Serie A Team of the Month: Manchester United outcast Smalling makes XI

 

Here we run through the best WhoScored rated XI from the month of November in Serie A.

 

Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus) - 8.23 rating

 

Wojciech Szczesny's lowest WhoScored rating in three Serie A appearances last month was impressively 7.79. The Juventus No.1 recorded a WhoScored Man of the Match award in their 1-0 win at home to AC Milan and made more saves than any other goalkeeper (17) in Serie A last month.

 

Right-back: Juan Cuadrado (Juventus) - 7.43 rating

 

Juan Cuadrado has usurped Danilo in the pecking order at right-back in recent months and has made that position his own. The 31-year-old registered one assist in four league appearances last month and chipped in with 18 tackles and interceptions in that time.

 

Centre-back: Chris Smalling (Roma) - 7.70 rating

 

Chris Smalling has been a revelation in Italy this season and is considered the best defender in Serie A on current form. The Roma centre-back scored and assisted in a 3-0 win over Brescia towards the end of last month and chipped in with 17 clearances, 10 interceptions and 13 aerial duels won across four league appearances.

 

Centre-back: Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus) - 7.79 rating

 

After a difficult start to life at Juventus, Matthijs de Ligt had a storming November to make our best rated XI for the month. De Ligt's WhoScored rating didn't dip below 7.00 across three league appearances last month, as he made 16 clearances and eight tackles and interceptions combined in three wins for the Old Lady.

 

Left-back: Cristiano Biraghi (Inter) - 7.07 rating

 

Cristiano Biraghi registered one assist in three league appearances in November to round off our back four in Serie A. The Inter full-back turned in his best performance of the season in Inter's 3-0 win away to Torino (8.22 rating) after completing three tackles and three clearances to go with his assist.

 

Right wing: Dejan Kulusevski (Parma) - 7.45 rating

 

Dejan Kulusevski has been in tremendous form for Parma this season and the 19-year-old deservingly gets a spot in the XI. The Sweden international scored one goal in four appearances, while registering seven key passes and eight successful dribbles. Kulusevski also contributed when Parma didn't hvae the ball, managing seven tackles and interceptions combined.

 

Central midfield: Radja Nainggolan (Cagliari) - 8.33 rating

 

Radja Nainggolan is inspiring an unlikely top-four push from Cagliari at the moment, with Rolando Maran's side unbeaten in their last 11 matches. Three of those games fell in November and the former Belgium international played a direct hand in five goals in that time (two goals, three assists) - no player managed more in Serie A. Indeed, Nainggolan registered a hat-trick of assists in Cagliari's 5-2 win over Fiorentina.

 

Serie A Team of the Month: Manchester United outcast Smalling makes XI

 

Central midfield: Luis Alberto (Lazio) - 8.06 rating

 

Lazio midfielder Luis Alberto played a direct hand in a goal in all four of his Serie A appearances last month, scoring once and registering three assists in the process. Alberto picked up the WhoScored Man of the Match award twice in that period and made the most key passes (13) in the division.

 

Left wing: Justin Kluivert (Roma) - 7.27 rating

 

Justin Kluivert started three league games for Roma last month and the Serie A outfit won two of those games. The 20-year-old set a personal record for most dribbles in a single league game this season in that spell after completing eight in defeat at Parma. He also chipped in with six tackles and interceptions combined from the wing.

 

Striker: Joao Pedro (Cagliari) - 7.91 rating

 

Joao Pedro scored in back-to-back matches to close off November and make our best rated XI. The Cagliari striker scored two goals in November from four attempts on goal, while also winning seven aerial duels. Pedro, 27, completed four dribbles and registered five key passes to help Cagliari prolong their remarkable unbeaten streak.

 

Striker: Joaquin Correa (Lazio) - 8.05 rating

 

Joaquin Correa scored three goals and registered one assist in three league appearances for Lazio last month. The Lazio striker recorded nine shots and registered five key passes, while his WhoScored rating never dropped below 7.00 in that time.

Serie A Team of the Month: Manchester United outcast Smalling makes XI