The team of the season consists of the best performing players from their various clubs during the season. Globe Soccer offers Team of the Season in Europe's top 5 leagues for the 2022/2023 season.
The team's goalkeeper is Marc Andre Ter-Stegen. The German goalkeeper who plays for Barcelona has kept 20 clean sheets in 27 La Liga games this season. He made 2 saves in their 0-4 win over Elche last weekend. Erling Haaland was the center of the season in the team. The Norwegian has scored 28 goals in 26 games in the Premier League this season.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Kylian Mbappe were the wingers of the season in the team. Kvaratskhelia has scored 12 goals and has 10 assists for Napoli in Serie A while Mbappe has scored 19 goals and provided three assists in Ligue 1 this season.
Lionel Messi, Pedri and Martin Odegaard are the midfielders of the season. Odegaard has scored 10 goals and provided seven assists for Arsenal in the Premier League while Messi has scored 13 goals and provided 13 assists in Ligue 1 this season.
Alphonso Davies and Kieran Trippier were the left and right defenders of the season. Trippier has scored 1 goal and provided 6 assists for Newcastle United in the Premier League while Davies has 1 goal and 4 assists for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga this season. Trippier had an assist in a 2-0 win over Manchester United in the 29th round of the EPL.
Here is the typical squad of the season of the top 5 European leagues in the 2022/2023 season.
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Three points worth mentioning before Barcelona vs Real Madrid | Copa del Rey semi-finals
Real Madrid tore through Barcelona in the first El Clasico of the season when the two teams met at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga. The men in white outperformed their opponents, scoring three goals against Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The story from there is not very pleasant. A 1-3 loss in the Spanish Super Cup final put pressure on Carlo Ancelotti while a subsequent loss in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg added to the pressure. When Los Blancos lost to the Clasico de la Liga, talks about sacking him began. Real Madrid cannot afford to lose the last El Clasico of the season and will be looking to secure a spot in Wednesday night's Copa Del Rey final, facing Barcelona in the semi-final second leg at Camp No.
Madrid Universal brings you three points worth mentioning ahead of Barcelona v Real Madrid.
1. Kings of Knockout Matches
No club in the world can claim to dominate the knockout stages like Real Madrid. The Spanish champions boast an exceptional record in must-win matches and last season's UEFA Champions League is a perfect example. Form is rarely a factor for Los Blancos in such games. Just last month, Ancelotti's men, once a ruin in the land of fog, arrived at Anfield and ripped Liverpool apart in a 5-2 destruction. This, if any, reinforces that the men in white know all too well about must-see matches.
The situation in the Copa del Rey is no different. Los Blancos' 0-1 defeat at home in the first leg led them to Camp Nou Spotify with no less than two goals. A draw or loss will disqualify them from the competition and increase the likelihood of a disastrous season without a title.
Therefore, Ancelotti's students need to arouse the fighting spirit and give all their strength on Wednesday night to keep their hopes of winning the Copa del Rey. Can they break their three-game losing streak to El Clasicos? Only time will tell.
2. Barcelona injury
Pedri, Dembele are absent from Barcelona (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
Barcelona could have the home advantage for the decisive second leg. However, all is not well in the Catalan capital in terms of fitness.
Barca will be without four regular starting players in Wednesday's match because of injury, which will greatly increase Real Madrid's chances of progressing.
First, star defender Andreas Christensen will not be available, forcing Xavi Hernandez to make a nasty change to the defensive formula. With Ronald Araujo positioned on the right flank, Karim Benzema could exploit a weak link in the center of the defence. Ousmane Dembele is also expected to miss El Clasico. The French winger was expected to recover in time for the second leg but a relapse caused his return date to be delayed. Needless to say, his elimination was a great relief for Carlo Ancelotti.
However, the Blaugrana was most affected in midfield. Xavi will be without Pedri and Frenkie de Jong against Real Madrid and will be benched to replace them. Needless to say, the advantage in the important midfield is leaning towards the away team.
If Real Madrid plans and strategically exploits Barcelona's weaknesses at Spotify Camp Nou, a comeback is a real possibility. However, as the statistics show, Ancelotti is struggling against Xavi and it remains to be seen if he can surpass the Spaniard this time around.
3. Always finish on the flank
When the two Spanish giants met last month, it was Real Madrid's right wing
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