Serie A leaders Inter dominiate team of the month after perfect December
League leaders Inter won all five league games in December and it's no surprise to see they dominate the Serie A team of the month. Having scored 15 and conceded none, the defending champions have players feature at both ends of the pitch as we run through the best XI of those to have made four or more appearances.
Both of Ivan Provedel's WhoScored man of the match awards for the season were won in December, with the Spezia shotstopper earning the accolade in meetings with Empoli and Napoli. The 27-year-old was exceptionally busy in December, making more saves than any other goalkeeper (28) to land a WhoScored rating of 7.30.
Juan Cuadrado (Juventus) - 7.93
Juventus earned 10 points from their four games in December, with Juan Cuadrado proving a key man for the Old Lady once more. Indeed, of the four goals the Colombian has scored this season, two were netted in wins over Genoa and Bologna this month. A total of 276 passes was the 11th best in the division and it helped the Juventus full-back to a WhoScored rating of 7.93.
Inter didn't concede a goal in December, the only team to keep a clean sheet in every game, and it's no shock that three of the four defenders in the best XI ply their trade for the Nerazzurri. Milan Skriniar's distribution was again key for Simone Inzaghi's side, the centre-back's pass success rate of 97.2% across his four appearances better than any other player, and saw the defender land a WhoScored rating of 7.37.
Alessandro Bastoni (Inter) - 7.77
Joining Skriniar at the heart of the defence is club teammate Alessandro Bastoni, who earned a WhoScored rating of 7.77. 15 tackles and interceptions returned is a respectable return for the Italian, with Bastoni vital for this Inter side seeking to successfully defend their Scudetto.
Rounding off the defence is Ivan Perisic, who has adjusted to a position change with aplomb. The Croat bagged his fourth goal of the season in December, netting in Inter's resounding 5-0 win over Salernitana and, like Bastoni, made 15 tackles and interceptions combined to nail down the left-back spot with a WhoScored rating of 7.33.
Just as Inter dominated the defence, Lazio have three players feature in the midfield. The first of those is Pedro, who directly contributed to a goal in four of his five league outings, scoring three and providing one assist. The experienced Spaniard also made seven tackles, a respectable return for the 34-year-old, to feature with a WhoScored rating of 7.60.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio) - 7.82
Like Pedro, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic also had a direct hand in four league goals in December, scoring twice, and was one of only seven players to win multiple WhoScored man of the match awards. Eight successful dribbles was a modest return for the Serb, who makes the cut with a rating of 7.82.
Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter) - 8.30
With a rating of 8.30, Inter's Hakan Calhanoglu is the WhoScored Serie A player of the month. The in-form midfielder had a direct hand in more goals (6) than any other player in Italy's top tier in December. Four assists came from 21 key passes, both ranking first in Serie A, with Calhanoglu good value for the individual award.
Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio) - 7.66
Having struggled for game time following his summer arrival from Verona, Mattia Zaccagni made the most of his opportunity to consolidate a starting spot for Lazio, featuring in the team of the month with a WhoScored rating of 7.66. Just as teammates Pedro and Milinkovic-Savic directly contributed to four goals, so too did Zaccagni to make the cut.
Lautaro Martinez (Inter) - 7.65
The fifth and final Inter player to star in the side, Lautaro Martinez leads the charge with a WhoScored rating of 7.65. The Argentine was in excellent form for the Nerazzurri in December as no player scored more goals (4) than the Inter hitman. Martinez also laid on an additional assist to cap a fine month.
Gerard Deulofeu (Udinese) - 7.63
Partnering Martinez in attack is Udinese star Gerard Deulofeu. Of the six goals the Spaniard has netted this season, three were scored in December as Deulofeu excelled for Le Zebrette to land a WhoScored rating of 7.63. 15 key passes was second only to Calhanoglu and if his teammates sported their shooting boots, then the 27-year-old would have had more than one assist in December.
