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2014 was a year that proved that La Liga isn't just a two-horse race. Not only did Atletico Madrid win the League title for the first time since 1996, they also became the first club apart the big two to win the League since 2004 when Valencia pipped Barcelona to the title. It was also the year that saw an All-Spanish affair in the UEFA Champions League final, which was eventually won by Real Madrid.The 2013/14 season came to an exciting finish and the 2014/15 season started with a lot of raised expectations. The year 2014 also saw some scintillating performances and plenty of records being broken. So here is the La Liga's Best XI for the calendar year 2014. The team will line-up in a 4-4-2 formation.
#1 Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid)
Arguably the most contentious pick of the bunch is in goal, as we have chosen Thibaut Courtois. Although Keylor Navas won the League's best Goalkeeper award for the 2013/14 season, the Costa Rican has played just two games for Real Madrid since moving in the summer and hasn't done enough to pip Courtois.
Even though the Belgian keeper moved to Chelsea in the summer, he still makes it into the side thanks to his sublime performances in the La Liga, which saw him keep 12 clean sheets in the 2013/14 season. Commanding inside the box and blessed with an amazing shot-stopping ability, Courtois was without a doubt, the League's best keeper, who was guarding the League's best defence.
His presence in goal was very assuring for the Atletico defence, as it helped them develop a great understanding, which showed in the tenacious manner in which they defended.
#2 Right back: Juanfran (Atletico Madrid)
One of the major reasons why Atletico Madrid have so strong is because of their ability to hurt teams in so many different ways. One way in which they have had plenty of success has been their full backs.
Although Juanfran isn't the most glamorous or adventurous full-back in the league, he is without a doubt the most effective. Whether it is maintaining his shape and defensive discipline or bombing forward to put things on a plate for the strikers to score, the Spaniard could do both with equal aplomb. His crosses into the box were a major source of goals for his side, who, in Diego Costa last season and Mario Mandzukic this season, have strikers who took and continue to take great advantage and score goals.
#3 Centre back: Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid)
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Diego Godin was Atletico's captain, their leader on the pitch and the player they turned to when they needed crucial goals. And although a centre back, Godin provided that as he headed home the goal that gave his side the League title against Barcelona.
Marshalling a defence is never easy, but the way in which Godin lead his side throughout 2014 made it seem that way and he was one of the main reasons why Atletico were not only tough to beat, but also to score against. He might have lost the LFP defender of the year award to Sergio Ramos, but he makes it into this side alongside the Spaniard thanks to his leadership and reading of the game.
#4 Centre back: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
He might be the one defender that everyone loves to hate, but there is no denying the fact that he is arguably the best attacker of the ball when it is in the air. Whether it is in the opposing box trying to score a goal from a set piece, or his own box, trying to head clear from open play, Sergio Ramos is one of the best in the world in the air.
His five League goals in 2014 are a testament to that. Not only is he good in the air, but he is also tenacious in the tackle and has the pace to make up for any defensive lapses and that is why he makes it into the side, just ahead of Miranda, who had an amazing 2014 for Atletico.
#5 Left back: Marcelo (Real Madrid)
If it was last season, instead of the calendar year, Marcelo would have lost out to his compatriot Filipe Luis. But ever since Luis' departure, Marcelo has without a doubt been the best left back in Spain. The Brazilian's ability to bomb forward at will and support the attack has been a key part in Real Madrid's 12-game winning run in the League that has seen them keep six clean sheets and concede just seven goals.
While he may not always hold his position at the back, his constant forays forward, provide the side with some much-needed width and his pace means that recovery runs are made with great ease. He has been a very crucial player for Real Madrid for some time now, and deservedly is the left-back for the year 2014.
#6 Central Midfield: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona)
Anyone who merely looks at the final score will be baffled by Javier Mascherano's selection in this side. But ask anyone who has seen Barcelona play and they will testify to the Argentine's importance to the side. His performances, both in central midfield and as a central defender have been so crucial to Barcelona that it is fair to say he is the irreplaceable Argentine in the squad.
While he may not have any goals or assists to show for it, there isn't another player in the side, who can claim to have stopped as many attacks and snuffed out as much danger as Mascherano did. So that is the reason why he is the first name on Luis Enrique's team sheet and walks into this team on the basis of a stellar 2014.
#7 Central Midfield: Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
For a midfielder who is creative by nature, just two goals and five assists in the League in 2014 doesn't make for particularly great reading. But what those numbers don't tell you is the role he played in his sides’ dominance.
Operating as a deep-lying playmaker in a side glittering with attacking talent, Modric has been key in not just instigating attacks, but also maintaining possession and ensuring that the side isn't caught on the break. With so much pace on the break, Real have needed a calm head in the middle to keep the ball circulating, and ensure proper and timely distribution of the ball, and Modric has been that man and that is why he won the League's Midfielder of the Year award in 2014.
#8 Right Winger: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
Big money transfers are always hit and miss, particularly because of the amount of pressure that is on the players to perform and live up to the price tag. When Gareth Bale moved to Real Madrid for a World-record transfer fee, many were sceptical about how well he will settle in at the Bernabeu, but the Welshman has shone in a side that already had the likes of Ronaldo and Benzema in attack.
With 14 goals and 9 assists in 2014, Bale has shown that, while he has blistering pace, he also has a calm head, which allows him to pick out teammates or slot the ball into the back of the net. While he still has a long way to go to repaying the money the club paid for him, he has made the best possible start scoring in both of the club's Cup finals last year and helping them bring home the 10th European crown that the club had been yearning for a quite some time.
#9 Left winger: Koke (Atletico Madrid)
When people talk about last season's La Liga-winning Atletico Madrid team, everybody talks about the goalkeeper and the defence and the goals of Diego Costa. But one player who is seldom mentioned is the man who created the goals for the side.
Koke takes his place in the side, not only because of his 14 assists in the League in 2014, but also because of his importance to a side who are looking to challenge the Big two once again this season. Whether it is his set-piece delivery, crosses from the flanks or his killer through balls, Koke has shown that he has every skill in his arsenal to become one of the best creative midfielders in Europe.
#10 Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Barcelona may not have won anything in 2014, but Lionel Messi still had an outstanding year. Apart from helping his country to the World Cup finals, he continued his incredible scoring record for the Catalans. Not only did he score 50 goals in the calendar year for Barcelona, 2014 was also the year in which he became the top goal scorer in Barcelona's history, the all-time leading goal scorer in La Liga and the Champions League.
For any other player, that would be a sensational season, but it is because of the ridiculous standards he sets himself and the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo that he is not a shoe-in for the Ballon d'Or this year.
#11 Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
There will soon come a day when we run of superlatives to describe the genius that is Cristiano Ronaldo. Although it is only halfway into the season, the Portuguese forward has already scored 25 goals, which is more than most forwards do in an entire season and currently sits on top of the assists chart as well in La Liga. Ronaldo will finish 2014 with the most goals across all club competitions (56) and only Angel Di Maria (20) has more assists in the major European Leagues than Ronaldo's 19.
His ridiculous consistency is another reason why he has been touted to win the Ballon d'Or for the second-straight season, so it is no surprise to see him leading the line for the La Liga team of the year for 2014.
