligue 1 was called off earlier than other leagues over fears regarding COVID-19, with league leaders Paris Saint-Germain being declared winners.
The Argentine winger started 23 games out of a possible 27 played by his side and set up a whopping 14 goals in that period — the highest by any player in the French league. The former Real Madrid man also has eight goals to go with his 14 assists, taking his overall goal contribution to 22 in just 26 appearances in Ligue 1. To add to this, Di Maria has played in a number of varying positions, including the occasional midfield role.
There are rumours of Di Maria potentially departing from the French capital in favour of a move back to his homeland. If he does end up leaving, the 32-year-old can do so with his head held high after a laudable season in Paris.
Also read: 10 Premier League signings that have failed to impress (2019-20)
#7 Christopher Nkunku | RB Leipzig | 15
RB Leipzig have picked up a reputation of being able to lure some of the world's most exciting young talents. This is why it came as no surprise when they parted with a fee of €13m for PSG starlet Christopher Nkunku in the summer of 2019 after interest from Arsenal. What did come as a surprise, though, is the immediate impact he had in Germany.
Nkunku, primarily operating as an attacking midfielder, racked up just under 2,000 minutes of Bundesliga football and produced 15 assists for the Red Bull-powered giants — the most of any player at the club. He also recorded five goals to his name to round off an immensely successful debut campaign in German football. His ability to pick perfectly weighted and timed passes into the final third has aided Leipzig on several occasions.
The 22-year-old Frenchman would hope to continue in this vein of form as his side are set to face Atletico Madrid in a one-off UEFA Champions League quarter-final shortly. Regardless of the outcome, it has been a superb season from Nkunku.
#6 Alejandro Gomez | Atalanta | 16
Atalanta's inspirational leader and legend, Alejandro 'Papu' Gomez has been one of the standout players in Serie A this year. The Argentine is regarded as one of the most exciting players in the league, but his 2019/20 campaign has undoubtedly exceeded all expectations.
Gomez, who has predominantly played in behind the likes of Josep Ilicic, Luis Muriel, and Duvan Zapata, has been the catalyst behind most of Atalanta's breathtaking attacks. The diminutive playmaker has amassed 16 assists in his 36 Serie A games, along with seven goals, en route a coming of age season for Gian Piero Gasperini's men where they finished third. They scored a whopping 98 league goals this year, 22 more than champions Juventus.
Gomez is set to lead his side into battle as Atalanta prepare to face French champions PSG in the UCL quarter-finals. A successful run in the UCL could add on to what has been been a superb season for Gomez and Atalanta.
#5 Luis Alberto | Lazio | 16
Another Serie A player who has had a remarkable 2019/20 campaign, Luis Alberto has been the centrepiece of Lazio's creative prowess. The former Liverpool playmaker endured a lacklustre 2018/19 Serie A season where he scored and assisted four and five goals over 27 games, after having scored 11 and set up 14 the year before.
However, this season, Lazio had a stunning season in terms of the football they played, the results they got, and were even tipped to pip Juventus for the top spot at one point. Alberto amassed 16 assists in Serie A, along with five goals, in 36 appearances for the capital club. Although his teammate Ciro Immobile stole the show with a historic, record-shattering season of football, the Spaniard has played a vital role in his side's successful campaign.
Alberto will be set to help Lazio leave a good account of themselves in the UEFA Champions League next season after qualifying for the competition with a fourth-place finish in the league.
#4 Jadon Sancho | Borussia Dortmund | 17
The man who's made headlines practically throughout the entirety of the 2019/20 campaign, Jadon Sancho has had a blinder of a season in Germany. The Englishman has already had superb 2018/19 season which made clubs all over Europe stand up and take notice, but this year, he's taken his game to a new level.
The Borussia Dortmund winger had a record-breaking season in the Bundesliga, managing to both score as well as assist 17 goals in just 25 starts. Sancho has profoundly impressed in numerous aspects of his game, from his acceleration to beat his man, vision to pick the perfect pass, and maturity to hold on to the ball and make composed decisions in the final third.
The reported Manchester United target was widely expected to join his new club by now, but an impasse in negotiations meant that he travelled with BVB for their pre-season tour. Should he join the Red Devils for €120m, he would become the most expensive English player of all time, surpassing the £80m paid for Harry Maguire.
Also read: UEFA Champions League best XI according to ratings
#3 Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City | 20
There is a compelling argument to be made for Kevin De Bruyne not only being the best midfielder in the Premier League but in Europe at this moment. The Belgian has had a simply fantastic 2019/20 season for the former Premier League champions, making the difference for his side on countless occasions.
The majestic Belgian appeared to be in pole position to shatter Thierry Henry's legendary record of 20 assists in a league campaign. Although De Bruyne was ever so close to breaking it, he ended the season with 20 assists, managing to level the iconic Frenchman's tally for Arsenal. Apart from his collection of assists, the former Chelsea playmaker also managed to score 13 league goals from midfield — with many of them being unstoppable for most goalkeepers in the world.
De Bruyne would hope to replicate his performances in Europe as City are set to face off against a fearless Olympique Lyon in Portugal.
#2 Thomas Muller | Bayern Munich | 21
There were a few Bayern Munich players, including Thomas Muller, whose powers appeared to begin waning. However, Hansi Flick's arrival at the club sparked the personnel to life and rejuvenated Bayern in several aspects. Muller, in particular, bounced back with a scintillating season after a relatively underwhelming 2018/19 campaign, which saw him score six and assist nine in 32 games.
This year, the World Cup winner has accumulated a staggering 21 assists — more than double of his tally from last year — and at least seven more than any of his previous seasons. Muller has been a vital cog for Flick's sleeker and sharper Bayern, quietly finding pockets of spaces to exploit and rampantly pressing to win the ball back as well. Apart from his 21 assists, the 30-year-old also has eight Bundesliga goals to his name.
The Raumdeuter's season was a timely reminder of the rare skillset and ability he possesses, as he helped the Bavarians to their eighth successive title. Muller would hope to make a difference in their upcoming tie against Barcelona.
#1 Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 22
Another year, another commendable season, another list topped by FC Barcelona's mercurial skipper. Lionel Messi has set up the most number of goals in Europe's top-five leagues this year, and sent records tumbling en route the pinnacle as well.
Messi became the first LaLiga Santander player to register over 20 goals and 20 assists in a single league campaign. In his 33 games, the Argentina captain smashed in 25 goals and set up 22 assists, both of which are the highest tallies in LaLiga 2019/20. Although Barcelona failed to win the title to make it three in a row, Messi's season on an individual note has been truly marvellous. What's more is that despite his goal return being less than it has been for over a decade, the 33-year-old's playmaking ability has been on full display.
Messi already gave the remaining contenders for the UCL a glimpse of his godly ability with a magical display against SSC Napoli in the round of 16 tie. He would hope to register his fifth UCL title as his side are set to face Hansi Flick's devastating Bayern Munich on Friday.
Also read: Top 10 players in Europe this season according to ratings
