LaLiga Team of the Month: League leaders Barcelona dominate Messi-led XI
Here we run through the best WhoScored rated XI in LaLiga from the month of December 2019, with additional information about their Football Index share prices. Players must have made at least three appearances over the month to make the team.
Goalkeeper: Unai Simon (Athletic Club) - 7.27 rating
Football Index share price - £0.45
Unai Simon just edges out Real Madrid shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois for a place in goal in the team of the month. The Athletic Club goalkeeper was one of three goalkeepers to keep three clean sheets in December, while only three made more saves than the 22-year-old (14).
Right-back: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) - 7.21 rating
Football Index share price - £1.71
Dani Carvajal played a key role at both ends of the pitch for Real Madrid last month, as Zinedine Zidane's side kept pace with title rivals Barcelona. Only Madrid team-mate Toni Kroos (105 vs Valencia) completed more passes in a single LaLiga game last month than Carvajal (93 vs Athletic Club), while the Spanish right-back also managed 19 accurate long balls across his four apparances. Moreover, only two players completed more crosses (excluding corners) than Carvajal (6).
Centre-back: Gerard Pique (Barcelona) - 7.51 rating
Football Index share price - £0.45
Barcelona weren't at their slick best going forward last month, so it was important they were tight enough at the back to avoid defeat. Gerard Pique's experience was hugely important in that regard, with the Spaniard completing more clearances than any other player in the division (31), while also ranking top for headed clearances (21). Of players eligible for this XI, Pique also had the third best pass success rate in LaLiga (93.3%).
Centre-back: Diego Carlos (Sevilla) - 7.33 rating
Football Index share price - £0.82
Diego Carlos enjoyed a strong end to 2019 and his performances for Sevilla have even seen the 26-year-old linked with a move to European champions Liverpool. Carlos opened his account for the league campaign with two goals in December and was the WhoScored Man of the Match after scoring the winner against Leganes. Carlos also ranked third in the division for most headed clearances (16).
Left-back: Kevin Rodrigues (Leganes) - 7.70 rating
Football Index share price - £0.34
Summer signing Kevin Rodrigues has made a thoroughly encouraging start to life at Leganes and is currently their top WhoScored rated player in LaLiga this season. Rodrigues scored or assisted in all three of his starts in December (one goal, two assists), while only one player won more tackles and interceptions combined than the 25-year-old (23). The ideal response to being sent off in November.
Right wing: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 8.65 rating
Football Index share price - £5.70
While Barcelona laboured to three wins and two draws in December, Lionel Messi was again at the peak of his powers. Messi scored more league goals than any other player in LaLiga last month (five) and completed at least 19 more dribbles than anyone else (34). In fact, Messi completed more dribbles than 10 teams in LaLiga last month! For the third month running, Messi is our LaLiga player of the month.
Central midfield: Gonzalo Escalante (Eibar) - 7.72 rating
Football Index share price - £0.30
When you think Eibar only lost one game and conceded only one goal in three league matches in December, then you would consider it a good month. On the flip side, they only won once. Nevertheless, Gonzalo Escalante was a huge positive for the relegation strugglers. The defensive midfielder registered his first assist of the campaign, while averaging 5 aerial duels per game and 3.7 tackles per game.
Central midfield: Raul Garcia (Athletic Club) - 7.71 rating
Football Index share price - £0.41
Raul Garcia scored one goal in three league appearances in December and was the WhoScored Man of the Match in their 2-0 win over Granada to start the month. However, it was in the air that Garcia was most valuable for Athletic Club, with the 33-year-old winning the most aerial duels in the division (28).
Right wing: Martin Braithwaite (Leganes) - 7.76 rating
Football Index share price - £0.43
Martin Braithwaite finished 2019 in fine goalscoring form with goals in successive matches and has even carried that run into the new year. Braithwaite played in a variety of positions in December and helped Leganes secure two wins in four matches, more than their previous 15 matches combined (1). Overall, Braithwaite completed 13 dribbles, won nine fouls and won 12 aerial duels.
Striker: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) - 7.76 rating
Football Index share price - £1.29
Karim Benzema played a direct hand in three goals in four league appearances last month (two goals, one assist) to help Real Madrid stick with Barcelona in the title race. The 32-year-old won two WhoScored Man of the Match awards in that time and registered at least four more key passes than any other player in the division (17). Benzema also ranked top for the most shots on target (10).
Striker: Luis Suarez (Barcelona) - 7.93 rating
Football Index share price - £0.97
Luis Suarez has drawn criticism from sections of Barcelona supporters in recent times but the 32-year-old played a direct hand in more goals than any other player in LaLiga last month (9). The 32-year-old remarkably registered six assists in five games, double the amount any other player managed, and scored three goals. Suarez impressively scored and assisted in three of his five appearances, only failing to register a goal involvement in Barcelona's 0-0 draw with Madrid.
