Benzema and Dembele lead KN's La Liga 2021/22 Team of the Season

The league saw memorable individual performances in the past season which saw Real Madrid become winners.

The Spanish La Liga is one of the top European leagues which has incredible quality. It constitutes legendary clubs like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and more. Interestingly, the last 12 Ballon d’Or wins have come from a player from the league. This says a lot about the world-class talent that plays in the top division in Spain.

The 2021-22 season of the league saw Real Madrid CF run away with the title. Their closest rivals FC Barcelona came second in the points table with club legend Xavi at the manager’s spot. Apart from these two giants, teams like Sevilla and Real Betis had positive campaigns and had their players to thank for it.

As a matter of fact, several individuals had an outstanding campaign in the past season. Keeping all of the significant performances by the players in consideration here is Khel Now’s La Liga Team of the Season (TOTS):

GK - Thibaut Courtois

Thibaut Courtois was a key figure for Real Madrid in their quest of winning the league. He kept 16 clean sheets in 36 appearances, the second-best in the division. Apart from the shootouts, Courtois’s performance in goal was notable to the club’s success. For example, he had a 76% save ratio from shots faced on goal.

RCB - Diego Carlos

Diego Carlos had a superb season while guiding Sevilla to a fourth-place finish. Helping the club qualify directly for the UEFA Champions League was possible due to his partnership with Jules Kounde. The centre-back was essential in helping the club set a record for least goals conceded (30). It will be interesting to see how Carlos performs in the Premier League after agreeing to join Aston Villa for the next season.

CB - Eder Militao

Eder Militao was one of the consistent performers for Real Madrid. He was a key figure in defence, wherein the club only let in 31 goals, second-best in the decision to Sevilla that conceded 30 goals. He also made 52 interceptions and made 1779 accurate passes, both seventh-best in the league. 

LCB - Jules Kounde

The dynamic left-footed progressive defender was in exceptional form during the 2021-22 campaign. His partnership with Diego Carlos was key in making Sevilla the most defensively secure side in La Liga. He made 1865 passes with an accuracy of 88.85% across the term. Sevilla rejected a lucrative offer from Chelsea for the player last time around and will likely receive bigger bids for him.

CDM - Martin Zubimendi

Martin Zubimendi was outstanding for Real Sociedad during the 2021-22 season. He scored twice and assisted once, but that is not where the player excelled. The 23-year-old’s hard work in the middle of the park was notable. Overall, he made 49 interceptions, 52 tackles, and 48 clearances. Expectedly, there is a chance of a big move for the player in the offing.

CDM - Dani Parejo

Dani Parejo showed his experience and performed sensationally for Villareal CF during the campaign. The 33-year-old scored twice and made 10 assists from 33 appearances. Furthermore, the midfielder created 11 big chances, the fourth-best tally in the league. 

CAM - Nabil Fekir

Nabil Fekri scored six goals and made eight assists during the campaign from 34 appearances. While the Frenchman is capable of bigger numbers, his performances throughout the season were immense in helping Real Betis finish fifth on the table, narrowly missing out on the UEFA Champions League qualification spot. In terms of personal achievements, Fekir posted career-best numbers for chances created (84) and chances created in open play (48) in a campaign.

LM - Vinicius Junior

Vinicius Junior scored 17 goals for Real Madrid, more than he scored in all three previous seasons combined. The 2021-22 season was the one where he silenced critics that questioned his finishing abilities. On top of that, his creativity saw the player make 13 assists, the most by an individual player (tied with Dembele). The Brazilian will be one of the stars to watch out for next season.

RM - Ousmane Dembele

Ousmane Dembele is one of the unluckiest players in terms of injuries. However, the winger steered clear of injuries this season and produced major numbers. He made 13 assists during the season and also found the net once in 21 fixtures. The 13 assists were a personal record for Dembele with the previous being 12 in a season for Borussia Dortmund. 

ST - Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema easily makes the Team of the Season because of his otherworldly performance for Real Madrid. He was arguably the best player in La Liga across the 2021-22 season. The 34-year-old won the golden boot with 27 goals and also made 12 assists. His total goal involvements stood at 39 from merely 32 appearances, proving that age is merely a number for the forward.

ST - Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang

Pierre Emerick-Aubaameyang joined FC Barcelona in the winter transfer window. His time at Arsenal came to an abrupt end and the start of his stint with the Spanish club could not have started better. Under Xavi’s leadership, the forward managed 11 goals in merely 17 appearances and also made one assist. The fans of the club cannot wait to see the player in his first full season next term. 

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