Europe’s Best XI of the Week (9/7/22–9/12/22)

No Premier League players this week, but the talent doesn’t stop.

GK: Samir Handanović (9)

Inter Milan steadily dominated over Torino in their 1–0 defeat of their Italian opponent, but that should not detract from Samir Handanović’s brilliance. Amassing 7 total saves, the Slovenian shot-stopper held his own within the box, while consistently distributing at an efficient rate with his 79% pass completion, as opposed to Torino keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic’s 43%.

CB: Willi Orbán (8.2)

Willi Orbán occupied the right side of RB Leipzig’s back-line that held Dortmund to only 5 shots all match. Orbán led his squad with 5 tackles and 4 interceptions, as well as his single goal contribution.

CB: Anthony Rouault (8.2)

Toulouse and Stade de Reims battle was quite evenly-matched in terms of shot proficiency and general offensive output, but Rouault helped his southern France side wield the upper-hand. Even though Rouault wasn’t particularly flashy with his play, he did all he could to an almost perfect degree. Aside from his 2 blocked shots, 5 interceptions, and 5 tackles, he managed a ground and aerial duel victory rate of 100%, in addition to his 97% pass completion.

LB: Caio Henrique (8.3)

Monaco struggled with retaining possession against Lyon this past matchweek, but Caio Henrique’s 2 assists ensured that his lineup prospered within their scarce opportunities. Henrique orchestrated Monaco’s entire offense by way of the left flank, of where he contributed 3 long-balls, 4 crosses and 3 key passes.

RB: José Ángel Carmona (8.8)

Another wing-back maestro performance, José Ángel Carmona was responsible for all of Sevilla’s 3 goals against Espanyol, with his brace plus an assist. While Carmona did not get many touches on the ball to properly distribute it, he capitalized upon the rare chances he received.

CM: Aleix Garcia (8.9)

Aleix Garcia was omnipotent on the pitch versus Real Valladolid. His heat map that illustrates his locational presence looks as though it was annotated through and through with how many crevices of the pitch he riched. Garcia’s impact included 4 tackles, 4 interceptions, 5 clearances, 2 key passes and a team-high 54 touches that culminated in his single assist towards Girona’s 2–1 success.

CM: Rodrigo de Paul (8.3)

The center of the pitch should have been shared between Atlético Madrid and Celta Vigo, but Rodrigo de Paul was its true owner. From this midfield, de Paul facilitated Atlético’s offense with his 2 key passes, 5 of 6 completed long-balls, as well as a goal and an assist.

CAM: Lionel Messi (8.4)

Lionel Messi continues to be the heart of PSG’s attack. The Argentine has already reached his third-highest career mark for total assists in a calendar year, and we still have a quarter of 2022 to go. Messi’s constant activity on the ball (92 touches) against Stade Brestois led to 3 out of 3 completed long-balls, 2 big chances missed (included a shot that hit the woodwork), and finally, another assist to add to his collection.

LM: Dango Ouattara (8.6)

The extreme persistence of Dango Ouattara assisted in keeping hold of the ball, even with his poor 56% passing accuracy. During Ouattara’s 54 touches, he won 9 of 11 ground duels, 2 of 3 aerial duels, and completed 3 interceptions. Thus, the young attacker used his ball-handling prowess to execute 5 dribbles on way to a goal and an assist.

RM: Rodrygo (8.8)

Rodrygo is a magician with the ball in his control, as he completed 7 of 11 dribble attempts in Real Madrid’s 4–1 late-game thrashing of RCD Mallorca. His 2 goal contributions came in the forms of one goal and assist each, but his efficiency was much more pronounced within his 88% passing completion rate, in addition to his ability to stand his ground throughout numerous attacking motions by winning 8 of 14 of his ground duels.

ST: Robert Lewandowski (8.7)

33 minutes, 3 goal contributions. Robert Lewandowski produces goal-scoring opportunities at a systematic rate. More stats: 3 of 3 completed dribbles and 4 of 6 victorious ground duels. Lewandowski received a considerable 24 touches in his short stint on the pitch versus Cádiz CF, but capitalized upon to the furthest extent.