Serie A Team of the Month: Back-up goalkeeper beats Ronaldo to player of month award

Here we run through the best WhoScored rated XI in Serie A from the month of December. Players must have made at least three appearances to qualify.

Goalkeeper: Gianluca Pegolo (Sassuolo) - 8.32 rating

Most teams would fear the worst when their first-choice goalkeeper is injured but Sassuolo No.2 Gianluca Pegolo replaced Andrea Consigli with aplomb in December. Pegolo, making his first appearances of the campaign, opened up with two clean sheets in a row and successive WhoScored Man of the Match awards. He made more saves per game (6.7) than any other goalkeeper in Serie A last month and is our player of the month in the division.

Right-back: Stefano Sabelli (Brescia) - 7.16 rating

December wasn't a particularly great month for right-backs, with Stefano Sabelli qualifying as the lowest rated player in the XI. The Brescia defender registered one assist in four league appearances last month and also picked up the WhoScored Man of the Match award in their 1-1 draw at Parma. Moreover, the 26-year-old made 17 tackles and interceptions combined over that period. 

Centre-back: Berat Djimsiti (Atalanta) - 7.54 rating

Atalanta won two of their three league matches in Serie A and centre-back Beram Djimsiti was their star man in that period, winning more aerial duels (18) than any other player in the division. It's even more impressive when you consider some players featured in five matches compared to Djimsiti's three appearances. The 26-year-old also scored his first league goal of the season last month, popping up with a 92nd-minute winner in their 3-2 win over Verona.

Centre-back: Chris Smalling (Roma) - 7.34 rating

December was another impressive move for on-loan Roma defender Chris Smalling, who recorded a WhoScored rating in excess of 7.00 in all three of his league appearances. The former England international made 16 clearances in that time; won 12 aerial duels and eight interceptions.

Left-back: Theo Hernandez (AC Milan) - 7.37 rating

There hasn't been a lot to cheer about for AC Milan of late, other than Zlatan Ibrahimovic's return, but Theo Hernandez was certainly a plus point for the Serie A giants last month. Hernandez scored in two of his three appearances last month, matching his tally from his previous 10 matches combined. Added to that, Hernandez completed eight dribbles and was fouled 10 times.

Right wing: Nicolo Zaniolo (AS Roma) - 7.69 rating

Nicolo Zaniolo picked a great moment to deliever his best display of the campaign, as the Italy international scored and assisted in Roma's stunning 4-1 win at Fiorentina before Christmas. Zaniolo registered eight key passes across his three appearances; completed nine dribbles and was fouled 11 times.

Central midfield: Luis Alberto (Lazio) - 8.07 rating

Luis Alberto has now either scored or assisted in his last seven league appearances, with three of those games falling in the month of December. Alberto scored against Cagliari and Udinese and provided two assists in Lazio's stunning 3-1 win at home to Juventus. Alberto registered eight key passes across his three matches, as well as managing six attempts on goal.

Central midfield: Joao Pedro (Cagliari) - 7.66 rating

Played as a striker for most of the seaosn, Cagliari decided to drop Joao Pedro deeper in December and it worked a treat. Pedro scored or assisted in all four of his appearances last month, raking up four goals and one assist in the process. In fact, no player had a direct hand in more Serie A goals than Pedro (5) last month.

Left wing: Cristian Ansaldi (Torino) - 7.77 rating

Cristian Ansaldi is enjoying his best ever goalscoring campaign in a top-flight league in the last decade and there is still half a season to go. The 33-year-old now has four league goals to his name this term, with three of those coming in the space of two games in December. In fact, he equalled his best ever return in a single league campaign in those two games alone. Ansaldi also registered an assist in that time.

Striker: Edin Dzeko (AS Roma) - 7.56 rating

Roma striker Edin Dzeko finished 2019 with a bang, scoring once and registering two assists in their 4-1 win away to Fiorentina. The veteran striker set up two goals from six key passes registered in the month of December, as well winning nine fouls. In typical Dzeko fashion, the towering striker also won 12 aerial duels across his four league appearances last month.

Striker: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) - 8.11 rating

Cristiano Ronaldo hasn't perhaps been at his best this season but the Juventus frontman hit peak goalscoring form to conclude 2019. Ronaldo finished the year by scoring in four straight appearances, raking up more Serie A goals than any other player in the month of December (5). Ronaldo also scored more than once in a league game (vs Udinese) for the first time since February.