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Goal.com's Serie A Team of the Season so far: AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic & Juventus' Andrea Pirlo star as Inter have no representatives
The joint leaders provide five players between them, with Cagliari and Atalanta among the other teams represented as we assess the best performers in the opening months
25 Dec 2011 08:04:00
Getty Images
| Serie A Team Of The Season so far: 2011-12 Table/Results |
| GOALKEEPER |
Gianluigi Buffon
Juventus
| It seems strange at times for a goalkeeper of his quality and reputation, but Buffon has never really been known for his ability to save penalties. However, his improved form against spot-kicks is just one of the numerous highlights of the Italy captain's season so far. The Bianconeri have regularly had the 33-year-old to thank during their 16-game unbeaten run, with his shot stopping, positioning and organisational prowess a huge key behind them having conceded only 11 goals so far. |
| DEFENDERS |
 Christian Maggio Napoli |
 Andrea Barzagli Juventus |
 Thiago Silva AC Milan |
 Senad Lulic Lazio |
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| Maggio continues to bolster his reputation as wing-back of great quality, with his energy down the right helping Napoli to record some notable victories this term. Wins over Milan and Inter have featured great displays from the ex-Sampdoria man, and he even netted against the Nerazzurri. Barzagli edges out Maggio's team-mate Paolo Cannavaro thanks to his weekly contributions to the unbeaten Bianconeri. His consistency has seen him retain ever-present status so far, with even Giorgio Chiellini unable to hold down a centre-back spot. Alongside him is Thiago Silva, who remains the league's stand-out centre-back thanks to his consistency in an oft-changing Milan backline. After a slow start, the Rossoneri have put together a great run, including six clean sheets in their last seven games of 2011. Lulic has recovered from an uncertain start in Rome to become one of the first names on the Lazio team-sheet. The Bosnia & Herzegovina wide man has filled in superbly for Stefan Radu, proving to be one of Edy Reja's most reliable performers over the past few months. |
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| MIDFIELDERS |
 Daniele De Rossi Roma |
 Andrea Pirlo Juventus |
 Radja Nainggolan Cagliari |
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| De Rossi has returned to the very top of his game this season, proving himself to be the heartbeat of Luis Enrique's Roma side. His vision, passing and anticipation have been crucial to the Spaniard's idealogy for his side, and even when playing centre-back of late he has been the Giallorossi's star man. Italy team-mate Pirlo has arguably been the outstanding player in Serie A since his summer move from Milan, directing attacks with great consistency for Juventus. He has quickly become an irreplaceable member of the first team, helping the Bianconeri to play a high pressing game which has changed the face of Serie A. Meanwhile, Nainggolan's phenomenal form for Cagliari has attracted the attention of several top clubs around Europe. Win, lose or draw, his personal input has been spectacular, and it sees him make the Team of the Season so far ahead of the likes of Kwadwo Asamoah, Claudio Marchisio and Antonio Nocerino. |
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| FORWARDS |
 Miroslav Klose Lazio |
 German Denis Atalanta |
 Zlatan Ibrahimovic AC Milan |
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| Our strikers have 32 goals between them, with Klose accounting for nine since his switch to Lazio in the summer. His ability to pop up with crucial goals was never more evident than in victories over Roma, Cesena and Fiorentina, with his movement often proving far too much for opposition defences to live with over 90 minutes. Atalanta's remarkable rise after starting the season six points behind has been personified by Denis, whose 12 goals already represent a personal best. His loan switch from Udinese has been one of the shrewdest moves to have been made in the summer transfer window. Ibrahimovic may well have scored five penalties this term, but his coolness from the spot has been spread to general play, netting 11 times in Milan's superb recovery after a slow start. A regular supply of goals has always been his forte, and having netted braces against Roma and Chievo he has more than made up for missing three weeks with injury in September. |
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