Now the 2019/20 LaLiga campaign has concluded we can reveal our WhoScored Team of the Season. It may come as no surprise champions Real Madrid dominate the best rated XI. Zinedine Zidane's side finished five points clear of Barcelona to secure their first league title since 2017.
Meanwhile, a draw on the final day of the season proved just enough for Atletico Madrid to beat Sevilla to third. Both teams are represented in our XI. At the bottom end of the table, Leganes were relegated despite twice battling back against Madrid on Sunday for a share of the points. They ended the season unbeaten in five but finished a point from safety.
Here we reveal the reasoning behind each selection in our LaLiga Team of the Season.
Goalkeeper: Aitor Fernandez (Levante) - 6.97 rating
Steady improvements were made by Levante this season compared to last, as Paco Lopez's side ended up breezing their way to safety. There is no doubt Aitor Fernandez played a major part in Levante finishing 13 points clear of the bottom three this season. The 29-year-old remarkably made at least 36 more saves than any other goalkeeper in LaLiga this season (158). Moreover, no goalkeeper saved more penalties than Fernandez (3).
Right-back: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) - 7.18 rating
Dani Carvajal overcame the injuries of last season to play a regular part in Real Madrid's title triumph this season. The 29-year-old is one of four Madrid players in our best rated XI. Carvajal finished the season with five assists, his best ever return in a single LaLiga campaign. As well as excelling in the final third, Carvajal was also a solid performer out of possession. He returned 2.1 tackles per game, with a tackle success rate of 77.4%, and no played blocked more crosses than the Madrid right-back (20).
Centre-back: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) - 7.07 rating
Remarkably, only nine players scored more goals than Real Madrid centre-back Sergio Ramos (11) in LaLiga this season. The Madrid captain netted more league goals than the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Nabil Fekir and Joao Felix. Ramos even managed to score more league goals than he was booked (10) this season. Ramos finished the season with a pass success rate of 91%, only on one occasion in the last decade has he bettered that figure. Madrid finished the campaign with the best defensive record in the league (25 goals conceded), with Ramos' leadership at the back playing a key part in their success.
Centre-back: Gerard Pique (Barcelona) - 7.03 rating
Even at the age of 33, Gerard Pique only missed three league games for Barcelona this season. The problem for Pique was not having a settled back four around him for prolonged periods of the campaign. Pique completed more passes than any other player in LaLiga this season (2460), while only two others had a better success rate (91.8%) than the Barcelona centre-back. Furthermore, only Diego Carlos (105) managed more headed clearances than Pique (90). Pique may not be the quickest but he is intelligent and has a nose for danger, illustrated by the fact only one player completed more clearances off the line than Pique (2) over the course of the season in LaLiga.
Left-back: Sergio Reguilon (Sevilla) - 7.10 rating
On loan from Real Madrid, Sergio Reguilon certainly benefitted from getting regular playing time at Sevilla and emerged as the best rated left-back in the division. The 23-year-old may not have a long-term future at Madrid but he certainly will at another big team. Reguilon played a direct hand in six goals in total, while only one defender registered more key passes from open play (40). Reguilon only completed 1.6 dribbles per game but he usually picked the right opportunity to press forward. In fact, the Spaniard notably completed 71% of his attempted dribbles in LaLiga this season.
Right wing: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 8.71 rating
Lionel Messi believes Barcelona gifted Real Madrid the league title this season but it certainly wasn't from a lack of effort on his part. Many people feel Messi wasn't at his best this season, in part due to niggling injuries, but he still managed to deliever jaw-dropping numbers. The 33-year-old remarkably played a direct hand in 46 goals in 33 league appearances, claiming the WhoScored Man of the Match award on 22 occasions. Messi finished as top scorer in LaLiga (25 goals) and and broke the record for most assists in a single LaLiga campaign (21). Moreover, Messi completed 182 dribbles, one fewer than second and third combined and only 69 fewer than Alaves managed as a team. He is the WhoScored Player of the Season in LaLiga.
Central midfield: Casemiro (Real Madrid) - 7.47 rating
While Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos understandably stole a lot of the headlines during Real Madrid's title-winning campaign, there should also be praise for Casemiro's displays in midfield. The Br azilian is a farcry from the star-studded names Madrid are used to in midfield but he is instrumental under Zinedine Zidane. Casemiro finished top for both tackles (96) and interceptions (68) in LaLiga this season but the 28-year-old also popped up with important goals. His four league goals were worth an additional seven points to Madrid. They finished five clear of Barcelona.
Central midfield: Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad) - 7.31 rating
With all eyes on Martin Odegaard in Real Sociedad's midfield, Mikel Merino's performances flew completely under the radar. Meino typically finished the season with a WhoScored Man of the Match display in their 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid, a result that secured Europa League football for next season. Merino isn't the most imposing figure but he uses his height well. The 24-year-old ranked third in LaLiga for most aerial duels won (182).
Left wing: Saul Niguez (Atletico Madrid) - 7.22 rating
Atletico Madrid will be disappointed with their season after finishing fourth but it was at least another positive campaign from a personal perspective for Saul Niguez. A return of six goals marks Saul's most successful ever LaLiga campaign, while the 25-year-old also ranked second in the division for tackles (95) - one behind Casemiro. Saul might not be the tallest player but he certainly doesn't contest an aerial battle without a fight, illustrated by an impressive return of 3.4 aerial duels won per game - a personal record in a league campaign for Atletico.
Striker: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) - 7.44 rating
Whereas before Karim Benzema's game was tailored to getting the best out of Cristiano Ronaldo, the former France international is now thriving as the main man in attack for Real Madrid. Benzema played a direct hand in 27 goals in 36 league appearances for Madrid to help fire Zidane's side to the title. The 32-year-old converted at least four more clear-cut goalscoring chances (17) than any other player in LaLiga this season and was one of only three players to reach double figures for WhoScored Man of the Match awards (10).
Striker: Gerard Moreno (Villarreal) - 7.31 rating
A strong end to the season saw Villarreal comfortably finish fifth in LaLiga with a number of standout performers for the Yellow Submarines, including striker Gerard Moreno. The 28-year-old scored 18 goals in LaLiga this season, his best ever return in a single league campaign, and weighed in with a further five assists. Moreno finished second behind Benzema for most clear-cut chances scored (13).