Picking a Combined Barcelona-Atletico Madrid XI
A combined Barcelona and Atletico Madrid XI would make some team.
The craft and guile of the Catalans and the solid, workmanlike endeavours of the Rojiblancos would be a heady mix indeed. It would certainly take a very special outfit to get the better of them.
Picking an XI from such magnificent exponents is no easy task, however, so let's take a look at whether you agree with the chosen ones.
Remember to leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Goalkeeper: Claudio Bravo
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There isn't a La Liga goalkeeper who comes anywhere close to Claudio Bravo at present.
The seven goals conceded by the Chilean during the first half of the season have put him on course to break all of the Zamora records—the award for the least goals conceded in a season.
Victor Valdes conceding 16 in 32 games during the 2010-11 season is by far the best of the modern era, with only Abel Resino's 17 in 33 games for Atleti during 1990-91 and Francisco Liano's 18 in 38 for Deportivo La Coruna in 1993-94 coming close.
Per WhoScored.com, Bravo has only conceded in five of the games in which he has played, and three of those seven goals came against Real Madrid in the season's first Clasico.
The custodian has been exemplary throughout the campaign and fully deserves his spot in this team.
Right-Back: Juanfran
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Barcelona only really have Dani Alves to offer for the right-back position, and the ageing Brazilian isn't the same player he was a few seasons ago.
Juanfran has played every minute of every game this season and has been up to the mark in each and every one.
Much is made of Alves' ability to provide assists, particularly to Lionel Messi, but his four so far this season is two worse than Juanfran's six, per WhoScored.com.
Atleti's right-back arguably gives better defensive cover than the more marauding Alves too.
An easy pick in the end.
Left-Back: Jordi Alba
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Before his transfer to Chelsea, you'd have to argue that Felipe Luis would've given Jordi Alba a run for his money in the left-back slot.
With the greatest respect to Guilherme Siqueira, he's not quite in Alba's class at this juncture.
Alba consistently produces performances of the highest quality and is only occasionally found wanting. The first match against Paris Saint-Germain is probably the best example of this.
In contrast, Siqueira's form has been patchy at best, and his ratings on WhoScored.com rarely get above a seven-out-of-ten mark.
Centre-Back: Diego Godin
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Was there a better player in La Liga in 2014 than Diego Godin?
His outstanding form for both club and country,, which included scoring the goal that won the league title for Atleti at Camp Nou, has led to rumours of a switch elsewhere.
Hannah Duncan of Metro noted Manchester United's recent interest, but Godin isn't interested, telling ESPN:
"At this point, I feel that I’m in the best time of my career and I still see my retirement very far.
I would like to stay many years [at Atletico Madrid].
But it is true that I also have an attraction from my country and at any point in the future I would like to return to Uruguay, to respond to the love they have showed me during this years.
"
A warrior of a centre-back, he's the type of player Barca sorely need at the heart of their own back line.
Centre-Back: Joao Miranda
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Godin's partner in crime, Joao Miranda, has to line up alongside him in this combined XI.
The first and perhaps only duty a central defender should fulfil is defend.
No need to worry about elegantly bringing the ball out of defence and spraying it wide to look good. Solid work both aerially and on the floor is required.
Send it to row Z when it needs to go there, and provide a robust presence as needed.
That is something Barca have lacked in central defence since Carles Puyol's injuries began to catch up with him.
Defensive Midfielder: Javier Mascherano
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With the possible exception of Lionel Messi, Barcelona probably haven't had anyone in better form during the whole of last year than Javier Mascherano.
As he showed at the World Cup, at which many people thought he should've been crowned Player of the Tournament, there are no better midfield generals.
No, not even Sergio Busquets.
While any flaws in Busquets' game are minimal, his form during and since the World Cup hasn't been up to his usual standard.
Off the pace, with his worst pass-completion rating for three years, per WhoScored.com, Busquets deigns to the Argentinian in this team.
Attacking Midfielder: Koke
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It's long been said that Koke is the heir to Xavi Hernandez's throne for Spain.
It would appear that Xavi himself would agree, telling Atletico Madrid's website (h/t Iain Rogers of The Independent):
"Koke is an extraordinary footballer.
He has everything: talent, physical ability, he is a footballer of the present and the future.
He has been marked out as the conductor of Spain's orchestra for the next 10 years.
I have a special affection for him because we play in the same position and I think he is an extraordinary player.
"
Praise doesn't come much higher and perfectly encapsulates his value to this particular XI.
Attacking Midfielder: Andres Iniesta
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Barcelona's magician is beginning to find his best form just at the right time.
Andres Iniesta continues to excel in the attacking-midfield role, providing ample and able support to the front players.
Injuries have curtailed his progress somewhat this season, but he still remains one of the best midfielders La Liga has to offer.
His inclusion in this team works perfectly with the more industrious Koke, a player Iniesta pipped to La Liga's Best Attacking Midfielder award, per Nicholas Rigg of The Independent.
Playmaker: Lionel Messi
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As we open another year, it goes without saying that Lionel Messi will continue to provide the same immaculate input to his team in whichever position he so chooses.
There simply isn't any pigeonholing the best player in the world.
Put him in midfield and he provides more assists than anyone else. As a striker or a false nine, he scores almost as many as anyone else too.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been lauded for his 61 goals in 2014, but Messi finished just three behind the Portuguese.
More goals than anyone else in the Champions League, La Liga and El Clasico and most successful dribbles in La Liga during 2014, per Barcastuff, mean no team is complete without the diminutive Argentinian.
Attacker: Neymar
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Neymar has had a sensational second campaign for the Blaugrana.
After sustaining a nasty-looking back injury at the World Cup, it was anybody's guess as to how the player would fare upon his return.
The Brazilian has answered the question in emphatic fashion, scoring more before Christmas than he had in the whole of last season.
His partnership with Lionel Messi is bordering on the telepathic, and he is a much more dangerous proposition now.
A shoo-in for this XI.
Attacker: Mario Mandzukic
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Every team needs an old-school centre-forward.
Barcelona have somehow managed without one, but they remain the exception to the rule.
Once Diego Costa left for Chelsea, Atleti's fanbase must have been concerned the departure of yet another goal machine would leave their quest for glory in tatters.
However, manager Diego Simeone once again showed his nous in the transfer market with a studious purchase of Bayern Munich's out-of-favour striker Mario Mandzukic.
After a slow start, the target man now has 12 goals in all competitions per WhoScored.com, which is a decent return.
Give him the service and he will score you goals.
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