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In terms of tactical nous, high-profile individuals, and sheer footballing brilliance, very few competitions across the world can hold a candle to La Liga. Spanish football's unique blend of enigmatic technicality and cut-throat history has produced some of the most fascinating stories in modern football with the likes of Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, and Barcelona playing their parts.
While Spain's proverbial big-three have engaged in some intriguing league battles this season, they tend to be only a fraction of the La Liga's diaspora. The 2020-21 edition of La Liga, in particular, has proffered a distinct competitive edge with teams like Sevilla, Villarreal, Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao making their presence felt in the Spanish top flight.
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Atletico Madrid beat Real Madrid and Barcelona to unprecedented La Liga title
While several teams have managed to exceed expectations this season, most of the plaudits have deservedly gone to Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid outfit, with several players standing up and contributing to Los Colchoneros' cause.
Real Madrid gave Atletico Madrid a run for their money and came within two points of winning the league title. Barcelona blew hot and cold for most of the season, however, and shock defeats against Granada and Celta Vigo detailed the Catalans' La Liga ambitions.
Over 38 rounds of exhilarating football, the 2020-21 edition of La Liga made for some spectacular viewing. Here is a team of players that have sparkled in Spanish football this season and have taken their clubs to new heights.
Goalkeeper - Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)
With a La Liga title finally under his belt, Jan Oblak narrowly edges Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois into this La Liga team of the season. The Slovenian shot-stopper has made a name for himself as one of the best in the world in his position and it comes as no surprise that Atletico Madrid's success has been a direct result of his heroics.
With only 25 goals conceded in La Liga this season, Jan Oblak has the best defensive record in the league. The Atletico Madrid goalkeeper has also pulled off splendid performances against the likes of Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema this season and has spared his side's blushes on numerous occasions.
Oblak's well-rounded displays in La Liga have cemented his status as one of the world's most consistent goalkeepers. The Atletico Madrid man has managed 18 clean sheets this season and has been the driving force behind his side's defensive solidity.
Honorable Mentions: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Yassine Bounou (Sevilla), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Sergio Asenjo (Villarreal)
Also Read: Top 10 Argentina footballers of all time
Left-Back - Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid)
Real Madrid came agonizingly close to another La Liga title this year and have their exceptional fighting spirit to thank for another impressive campaign. Ferland Mendy has been one of his side's better performers this season and has stepped up with some crucial performances for Zinedine Zidane's side.
Los Blancos have suffered a spate of injuries over the past few months and while Mendy has also struggled with his fitness, his absence has been a difficult problem to solve. With Marcelo reaching the end of his illustrious La Liga career, the Spanish giants need to fill a giant void in their defense and Ferland Mendy may well be the perfect fit.
Mendy offers Real Madrid a rare combination of attacking prowess and dribbling solidity and has been one of the most impressive full-backs in La Liga this season. Los Blancos seem intent on revolutionizing their squad this year and Ferland Mendy is set to play a key role in Real Madrid's immediate future.
Centre-Back - Jules Kounde (Sevilla)
Jules Kounde has enjoyed a scintillating breakthrough season for Sevilla and is arguably one of the best defenders in La Liga at the moment. The French defender has become the beating heart of Sevilla's defense at only 22 years of age and has attracted attention from some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Kounde enjoyed a successful breakthrough season with Sevilla last year and has blossomed into a mature defender under Julen Lopetegui in recent months. The youngster's maturity and leadership skills belie his age and Sevilla have benefitted immensely as a result.
The Andalusian giants have managed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League yet again and cannot afford to lose their prized possession. Jules Kounde is a generational great and may well become an all-time La Liga great in the years to come.
Centre-Back - Pau Torres (Villarreal)
The 2020-21 edition of La Liga has seen several teams rise to prominence and give the league's heavyweights a run for their money. Unai Emery has done a splendid job at Villarreal and has managed to unearth yet another Spanish gem in Pau Torres.
The centre-back has become one of the Yellow Submarines' most important players over the past year and has featured in 33 league games this season. Pau Torres has immense technical prowess and his ball-playing abilities have augmented Villarreal's possession-based setup.
Pau Torres' unique defensive profile has made him a valuable cog in Unai Emery's Villarreal side and has put him on Manchester United's radar. The 24-year-old centre-back has also become a fixture in Spain's defense this season and has shown tremendous improvement in La Liga under Emery's tutelage.
Right-Back - Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid)
Atletico Madrid's unprecedented march to the La Liga title has been aided by a host of talented players and one particularly astute manager. While Diego Simeone's well-balanced side rarely depends on one player for an extended period of time, Kieran Trippier's invaluable contributions to Los Colchoneros have played a massive role in their La Liga success.
Diego Simeone takes pride in his side's work ethic and Trippier's impeccable energy has epitomized the spirit of one of the most talented Atletico Madrid sides in decades. The English full-back has bagged six assists this season and his attacking output improved Atletico Madrid's impact in the final third.
Trippier has become a near-irreplaceable player in Simeone's side and his mid-season ban unsurprisingly coincided with Atletico Madrid's slump. The former Spurs defender is now part of a select group of English players to have won a La Liga title and has made history with Atletico Madrid.
Honorable Mentions: Stefan Savic (Atletico Madrid), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Emerson (Real Betis), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Marcos Acuna (Sevilla), Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad), Jawad El Yamiq (Real Valladolid)
Also Read: 5 footballers who have won the most trophies in their careers
Defensive Midfield - Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona)
Given Barcelona's shockingly poor La Liga season, Frenkie de Jong is one of only two Blaugrana players in the team of the season. The Dutchman received a fair share of criticism last year for his lackluster outings but has now silenced his critics into submission with an array of brilliant performances.
De Jong has become one of Barcelona's most important players under Ronald Koeman and his intelligence and poise in the middle of the pitch has allowed the talismanic Lionel Messi to bring the lethal side of his game to the fore.
The Dutchman's versatility has also saved Barcelona from spots of bother in La Liga, with Ronald Koeman employing the former Ajax man as a centre-back to make light of the Catalans' mid-season injury crisis.
Frenkie de Jong has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise shambolic La Liga season for Barcelona and has ironically been one of the club's best centre-backs this season. De Jong has also improved his attacking output with seven goals in all competitions and could go on to become a modern-day La Liga behemoth.
Central Midfield - Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
After nearly a decade of technical brilliance and consistency, it should come as no surprise that Toni Kroos remains one of La Liga's best midfielders. The German superstar was Real Madrid's midfield stalwart yet again this season and his performances gave Zidane plenty of respite in what was an injury-ridden campaign for Los Blancos.
Alongside Luka Modric, Casemiro and the dynamic Federico Valverde, Toni Kroos pulled the strings for Real Madrid in typical fashion and carried their title challenge to the final day of the season. Kroos has scored crucial goals for Real Madrid this season and managed to make an impact against both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
With Real Madrid entering a period of transition this year, Toni Kroos will now have the added responsibility of taking the youngsters in the squad under his wing. Kroos is one of La Liga's most experienced heads at the moment and remains one of the best midfielders in the world.
Attacking Midfield - Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid)
Atletico Madrid's historic La Liga season has produced several new club legends who have taken their place in the city's folklore. Marcos Llorente might be too young for the moniker but his performances this season have made him a fan favorite at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Llorente's contributions in the final third this season have often guided Atletico Madrid across the finish line in a season that has been defined by fine margins. With 12 goals and 11 assists in La Liga, the Spaniard's resurgence has transformed Atletico Madrid's league fortunes.
Simeone, to his credit, has brought the best out of Marcos Llorente and has used his versatility to commendable effect. Llorente is the ideal fit for Atletico Madrid at the moment and could help the newly-crowned La Liga champions attain unprecedented heights in the coming years.
Honorable Mentions: Casemiro (Real Madrid), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Dani Parejo (Villarreal), Fernando (Sevilla), Carlos Soler (Valencia), David Silva (Real Sociedad)
Also Read: Top 10 attacking trios in football history
False Nine - Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Barcelona's La Liga fortunes may have dwindled over the past two years but their talisman remains in defiant form. While the defensive line behind him has crumbled with stark regularity this season, Lionel Messi has proved his mettle yet again with some astonishing individual statistics.
Despite their disappointing La Liga standing, Barcelona were the most prolific team in the league with 85 goals. With 30 goals and nine assists, Lionel Messi has been an active participant in nearly half of Blaugrana's successful attacking exploits and has played an instrumental role in their victories.
Lionel Messi singlehandedly managed to thrust Barcelona into the title race towards the business end of the season. The Catalan giants remain heavily dependent on the legendary Argentine and cannot afford to part ways with their captain this year.
Striker - Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Real Madrid's transition period began the day Cristiano Ronaldo decided to part ways with La Liga. Karim Benzema has stepped up for Los Blancos, however, and has inexplicably managed to ease Real Madrid's squad issues with a series of stunning performances.
The Frenchman virtually carried his side to an incredible league victory last season and nearly repeated his heroics with some brilliant individual performances this year. Benzema has scored 23 goals this season and has won Real Madrid several La Liga matches with his stunning heroics.
The seasoned striker may not have won the league title this year but has been rewarded with a well-deserved ticket to Euro 2020 with France. Benzema has become Real Madrid's knight in shining armor over the years and has become a bonafide La Liga legend.
Striker - Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid)
Of all the scintillating stories that this La Liga season has produced, Luis Suarez's magnificent resurgence with Atletico Madrid is arguably the most endearing. The Uruguayan striker was cast out of Barcelona for a meager fee and the Blaugrana will certainly regret handing the prolific hitman over to a direct title rival.
Diego Simeone's gritty spirit seems to have rubbed off on Luis Suarez and the veteran striker now seems to have a visible spring in his step. Suarez has scored 21 goals this season and it was only fitting that the former Barcelona man scored the winning goal in Atletico Madrid's last two games to deny arch-rivals Real Madrid the La Liga title.
Suarez may well leave Atletico Madrid in the months to come but has already made the most of his stay at the club. Diego Simeone's rejuvenated charges are in the form of their life at the moment and will be intent on building on their purple patch this year.
Honorable Mentions: Gerard Moreno (Villarreal), Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo), Nabil Fekir (Real Betis)
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