It has been another weekend of high-quality action across Europe’s top five leagues.
Barcelona were sensational in their 5-1 El Clasico win against Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea all maintained their unbeaten starts in the Premier League, while PSG extended their perfect record in Ligue 1 to 11 games.
There were also a number of excellent individual displays, so without further ado, here is our European Team of the Week …
GK: Ben Foster (Watford)
On the surface, a 3-0 victory at home to Huddersfield appears to have been a comfortable win for Watford, and truth be told, it was in the end. But the Hornets have their goalkeeper to thank for that. Foster was excellent against the Terriers, making a string of impressive saves to deny the likes of Aaron Mooy and Alex Pritchard. In total, the 35-year-old made seven saves to preserve a second consecutive clean sheet.
RB: Sergi Roberto (Barcelona)
Fellow full-back Jordi Alba was the star of the first half, but Sergi Roberto delivered a brilliant, composed performance throughout El Clasico for Barcelona. The Spaniard was superb defensively, making a total of six interceptions to thwart Madrid, while also offering a real attacking threat. The right-back provided the assist for Suarez’s second and third goals, while also making two other key passes on the night.
CB: Gianluca Mancini (Atalanta)
The 22-year-old Italian had a significant contribution at both ends of the pitch, as Atalanta secured an impressive 3-0 win at home to Parma. While helping his side keep a clean sheet, it was at the other end where he was most important, flicking on a corner to provide the assist for Jose Luis Palomino to make it 2-0. Mancini then got a goal of his own to complete the scoring, volleying home a corner from six yards.
CB: Fabian Balbuena (West Ham)
Fabian Balbuena netted his first goal for West Ham in their draw at Leicester
After a horror show on his debut for West Ham against Liverpool, the Paraguayan defender has recovered superbly, forming an impressive partnership at the back with Issa Diop. Balbuena was again impressive in the 1-1 draw with Leicester. He opened the scoring with his first goal for the club, before putting in a monster defensive display for the ten-man Hammers, making 15 clearances, two interceptions and two tackles.
LB: Lucas Lima (Nantes)
Nantes’ captain had a superb game as he helped his side make it back-to-back victories in Ligue 1 with a 2-1 away win at Amiens. It was a real captain’s display from Lima, with the Brazilian making a game-high seven tackles, two interceptions, three clearances and also winning four aerial duels. The 27-year-old also offered an outlet going forward, finishing the game with three key passes.
RM: Remi Oudin (Reims)
Oudin was the star man for Reims as they won 2-0 away at Rennes. The winger was a constant option out wide for the away side. The Frenchman opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a superb strike on the counter. The 21-year-old took one touch to set himself, before firing the ball into the far corner. He added a second after the break with a near-post header from a corner, sealing an important three points.
CM: Ross Barkley (Chelsea)
Maurizio Sarri really is starting to bring the best of Barkley back to the fore. After netting his first goal for Chelsea against Southampton, he hasn’t looked back, adding to his tally with a fine low, left-footed drive from distance in the 4-0 win against Burnley. The England international also chipped in with two assists, the first of which was a superbly weighted pass for Alvaro Morata to run on to and open the scoring.
CM: Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Kai Havertz netted a brace in Leverkusen’s huge win at Werder Bremen
What a win for Bayer Leverkusen and what a performance from Havertz. The youngster was excellent for his side in their 6-2 thumping of Werder Bremen away from home. While his second was perhaps fortunate, getting a slight touch on the ball before it found the back of the net off Sebastian Langkamp, Havertz’s first was anything but. The German youngster took it superbly, racing forward before dinking the ball over the onrushing keeper.
LM: Willian (Chelsea)
It was very difficult to separate Willian and Barkley for Chelsea’s best player in the win at Turf Moor. The Brazilian stepped into the void left by Eden Hazard on the left admirably, and was a constant menace down Burnley’s right-hand side throughout the game. He thoroughly deserved his goal, which was expertly taken, curling the ball low into the far corner from distance. His all-round performance was excellent, more than making up for the absence of team-mate Hazard.
ST: Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo)
Aspas won’t be forgetting his weekend in a hurry. At the birth of his daughter the previous day, and having spent the night sleeping on a sofa in the hospital, the former Liverpool flop then netted a brilliant hat-trick in Celta Vigo’s 4-0 triumph against Eibar. The Spaniard opened the scoring from the edge of the box, before adding a second with an audacious lob. He completed his hat-trick late on to cap a memorable few days.
ST: Luis Suarez (Barcelona)
No Lionel Messi? No problem. Suarez was magnificent in Barcelona’s emphatic 5-1 win against arch rivals Real Madrid. The Uruguayan was the star of El Clasico, taking his tally to nine goals in nine league games against Los Blancos. After a perfectly dispatched penalty, Suarez netted a truly remarkable header, before an impudent chip completed an impressive hat-trick. His all-round play and tireless work rate were also faultless in the victory.
Here is our latest European Team of the Week
