La Liga Team of the Season: Messi, Ronaldo & Falcao make up all-star front line

Goal runs through the finest footballers in the Spanish top flight in 2012-13 and picks out the top 11 players over the course of the campaign

Barcelona were crowned champions of La Liga at the weekend as Real Madrid could only draw at Espanyol, while Atletico lost at home to the Catalan club on Sunday but have already confirmed Champions League football for next season.

Below them, Real Sociedad, Valencia and Malaga fight for the final Champions League berth, while a number of teams scrap to avoid the drop at the foot of the table. So as the action draws to a conclusion, we reveal Goal‘s La Liga Team of the Season.

Malaga’s side is built on strong foundations and goalkeeper Willy Caballero is the last line of defence. The former Elche shot-stopper has been in fine form this season, putting in a number of match-winning performances in La Liga, including 13 clean sheets for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
Inigo Martinez is blossoming into an accomplished central defender and has been a big part of Real Sociedad’s success in 2012-13, providing solidity at the back and also chipping in with important goals, as in the 4-2 win at home to Malaga recently.

Meanwhile, Sergio Ramos has impressed in defence for Real Madrid. The club’s vice-captain has assumed an important leadership role in the absence of benched skipper Iker Casillas and also contributed several goals, notably the winner in Madrid’s 2-1 Clasico win over Barcelona in March.

Champions Barcelona have had their problems at the back this term, but they can usually rely on Gerard Pique. The Spain star has been below his best, but has had to line up alongside numerous different defensive partners in 2012-13 and has helped the Catalans remain solid in La Liga.

Isco stepped up for Malaga following the summer sale of Santi Cazorla to Arsenal and is now the undisputed leader of this team on the pitch. The youngster’s eight goals have helped the Andalusians stay in the race for a European place, even though a Champions League return now seems unlikely in 2013-14 – especially as the team now face a European ban for financial irregularities last year. Should he be on the market, Isco will be a man in demand.

Few players have been better this term than Andres Iniesta. The mild-mannered midfielder has enjoyed perhaps his finest season in La Liga, racking up an incredible 15 assists, including three in the 4-0 win at Levante back in November. Iniesta, Spain’s best player at Euro 2012, carried that form into the Primera Division campaign and has proved even more important than Xavi in 2012-13.

Iniesta’s Barcelona team-mate Cesc Fabregas has come under fire lately following his disappointing display against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final second leg at the beginning of this month, but the former Arsenal captain has shone in La Liga, scoring 10 goals and assisting 11 more in the club’s title-winning campaign, his first since returning to Camp Nou in 2011.

The midfield is completed by Koke, who has been in fine form for Atletico Madrid, scoring three times and setting up eight more in a very successful season for Diego Simeone’s side, who have already secured Champions League football for 2013-14.

Cristiano Ronaldo has had his troubles in 2012-13. The Portuguese forward complained of ‘sadness’ earlier this term and also missed out on the Ballon d’Or in January, but he has been at his brilliant best since then and has hit 34 goals in as many games in La Liga this season. He has also contributed 10 assists in La Liga.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi has been ever more prolific. The Argentine was unable to convert on Sunday as he  picked up another injury, ending a run of 21 league games in which he had struck at least one goal and usually more. Overall, he has hit 46 in 32 Primera Division fixtures and assisted 12 others.

Atletico Madrid’s Radamel Falcao completes the line-up. The Colombian has been key to his side’s success in the current campaign, contributing 33 goals in all competitions this term for the capital club, including 27 in 32 Liga appearances.

Mata hails Chelsea-bound Mourinho as 'one of the best managers in the world'

The Blues star is full of praise for the Portuguese, who is set to return to the club this summer, saying that his team-mates have fond memories of him

Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata has hailed Jose Mourinho as “one of the best managers in the world”, with the Real Madrid boss set to join the Spaniard at Stamford Bridge in the summer.

Goal.com exclusively revealed that the Portuguese coach, who spent three years with the west London club before being dismissed by Roman Abramovich in 2007, has agreed to return and replace interim boss Rafael Benitez in the summer.

Mourinho has fallen out of favour at the Bernabeu after surrendering the Liga title to fierce rivals Barcelona, as well as being dumped out of the Champions League by Borussia Dortmund at the semi-final stage.

Blues star Mata, however, was full of praise for the 50-year-old and suggests that his appointment will be well received by his team-mates at Stamford Bridge.

He told Sky Sports News: “Talking about Jose, for sure he’s a great manager. I mean, he won everything almost in every country. He was in Italy, in Portugal here in England, and I think the players we have now for example in the dressing room have very good memories about him.

“And in Madrid I think the same. He’s done a good job, Real Madrid is one of the best teams in the world, he is one of the best managers.

“We don’t really know what is going to happen, but for sure – and that’s a fact – he is one of the best managers in the world.”

Casillas-Mourinho conflict obvious, says Granero

The former Blancos midfielder can see no other reason than a dispute behind his former team-mate’s continued absence from the starting XI

Esteban Granero is convinced that a conflict between goalkeepr Iker Casillas and Jose Mourinho is keeping the Spain international on the substitutes bench at Real Madrid.

Diego Lopez has been the number one choice between the posts at the Santiago Bernabeu since joining the club from Sevilla in the January transfer window.

And though Mourinho has remained insistent that his preference for Lopez is purely a footballing decision, there remains a suspicion that there may be more to the tale than meets the eye.


“It’s hard to judge from the outside,” he told AS. “Obviously there is a conflict. I know Iker very well and he is the best goalkeeper in the world. He is the captain of the team and has lifted the World Cup and the European Championship twice.

“He is a symbol of Real Madrid. He has spent 20 years at the club and to me has always been an example.”

The QPR midfielder did reserve praise for Lopez, however, and admitted his performances in recent months have warranted a first team spot.

“I am not the coach who evaluates the status of each player. You can say Diego Lopez has done nothing to not deserve this spot. I have seen him train like crazy in his life. He is very professional.

“But Casillas is Casillas and he is the undisputed starter. The coach is smart enough and professional enough to choose on form.”

Varane undergoes successful knee surgery

The Frenchman has been ruled out of his side’s remaining games this season after suffering an injury during Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Espanyol

Real Madrid has announced on their official website that Raphael Varane has successfully undergone an operation on his right knee.

The French defender fell awkwardly during his side’s 1-1 draw with Espanyol and has been ruled out of Friday’s Copa del Rey final against Atletico Madrid as well as the last two Liga games of the season.

The former Lens player received treatment for his injury in Beziers at the Saint-Privat Polyclinic and is still under the supervision of club doctors.

Varane arrived in the Spanish capital for a fee thought to be in the region of €10 million and has made 33 appearances this season, ousting Pepe from the first team.

The 20-year-old is expected to be out for around six weeks, meaning he is unlikely to feature in France’s post-season friendly games.

PSG confirm Madrid approach for Ancelotti

Club owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi has admitted that the Spanish giants have inquired about the Italian but says he told them to respect the coach’s contract

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has confirmed that Real Madrid have asked about the availability of Carlo Ancelotti.

Jose Mourinho has agreed terms with his former club Chelsea, with his current club searching for his replacement, but the Qatari billionaire has told the Spanish giants to respect his club.

“A few days ago, the CEO of Real Madrid [Jose Angel Sanchez] contacted me to talk to him,” the 39-year-old told L’Equipe.

“Very quickly, I told them: ‘If you want to have Carlo, remember that he still has a year remaining in his contract. So, please, respect us, respect the contract. We respect all clubs and expect the same in return’.

“Today, we do not have the size of Real Madrid, but that’s not why we do not deserve respect.

“He [Sanchez] apologised, he told me that he thought the contract of Carlo will expire at the end of the season. I told him he was wrong.

“We want to keep Carlo. Everyone loves him here, the players, the fans and myself. I have supported him since the day he arrived and I will support him until his last day here.

“I am very optimistic about the outcome of this case.”