TOTW

Reflecting on the European season of 2024/25, the weekend of March 1-2 was crammed with drama and intrigue.

The race for the title in Serie A and La Liga is heating up. Simply three factors separate the primary three-placed groups.

In distinction, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain take pleasure in extra snug positions of their respective leagues. Vincent Kompany’s aspect leads the Bundesliga by eight factors over defending champions Bayer Leverkusen, whereas Luis Enrique’s males’s title defence is all however secured. With ten matches remaining, PSG boast a outstanding 13-point lead in Ligue 1.

They’ve benefited considerably from an attacking pair, Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé. Doué, a teenage sensation, is popping heads together with his performances, whereas Dembélé is lastly beginning to fulfill his potential as a frontrunner. Each are featured in our European Group of the Weekend following their most up-to-date standout show.

Bologna, climbing the Serie A desk, even have two gamers included, with the remainder coming from seven totally different golf equipment throughout Europe’s different main leagues.

We used our Squawka Rating to pick the eleven gamers based mostly on their statistical management in metrics related to their positions.

GK: Brice Samba (Rennes)

Rennes had an easy outing, securing a 4-0 victory in opposition to Ligue 1’s backside aspect, Montpellier. Brice Samba achieved his tenth clear sheet of the season, with the primary seven occurring in simply 14 appearances for Lens earlier than he registered three in 9 video games with Rennes, the place he joined in the course of the winter switch window.

Previously of Nottingham Forest, Samba now leads the shutout rankings within the French high division. Within the match in opposition to Montpellier, he was compelled to make no fewer than 5 saves, all of which have been contained in the penalty field. He proved his value by attaining a aim prevention rating of 1.01.

RB: Yan Couto (Borussia Dortmund)

Borussia Dortmund’s marketing campaign has been relatively uncommon this season. They comfortably certified for the Champions League spherical of 16 whereas at the moment sitting in tenth place within the Bundesliga standings. It seems BVB is present process one other transitional part. A key participant on this course of, not less than briefly, is 22-year-old Brazilian full-back Yan Couto, who joined the workforce on mortgage from Manchester Metropolis.

Throughout Dortmund’s victory over St. Pauli, Couto showcased his skills, demonstrating to Pep Guardiola and his workers that he may probably be a part of Metropolis’s personal rebuilding efforts, though Rico Lewis at the moment occupies the right-back place firmly. In that match, Couto created one important likelihood and made three interceptions to regain possession. He gained two tackles, made seven clearances, and gained the ball 5 instances within the defensive third.

CB: Jhon Lucumí (Bologna)

Bologna achieved their finest Serie A end in over a decade final season, securing ninth place, and there’s a sturdy chance they’ll enhance on that this yr. Presently, Bologna sits in sixth place, simply three factors away from the Champions League spots. Though they might not possess the strongest defence within the Italian league and conceded a aim of their victory over Cagliari, centre-back Jhon Lucumí delivered a powerful efficiency. He recorded one interception contained in the field, maintained an excellent ball retention charge of 94.17%, gained 80% of his floor duels, and regained possession six instances within the defensive third.

CB: Sead Kolasinac (Atalanta)

A well-recognized title for longtime Bundesliga and Premier League watchers, Sead Kolasinac is not the flying left-back he as soon as was. He now performs an integral position in Atalanta’s again three. Nevertheless, his trademark aggressive model stays intact, as he will get caught in throughout matches.

Of their goalless draw in opposition to Venezia, which retains Atalanta in third place, three factors behind leaders Inter Milan after 27 rounds, Kolasinac demonstrated his defensive abilities with no fewer than seven clearances and three tackles.

He additionally showcased his capabilities going ahead, making 9 passes into the ultimate third and creating one important likelihood. He gained possession eight instances within the center third, indicating that underneath Gian Piero Gasperini’s administration, he’s inspired to maneuver into midfield as usually as attainable.

LB: Aarón Martín (Genoa)

Genoa is having one other unremarkable season, at the moment sitting comfortably in mid-table. It appears unlikely that they are going to be relegated from Serie A, nor do they seem poised to safe a spot in European competitors for subsequent season. With just one win of their final 5 video games, their marketing campaign has been disappointing total.

Nevertheless, there are some brilliant spots, comparable to left-back Aarón Martín. He performed an important position of their 1-1 draw at dwelling in opposition to Empoli, as Patrick Vieira’s aspect got here again from a aim down. Martín not solely created the equaliser but in addition made two interceptions that helped regain possession. He additionally recorded 5 clearances and gained possession within the defensive third on six events.

CM: Nadiem Amiri (Mainz 05)

A fast look on the Bundesliga desk reveals a former Jurgen Klopp-led workforce within the Champions League spots: it’s not Borussia Dortmund, however relatively Mainz 05, placing Bo Henriksen in rivalry for Supervisor of the Season. A key participant contributing to this success is Nadiem Amiri, who has emerged as a commendable central midfielder.

Of their match in opposition to RB Leipzig, Amiri displayed his finest kind, scoring a aim in Mainz’s 2-1 victory and creating their different aim as nicely. His efficiency included three profitable passes into the penalty space, and he accomplished two take-ons from the midfield, demonstrating his capacity to transition from deep and join with Mainz’s attackers.

Moreover, Amiri accomplished ten passes into the ultimate third, made seven entries into the penalty space, and gained 9 duels. It was an entire midfield efficiency.

AM: Isco (Actual Betis)

Actual Madrid is going through a difficult second as they desperately search to defend their La Liga title. They couldn’t have confronted Actual Betis at a worse time, with Manuel Pellegrini’s workforce, together with on-loan Manchester United winger Antony, discovering their kind. Los Blancos initially took the lead at Estadio Benito Villamarín, however the match took a flip when Isco, who had a tumultuous time at Actual Madrid up to now, performed an important position in Betis’ comeback. He assisted Joao Cardoso for the equaliser and later scored the successful aim from the penalty spot. All through the match, Isco accomplished three profitable crosses, created six complete probabilities (one in every of which was categorized as a ‘massive likelihood’), and made 28 passes into the ultimate third.

AM: Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain)

For a membership that has usually confronted criticism for the assumption that spending is the one path to success, you will need to recognise that Paris Saint-Germain is one in every of Europe’s high golf equipment when it comes to expertise growth. A major instance is Désiré Doué, a promising participant in whom the French champions have invested considerably. At simply 19 years previous, Doué is impressing everybody underneath the brilliant lights of Paris, together with his efficiency in opposition to Lille highlighting his potential. In that match, he performed as one in every of PSG’s quantity 10s, scoring a aim and creating one other. Doué additionally showcased his dedication with eight ball recoveries and a profitable deal with.

RW: Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna)

A low-key candidate for this season’s Serie A MVP is Bologna winger Riccardo Orsolini. Nevertheless, his probabilities could also be hindered by the truth that he missed eight of the membership’s opening 27 matches, together with 5 resulting from a hamstring harm. Orsolini was practically unstoppable throughout a six-game stretch from October to November 2024, the place he scored 5 objectives and supplied two assists earlier than lacking a match resulting from harm. He returned to kind in Bologna’s 2-1 victory over Cagliari, scoring each objectives. He additionally achieved a 100% success charge for take-ons and crossed the ball precisely each time.

CF: Hugo Ekitiké (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Within the race for this season’s Bundesliga golden shoe, it’s Harry Kane’s to lose. He at the moment leads the scoring chart, with 5 gamers trailing between him and Hugo Ekitiké, though Omar Marmoush has now moved to Manchester Metropolis, which has seen Ekitiké tackle extra duty since leaving Frankfurt. Regardless of the added stress, he has proven no indicators of being overwhelmed. Ekitiké ended a two-game scoring drought throughout a 4-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen, marking his sixth aim in his final eight Bundesliga appearances. In that match, he proved his effectiveness by recording 9 touches within the opposition’s field and finishing three layoff passes, showcasing his capacity to contain his teammates within the sport.

LW: Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain)

Eyebrows have been raised when PSG head coach Luis Enrique said that the Ligue 1 champions would carry out higher with out Kylian Mbappé of their lineup after the French star lastly accomplished his long-protracted transfer to Actual Madrid final summer time. With their lead atop the French championship a seemingly insurmountable 15 factors, the Spanish tactician appears to be having the final chortle.

One cause for his optimism could stem from witnessing Ousmane Dembélé lastly start to satisfy his potential by taking cost of the assault. With out Mbappé round, Dembélé has turn into PSG’s primary man. Although accidents restricted his contributions in earlier seasons, the 27-year-old winger has solely missed two league matches this season, and a type of was as an unused substitute.

He performed 63 minutes in opposition to Lille, which was sufficient for him to make an affect, scoring a aim and offering an help. Dembélé additionally averaged 14.29 touches within the opposition field per 90 minutes, whereas finishing 8.57 crosses per 90 and 24.29 passes into the ultimate third per 90.