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Way too early Serie A Team of the Season

By John Vaccaro

STADIO GIUSEPPE MEAZZA, MILAN, ITALY - 2018/10/31: Suso of AC Milan celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A football match between AC Milan and Genoa CFC. AC Milan won 2-1 over Genoa CFC. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
STADIO GIUSEPPE MEAZZA, MILAN, ITALY - 2018/10/31: Suso of AC Milan celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A football match between AC Milan and Genoa CFC. AC Milan won 2-1 over Genoa CFC. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images) /
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TURIN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 03: Joao Cancelo of Juventus heads the ball during the Serie A match between Juventus and Cagliari on November 3, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Badolato – Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 03: Joao Cancelo of Juventus heads the ball during the Serie A match between Juventus and Cagliari on November 3, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Badolato – Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images) /

LB: Alex Sandro, Juventus

Juventus has once again been Serie A’s best defense thanks in large part to the contributions of Alex Sandro. He has come up big for Juventus over and over again on both ends of the field. His two assists couldn’t have come at better times for Juve, creating the winner against Chievo Verona in the season opener and the opening goal against AC Milan in Juve’s last match. His defensive contribution has been just as impressive, with 2 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, and 1.1 clearances per match. He has locked down the left side of the field for Juventus and helped them keep 4 clean sheets and slow some of the league’s best attacks.

CB: Kalidou Koulibaly, Napoli

I’m ready to accept the fact that Giorgio Chiellini might not be the best center back in Italy anymore. That’s because Kalidou Koulibaly has once again been extremely impressive this season. There hasn’t been a time all season where this has been more clear than in Napoli’s most recent match against Genoa. In that match Koulibaly made 5 tackles and a ridiculous 12 clearances. It brought his averages for the year up to 1.8 tackles and 4.3 clearances to go along with 1.3 interceptions per match. It would be hard to make any Serie A “best of” and keep Koulibaly out of the defense right now.

CB: German Pezzella, Fiorentina

Fiorentina has turned into one of Serie A’s best defensive teams this season and German Pezzella has been a big part of that turnaround. Pezzella has made life difficult for some of Serie A’s most potent attack, holding Roma, Napoli, Atalanta, and Lazio to a combined 3 goals. His 1.7 tackles, 2.7 interceptions, and 5.8 clearances per match have played an important role in Fiorentina’s defensive improvements this season. Fiorentina is currently in a tight battle for a Europa League place and Pezzella could lead them back to European competition.

RB: Joao Cancelo, Juventus

It’s no secret that Joao Cancelo has turned me into a big fan this year. His impressive season with Inter last year put him on Juve’s radar, but his first year with the Bianconeri has given him a real argument for the title of best right back in Serie A. He has been an absolute handful for opposing defenses this season, making 1.7 key passes and 1.2 crosses per match as he has provided the dangerous right back option Juve lost when Dani Alves left before last season. He has also made 2 tackles per match and was particularly impressive when he made Lorenzo Insigne a non-factor in Juve’s match against Napoli. The 24 year old could still be improving and that should be a scary thought for the rest of Serie A.

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