After a well-earned winter break, teams from the Serie A and La Liga are readying themselves for action again this weekend so we take the chance to analyse each of the league's best XIs of the season thus far, starting in Spain.
It will come as no surprise to learn that the best possible side according to WhoScored ratings - in a 4-2-3-1 formation - comprise almost entirely of players from Barcelona and league leaders Real Madrid. It is, however, interesting to see which players in each position pip their rivals from the opposite team in Spain's top of the table clash, with each of the sides boasting 5 representatives in the outfield 10.
We start with the only player not to play for either Barca or Real and a goalkeeper who is proving crucial to his side's success and will continue to do so in their push for survival.
Goalkeeper
Roberto (Granada) - WhoScored rating - 7.34
Far and away the best rated goalkeeper according to WhoScored in Europe, let alone Spain, Granada owe much of their excellent defensive record down to their veteran stopper. 32-year-old Roberto has conceded just 16 goals this season, which is only bettered by Barcelona and Real Madrid, keeping 5 clean sheets in the process.
Only Messi and Ronaldo have won more man of the match awards from WhoScored than Roberto's 5, with the keeper making an exceptional 78 saves over the season (4.88). Combine this with 1.5 good claims per game and a league high of 10.4 accurate long balls per game - with the next best keeper in the league back on 7.8 - and it is clear to see that the Spaniard will be key to Granada's bid to secure their status as a top division side.
Full-Backs
Dani Alves (Barcelona) - WhoScored rating - 7.65
Marcelo (Real Madrid) - WhoScored rating - 7.29
Barcelona's flying full-back Dani Alves unsurprisingly makes the line-up at right-back and ranks as the 5th best player in the league thus far according to WhoScored. His rating of 7.65 is the best of the backline and keeps Madrid's Alvaro Arbeloa out of the side. With 6 assists and a goal to his name already this season, Alves' threat going forward often sees his defensive contribution overlooked. An average of 3.2 tackles and 1.9 interceptions certainly prove he is no slouch defensively, and the 28-year-old is a key asset to Europe's reigning champions at both ends.
On the left of our defence, Madrid's Marcelo makes our best XI ahead of Barca's Abidal and teammate Fabio Coentrao with a rating of 7.29. Like his fellow countryman Alves, Marcelo also offers a real outlet in attack, with 2 dribbles per game significantly up on the likes of Ronaldo, and any other Madrid player for that matter. His figure of 2.6 tackles per game is impressive, while 2.1 interceptions per game is up on Alves' average. He also commits just 0.6 fouls per game in comparison to the Barca man's 1.7.
Centre-Backs
Javier Mascherano (Barcelona) - WhoScored rating - 7.55
Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) - WhoScored rating - 7.52
If you had told many Liverpool fans that Javier Mascherano would make a team of the season at centre-back a couple of years ago many would have laughed off the suggestion. Despite his critics, the Argentine has defied those who claimed he would be too small or too rash in the challenge to become Barca's most dependable centre-back this season. His averages of 4.2 tackles and 3.3 interceptions per game lead the way in both categories of our backline, earning him a rating of 7.55 which is the best of any centre-half in the league.
Not far behind, Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos is another player who has been converted into a centre-back for much of this season, though his transition from right-back was predictably smooth. In terms of defensive statistics he is the best of our back four when it comes to clearances per game (4.5), blocks per game (0.7) and has been dribbled past just 0.1 times per game thus far. His 3 interceptions a match also highlight his excellent reading of the game, though he has committed more fouls than any of the other players in our defence, with 1.9 per game.
Double Pivot
Xavi (Barcelona) - WhoScored rating - 8.07
Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid) - WhoScored rating - 7.52
The double pivot of our formation has a distinctly familiar look to it. Having partnered one another at international level on countless occasions, Xavi and Xabi Alonso have found temselves on rival teams since the latter's move to Madrid. However, it is pass master Xavi who edges his compatriot in WhoScored ratings, with 8.07 the third best in La Liga. The 31-year-old owes much of this to his remarkable 93.1% pass accuracy but has also upped his goal threat this season to score 5 times already, as well as chalking up 5 assists from 2.5 key passes per game.
Alonso's importance to Madrid has evolved this season, with the former Liverpool man now seeing far more of the ball than any teammate to make 85.9 passes per game. His 88.5% accuracy is therefore exceptional and the 30-year-old offers a balance to our line-up, making 2.9 tackles and 3 interceptions per game respectively, compared to Xavi's fairly meagre 1.1 and 1.3 averages in the same regard.
Attacking Midfield
Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid) - WhoScored rating - 7.67
Francesc Fabregas (Barcelona) - WhoScored rating - 7.94
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) - WhoScored rating - 8.46
When it comes to an attacking midfield trio, the plethora of options available between both Madrid and Barca are frightening. Angel Di Maria takes his place on the right of our trident, beating the likes of Alexis Sanchez to the post in the process. Still only 23; Argentina international Di Maria is fast becoming one of the league leader's main threats, overshadowing the likes of Ozil this season with some superb attacking displays. His tally of 13 assists is certainly the standout figure, and indeed is the best in Europe having made 2.3 key passes per game.
If anybody needed to think twice about whether Cesc Fabregas could cut it back at Barcelona, they shouldn't have. In just 12 league appearances this term the Spaniard has netted 8 goals from only 18 shots - a phenomenal strike rate. He has also weighed in with 5 assists from a number of different positions this season and has been dispossessed (1.3) and turned over possession (1.2) less times per game than either of our wide men. Couple this with a sublime 87.6% pass accuracy despite having the audacity and vision to complete 0.9 through balls per game, and it is abundantly clear that Fabregas and Barcelona go hand-in-hand.
On the left, one needn't look further than Cristiano Ronaldo for a place in our team of the season up to now. The second top rated player in Europe according to WhoScored, and most of the continent's population it seems, Ronaldo has already struck 20 times from the wing this season, cutting inside to unleash a huge 6.4 shots per game on average. A figure of 1.4 successful dribbles per game seems modest but hints towards Madrid's development as a team rather than a group of individuals under Mourinho, while 1.6 key passes per game have been rewarded with 6 assists.
Striker
Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - WhoScored rating - 8.73
Much like FIFA did towards the end of last year, WhoScored ranks Lionel Messi as the finest player in Europe, and by some distance. From 15 starts this season the Argentine has netted 17 goals and laid on 8 for teammates already. His 5.3 shots per game is a hefty amount, despite being dwarfed by Ronaldo's figure, while 2.6 key passes per game is some way up on the Portuguese. An average of 5.4 successful dribbles per game is by far the greatest in the league and with Messi to spearhead our XI, La Liga’s All Star team would certainly take some beating!
Lionel Messi is just phenomenal! 5.4 successful dribbles, 2,6 key passes AND 17 goals with 8 assists?!? Surely he's got the FIFA Ballon D'or tied up?
It's interesting to see that the goalkeepers in the top two leagues in the world (La Liga and Premiership) are both from newly promoted sides who currently sit mid-table... Does this show a lesser gulf in the teams in these leagues? Or is it simply that the goalkeepers are busier?
Javi Varas at Sevilla has also been very good in goal
You only have to look at these two clubs goal difference to see that that's true! Although if you replaced anyone in this team, Messi, for instance, your still going to end up with someone like Sanchez or Benzema!
It's not surprising to see all 10 outfield players belonging to Real Madrid and Barcelona. They've dominated the league this year so totally that players like Soldado for Valencia don't even come close