The 2020-2021 Serie A season will begin on Saturday, Sept. 19, with Juventus facing Sampdoria the next day. Here’s an early Team of the Season prediction.
Juventus won the 2019-2020 Serie A campaign, making it nine straight Scudetti for the Bianconeri despite not necessarily being at their best this past year. In Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala, Matthijs de Ligt, Wojciech Szczesny, and Juan Cuadrado, Juve had a handful of the league’s best players to steady them.
But who could make the 2020-2021 Serie A Team of the Season? Here is an early prediction.
Juventus GK Wojciech Szczesny
Although Serie A has a handful of good goalkeepers and this could be the year Gianluigi Donnarumma beats out Wojciech Szczesny, the Polish keeper should remain the favorite to be honored as the league’s best at the end of the season. According to FBRef.com, Szczesny had the league’s highest save percentage and highest percentage of starts with a clean sheet last season as the deserving goalkeeper of the season.
Milan LB Theo Hernandez
Juventus left back Alex Sandro is probably still one of the best left backs in Serie A, but Theo Hernandez is the clear favorite here. The Bianconeri might upgrade Sandro with a better left back, and if this were a wing back formation, then Juve transfer target Robin Gosens would merit consideration here. But as of right now, Theo Hernandez of Milan is the best left back in Serie A, and it isn’t that close. He was a menace last season with 1.8 successful dribbles completed, per WhoScored.com
Juventus CB Matthijs de Ligt
Juventus center back Matthijs de Ligt is a near slam-dunk for the 2020-2021 Serie A Team of the Season. The Dutch defender looked like a superstar upon Italian football’s return. He is a tremendous athlete, reads the game well, and is a natural leader. De Ligt could soon be recognized as the best defender in the league.
Napoli CB Kalidou Koulibaly
While Kalidou Koulibaly didn’t have his best showing in 2019-2020, he was still one of the best 10 center backs in Serie A, averaging roughly two tackles per game. Koulibaly is still the best center back in the league until proven otherwise and should bounce back nicely under more consistent management and structure next season.
Juventus RB Juan Cuadrado
The best right back in Serie A last season, Juan Cuadrado should replicate that success in 2020-2021. He is one of the most underappreciated players in the league and even on his own team. A tireless worker and great wide creator, Cuadrado is also capable of scoring on his own. He recorded five assists for Juventus last season and could top that number in 2020-2021.
Lazio CM Luis Alberto
Although Ciro Immobile and Cristiano Ronaldo gained most of the plaudits for their goals, Luis Alberto was one of the best players in Serie A last season with 15 assists, 2.9 key passes per game, and two dribbles completed per match. Those are jaw-dropping statistics and don’t even take into account his defensive contributions. He, not Immobile, was Lazio’s best player.
Milan CM Ismael Bennacer
Ismael Bennacer is one of the best defensive midfielders you will find in European football, which is why he will soon be linked to all the big clubs in the continent. The Algerian international is just 22 years old, and he’s headed for a major 2020-2021 Serie A campaign. Bennacer is the glue of a resurgent Rossoneri side, which picked up new attacker Brahim Diaz this summer on loan from Real Madrid.
Sassuolo CM Manuel Locatelli
Sassuolo have a handful of very talented players and are a team more fans around the world should take notice of. They are very exciting to watch. Manuel Locatelli has been on Juventus’ transfer radar after his performances this past season. With 2.3 tackles per game, 1.5 key passes per match, and 1.5 dribbles completed per contest, Locatelli is as well-rounded as the come. Look for the 22-year-old to also take a huge step in 2020-2021.
Juventus LW Cristiano Ronaldo
Do I need to even discuss this one? Cristiano Ronaldo is still one of the top 10 players in the world despite hitting the age of 35. He scored 31 goals last season for Juventus despite playing under an unimaginative manager who had the opposite of an ideal midfield in Serie A. With midfield upgrades already taking place, Ronaldo could flirt with an unthinkable 40 goals next season.
Inter ST Romelu Lukaku
There is no better striker in Serie A than Romelu Lukaku. Quietly, he placed third in the league last season behind Immobile and Ronaldo with 23 goals scored, and he does a lot to unselfishly help his teammates off the ball. He is the professor for Inter and is the primary reason for their resurgence in the league. Lukaku is in his prime and will continue to dominate next season.
Juventus RW Paulo Dybala
A fifth Juventus player rounds out this Serie A Team of the Season for 2020-2021. Paulo Dybala was named the league’s MVP for a reason. Ronaldo is the goal-scorer and headline-grabber, but Dybala is the man who makes Juve tick creatively. He can score from nothing, go on mazy runs, or thread the needle for a teammate. Dybala had 2.1 key passes per game and 2.0 dribbles per game but “only” 17 goal contributions. Expect his goals and assists to go up even more than Ronaldo’s, especially if Juve can add one more midfielder or a wing back in this transfer window.