La Liga Team of the Season 2017/2018

Following the Premier League’s recently announced Team of the Year, I thought I’d put one together for the best league in world football, La Liga.

I mainly watch La Liga football and my club is Real Madrid but these picks are based off my opinion with the intention to pick out the best and most impressive players in the league this season.

I don’t expect you to agree. Hell, I welcome your hate, comments, and debates which I hope you leave in the comments or at me on Twitter @justchopp.

So here it is.

Goalkeeper:

GK: Jan Oblak

Something must be in the water they serve to the keepers at Atletico Madrid. They’ve had several great keepers come up there, get sold, and they get replaced with someone that is just as good. Jan Oblak has been brilliant at Atleti and Los Rojiblancos can count on him to be the last line of defense in their strong defense.

The Slovenian has kept 22 clean sheets and only let 20 goals go by him in La Liga this season.It’s no wonder many consider him to be the best goalkeeper in the world right now.

Defenders:

RB: Alvaro Odriozola

Most people probably have never heard of nor seen Odriozola this season due to playing for Real Sociedad. He’s a modern-day full-back that attacks with pace on the wing and is very good defensively.

Odriozola made his his senior Spain debut at 22-years old and you’ll probably get to know him better as he has a strong chance to feature for Spain in the World Cup.

CB: Samuel Umtiti

I was sooooooo upset when Barça announced that they signed Samuel Umtiti in the summer of 2016 because I knew he would bring instant impact to their backline. Since the Frenchman has been on pitch, the Blaugrana have only lost one league game, which was a 2–0 defeat at Malaga last season. Barcelona have only conceded 23 goals in La Liga.

CB: Diego Godin

Is it me or does it feel like Diego Godin is damn near 50 years old? At the current age of 32, Godin is still one of the best defenders in the game. He’s made 27 appearances La Liga and is the rock on the backline for the Rojiblancos. Atletico Madrid have only allowed 20 goals in La Liga.

LB: Marcelo

I expect to receive some stink for this pick because most people will say that Marcelo is just an extra winger for Real Madrid and rarely defends. It’s true, in most matches Marcelo rarely maintains his defensive role which leaves holes in Madrid’s defense, but his ability to run all over the pitch and build up play is for better and for worse, vital to the team. The Brazilian has scored in the last 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals of this year’s Champions League.

Midfielders:

CM: Toni Kroos

Toni Kroos isn’t the flashiest player, especially at a club full of flashy names, but he damn sure has been the most consistent player for Real Madrid this season. The German is crucial in controlling the pace for Real Madrid. Kroos has four goals and six assists in 24 appearances for Los Blancos this season in La Liga.

CM: Saúl Ñíguez

Speaking of consistent players, Saúl Ñíguez is right up there. The Spanish international is only 23 and he has been in top form all season. Manager Diego Simeone has used him mostly in the center, allowing him to dribble and read the game. He also isn’t afraid to go in for a tough tackle to win back possession.

CM: Geoffrey Kondogbia

Geoffrey Kondogbia has been a revelation for Valencia this season. His spells at Inter Milan and Monaco left him to be overlooked by most clubs and had given him the overhyped titled. The French international has 4 goals and 4 assist in La Liga. Kondogbia is strong and is able to maintain possession with opponents draped on him. His time on the pitch has show that he’s a smart player and has been key factor in Valencia’s resurgence.

Attackers:

CF/ST: Antoine Griezmann

The 27-year-old Frenchman has been electric this season. Griezmann has scored 30 goals in 51 games this season, 19 goals and 8 assist in La Liga. His numbers just keep getting better and better and now he’s rumored to be the man to replace Luis Suarez at Barcelona. Depending on how he performs in the World Cup this summer, his €100m buyout clause could seems cheap.

LW: Cristiano Ronaldo

I wish I had Cristiano Ronaldo’s work ethic. This guy started the season off in the worst way possible, suspended for 4 games and only had four goals in the first half of La Liga, and everyone was saying he was done, again.

Since then, the Real Madrid legend has been on fire has 25 goals in 26 appearances in the La Liga. All that hard work on keeping his body in top shape is still paying off for the 33 year old and now he’s playing in his 4th Champions League Final in 5 years.

RW: Lionel Messi

Messi once again has led his club to another historic La Liga season with his 33 goals and 12 assists in 31 appearances, giving the Blaugrana the league title without defeat. What’s even more impressive is that he was able to do this under a new manager, a slumping Luis Suarez, and without Neymar at the club.

Well there you have it. That’s my 2017/2018 La Liga Team of the Season. Let me know what you think about my picks. Who would replace? Who do you agree with?

Hit me up on Twitter @justchopp and make sure you give The New Ultras follow and check out our podcast here.