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Europea Team of the Season so far GFXGOAL
Mark Doyle

Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and GOAL's European Team of the 2023-24 Season so far

Opinion
Champions League
Serie A
Bundesliga
Ligue 1
Premier League
LaLiga
Manchester City
Liverpool
Real Madrid
Barcelona
Inter
Bayern Munich
J. Bellingham
M. Salah
Bayer Leverkusen
Borussia Dortmund
Arsenal
H. Kane
D. Rice
F. Wirtz
J. Frimpong
W. Saliba
F. Acerbi
M. Hummels
Originals

Xabi Alonso's sensational Bayer Leverkusen side have the most players in our selection of the top performers from the 'Big Five' leagues

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The turn of the year is approaching, meaning this is the perfect time to look back at the first half of the European season, which has featured several surprise packages lighting up the continent's 'Big Five' leagues.

Xabi Alonso's wonderfully entertaining Bayer Leverkusen side lead the way in Germany, Aston Villa have emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League under Unai Emery, while over in Spain Girona are evoking memories of the Leicester City fairy tale thanks to Michel's magnificent management.

Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain are on track to win Ligue 1 again, but not performing particularly impressively. Serie A table-toppers Inter have been far more impressive, with Simone Inzaghi's men going from strength to strength after reaching last season's Champions League final, although the revelation of the 2023-24 European Cup has arguably been Borussia Dortmund, who slayed the 'Group of Death'.

But who have been the individual stars of the season so far? Taking games in all club competitions into account, GOAL selects its dream team below, which is bound to provoke the usual level of heated debate, so be sure to post your own line-ups in the comments section at the foot of the page...

  • Yann Sommer InterGetty

    GK: Yann Sommer (Inter)

    The 35-year-old Swiss looked like a serious downgrade on Andre Onana, whose impressive range of passing had played a pivotal role in Inter's run to the final of last season's Champions League final before being sold to Manchester United during the summer.

    However, Onana has been a disaster at Old Trafford, while Sommer has been a sensation at San Siro, a free transfer from Bayern Munich who is already looking like another Beppe Marotta masterstroke having already racked up a seriously impressive 15 clean sheets in all competitions - more than any other goalkeeper so far this season.

  • William Saliba Arsenal 2023-24Getty Images

    DF: William Saliba (Arsenal)

    Would Arsenal have won the Premier League last season had the Frenchman not suffered a back injury in March? Sadly, we'll never know. What is clear, though, is that an Arsenal backline that capitulated without Saliba during the title run-in is looking like a formidable unit once again.

    As well as being an excellent defender who rarely commits rash fouls or gets caught out of position, the 22-year-old is also an outstanding distributor of the ball who also poses a serious threat when he ventures forward for set-pieces.

  • Mats Hummels Borussia Dortmund 2023-24Getty

    DF: Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)

    The veteran centre-back hasn't been flawless this season - an early red card in a big Bundesliga clash with RB Leipzig effectively cost his side the game - but we can forgive Hummels one big blemish in light of a series of immaculate performances at the heart of the Dortmund defence.

    Indeed, the 35-year-old is arguably playing as well as ever, as illustrated by the pivotal part he played in BVB topping the Champions League's 'Group of Death', with his performance in a crucial win in Milan particularly impressive. It will, thus, come as no surprise to learn that he ranks second for interceptions (45) across Europe's 'Big Five' leagues, and third among defenders for tackles won (40).

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  • Acerbi Inter 2023-24Getty Images

    DF: Francesco Acerbi (Inter)

    The Italian says that cancer gave him a second chance at life and he's taken it with open arms. Six months after keeping Erling Haaland quiet in the Champions League final, Acerbi is still showcasing his fantastic man-marking skills on a weekly basis for Inter.

    The 35-year-old has emerged as the most important and reliable member of the best backline in Europe right now. Table-topping Inter have conceded just seven goals in 17 Serie A outings this season, while Acerbi has been directly involved in 12 clean sheets in all competitions - more than any other outfield player in the 'Big Five' leagues.

  • Jeremie Frimpong Bayer Leverkusen 2023-24Getty

    RWB: Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)

    In October, Bayer Leverkusen convinced the wing-back to sign a contract extension until 2028, but holding on to Frimpong is only going to get more and more difficult, given the thrilling nature of his performances and his rapid rate of growth since joining from Celtic.

    The 23-year-old was linked with the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Barcelona during the summer and his list of suitors has only lengthened since then. Frimpong has proven a fantastic attacking outlet down Leverkusen's right-hand side, having racked up seven goals and nine assists in 22 appearances this season.

  • Declan Rice Arsenal 2023Getty Images

    CM: Declan Rice (Arsenal)

    The feeling always was that while Rice wasn't worth £105 million ($132m) in general terms, he was to Arsenal - and so it's proved. The England international has proved an excellent addition to Mikel Arteta's midfield, winning the ball back regularly and using it effectively.

    Rice, who can also play at the back, has developed a very useful habit of popping up with big goals, with the 24-year-old netting late winners against both Manchester United and Luton Town that have not only endeared him to his new club's fans, but also left the Gunners perfectly placed to reach the halfway point of the Premier League season top of the table.

  • Jude Bellingham points Real Madrid Napoli 2023-24 Champions LeagueGetty

    CM: Jude Bellingham

    The England international was recently presented with Tuttosport's 'Golden Boy' award for the top young talent in Europe in 2023. The question has to be asked, though, is there actually a better player in the world right now?

    Bellingham's numbers since joining Real Madrid are ridiculous: on top of contributing five assists, he's also scored 17 goals in 21 games in all competitions - and the 20-year-old is not even a striker. As long as his shoulder injury doesn't become a major problem, Bellingham really could be a Ballon d'Or winner by this time next year.

  • Alex Grimaldo Bayer LeverkusenGetty Images

    LWB: Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)

    The other reason why Leverkusen are tearing teams to shreds out wide! Indeed, Frimpong is the only defender with more direct goal involvements (16) than Grimaldo (15), who is a serious contender for signing of the season so far.

    The 28-year-old set-piece specialist, who arrived at the BayArena on a free transfer from Benfica, has scored nine times for the Bundesliga leaders, with his fine form earning him a Spain debut in November.

  • Mohamed Salah Liverpool 2023-24Getty Images

    RW: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

    Liverpool are back fighting for the Premier League for two reasons: firstly, the complete midfield overhaul has turned out better than expected; secondly, the continued brilliance of Mohamed Salah, who scored a stunning equaliser in last week's draw with Arsenal. At 31 years of age, the Egyptian is well on track to register more than 30 goals in all competitions for the fourth season in a row, having already struck 16 times in all competitions.

    His hopes of doing so may be hindered by his participation in the African Cup of Nations, but what the first half of the 2023-24 campaign has made clear is that Salah - who has now surpassed the 200-goal mark for Liverpool - now has a serious claim on the title of the finest player the Premier League has ever seen.

  • Harry Kane Bayern Munich 2023-24Getty

    CF: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

    The England striker managed to score 32 goals in all competitions for a Tottenham team that went through three managers last season, so perhaps we should have known that Kane would run riot in the Bundesliga after his summer switch to Bayern Munich.

    Nonetheless, what he is doing in Germany is hugely impressive, with the 30-year-old scoring at a record-breaking rate. Kane reached 20 goals in just 14 Bundesliga games, while he was also on target four times as Bayern finished top of their Champions League group.

    A first trophy is now a very real possibility for the second-most prolific player in Premier League history, who has been directly involved in a staggering 33 goals - nine more than anyone else in the 'Big Five' leagues.

  • Florian Wirtz Leverkusen 09132023(C)Getty Images

    LW: Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)

    Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona - the clubs being linked with the versatile attacking midfielder reads like a who's who of European football. Right now, though, Wirtz is loving life at Bayer Leverkusen, who are leading the Bundesliga thanks in no small part to the Germany international.

    The versatile attacking midfielder has scored eight goals for the most prolific team in Europe this season, and created a further 12, putting him top of the assists chart for the 'Big Five' leagues.