Serie A title challenging titans dominate Italy's best XI

With all leagues currently suspended to help combat the coronavirus outbreak, the likelihood of any football being played anytime soon is slim. As such, we've decided to see how the WhoScored.com Serie A team of the season would look should the campaign end now, with title challenging Juventus and Lazio both well representeted. 

Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus) - 7.14 rating 

Kicking off the best XI of Italy's top tier is title holders Juventus. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is the first of three Old Lady representatives, with the Pole excelling between the sticks having succeeded Gianluigi Buffon as the club's number one. Szczesny has yielded a WhoScored rating of 7.14 this season and while he may rank 15th for total saves (67), a save success rate of 77.9% is the second best in the league. His eight clean sheets is behind four goalkeepers, who all of whom are on nine, but having done so across 19 outings, Szczesny has the best clean sheet per game record in Serie A. 

Right-back: Juan Cuadrado (Juventus) - 7.06 rating 

Having flitted in and out of the Juventus XI, Juan Cuadrado has made a starting spot his own under Maurizio Sarri, featuring prominently from right-back. His versatility has been an added asset for the Old Lady boss, but the Colombian's willingness to get forward has made him a threat from deep for the defending Serie A champions. Cuadrado has maximised his attacking output to score one and assist two for Juventus this term, while returns of 1.6 key passes and 1.4 successful dribbles per 90 has seen the 31-year-old garner a WhoScored rating of 7.06. 

Centre-back: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio) - 7.12 rating 

The first of three Lazio representatives, Francesco Acerbi has been a fine performer in the Lazio backline this season with his two goals and two assists contributing to his notable WhoScored rating of 7.12. Defensively proactive, Acerbi has chipped in with 1.7 tackles and 2.8 clearances per game, while 1.4 interceptions per game highlights his fine reading of the game and reinforces a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of 'ball interception'.  

Centre-back: Chris Smalling (Roma) - 7.11 rating 

It's an all-Rome backline in the Serie A team of the season so far, with Chris Smalling partnering Acerbi at the heart of the defence. The on-loan defender has proven to be a revelation at the Stadio Olimpico, with Roma keen to make his temporary move permanent. It's for good reason, too, with Smalling chipping in with two goals and one assist for the Italian powerhouse. No defender has won more aerial duels per game than Smalling (3.7) in Serie A this season, with the English defender routinely exhibiting a WhoScored strength of 'aerial duels'.  

Left-back: Theo Hernandez (AC Milan) - 7.18 rating 

Rounding off the defence is AC Milan's second top goalscorer this term. AC Milan may be faltering in Italy's top tier, as they sit outside the European spots, but Theo Hernandez has been a revelation at left-back. The Frenchman has scored five league goals for the Milan giants this season, a return that, up until recently, made him their top scorer. The 22-year-old routinely pushes forward where possible to great effect, having completed 47 dribbles this season, to contribute towards a WhoScored rating of 7.18. 

Right midfield: Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo) - 7.49 rating 

With nine goals to his name, this season is Domenico Berardi's most prolific since 2014/15 and with an additional five assists, the Italian winger has landed a WhoScored rating of 7.49 this term. Those have come from respective returns of 4.5 shots and 1.9 key passes per 90, while Berardi has frequently had the better of opponents having mustered 1.6 successful dribbles per 90 to help make this XI. 

Central midfield: Luis Alberto (Lazio) - 7.69 rating 

Creative machine Luis Alberto is the second Lazio representative in the Serie A team of the season so far, with the Spaniard the league's top assister this term, with 12. His eight man of the match awards is the joint-second best return in Italy's top tier, while 75 key passes and 16 clear-cut chances created both rank first of all Serie A players. All in all, Alberto is enjoying one of his best seasons to date and he is a key reason why Lazio sit second in Serie A. 

Central midfield: Alejandro Gomez (Atalanta) - 7.52 rating 

Once again featuring in this XI, Alejandro Gomez has again been at his destructive best in the final third for Atalanta, with the Argentine the first of two representatives for the exciting Italian side. Atalanta are far and away the most enjoyable side in Italy having netted more goals (70) than any other side in Italy's top tier this term, with Gomez having a direct hand in 16 of those, scoring six. The 32-year-old is second to Alberto for key passes (64) in Serie A and it's seen him yield a WhoScored rating of 7.52. 

Left midfield: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) - 7.90 rating 

Finishing off the midfield, and the Juventus contingent, is the apple of the Old Lady's eye, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese powerhouse matched Gabriel Batistuta and Fabio Quagliarella's 11-match goal run earlier this month and it means he has 21 league goals to his name. Ronaldo's nine WhoScored man of the match awards is the most in Italy's top tier this term and his fine goal return, particularly in 2020, has helped push his average WhoScored rating up to 7.90.    

Striker: Ciro Immobile (Lazio) - 7.70 rating 

Europe's top marksman features in the Serie A team of the season, with Lazio hitman Ciro Immobile notching 27 league goals this season. The 30-year-old's fine goalscoring form has seen him land a WhoScored rating of 7.70 this season, with those 27 goals coming from 101 shots, that the second most in Serie A. 16 of those 27 goals have been deemed clear-cut chances, that also the most in the league. 

Striker: Josip Ilicic (Atalanta) - 7.95 rating 

Saving the best until last, Josip Ilicic has been superb for Atalanta this season with his WhoScored rating (7.95) better than any other player in Italy's top tier this term. His 15 goals and five assists have been key to his fine rating return, with those coming from respective averages of 4.5 shots and 3.1 key passes per 90. The experienced forward has earned a perfect WhoScored 10 rating in four matches this season, more than any other player, to star in this XI.