Chelsea quartet make the grade in Europa League best XI
We run through the Europa League team of the week as Chelsea dominate…
Goalkeeper: Alex Meret (Napoli) - 8.11 rating
Napoli romped to a comfortable 3-0 win over last season’s Europa League semi-finalists Salzburg on Thursday as goals from Arkadiusz Milik, Fabian Ruiz and a Jerome Onguene own goal handed the Serie A side a healthy first leg advantage. On the back of his disastrous performance in Napoli’s 2-1 loss to Juventus, Alex Meret made amends with a solid display on home turf as his six saves and one cross claim helped him to a clean sheet and a WhoScored rating of 8.11.
Right-back: Mehdi Zeffane (Rennes) - 7.00 rating
The first of two Rennes players to make the cut after their routine 3-1 win over Arsenal, Mehdi Zeffane didn’t stand out per se, but did enough to return a solid WhoScored rating of 7.00. His four tackles and two interceptions limited Arsenal to just one goal, while one successful dribble helped him secure his spot in this XI.
Centre-back: Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli) - 7.64 rating
The second of three Napoli players in this XI, Kalidou Koulibaly was imperious at the heart of the backline as his defensive solidity ensured a routine win for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Indeed, the Senegalese defender was on hand to make three clearances, two tackles and one interception, all the while winning three aerial duels, with Koulibaly dominant with both the ball on the ground as it was in the air.
Centre-back: David Luiz (Chelsea) - 7.64 rating
The first Chelsea player in this XI is Brazilian centre-back David Luiz, who like Koulibaly, also landed a WhoScored rating of 7.64 from Thursday’s action. The Blues also secured a routine 3-0 win this week as they brushed Dynamo Kyiv aside with ease, with Luiz returning a pass success rate of 93.3% from 89 attempted passes while two tackles, two clearances and two key passes contributed to such a commendable return.
Left-back: Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) - 7.61 rating
Wrapping up the defence is Chelsea’s own Marcos Alonso, who too was solid for the Blues. He managed a pass success rate of 96.5% from 57 attempted passes, while two successful dribbles, three tackles and one interception rounded off a commendable evening from the Spaniard at Stamford Bridge.
Right midfield: Pedro (Chelsea) - 8.22 rating
Setting Chelsea on their path to victory in a man of the match display was Pedro, who landed his second star man award from his last three appearances. The Spaniard hit the back of the net with one of his five shots in Thursday’s win and additional returns of two successful dribbles and one key pass saw Pedro land a WhoScored rating of 8.22.
Central midfield: Fabian Ruiz (Napoli) - 8.44 rating
Rounding off the Napoli contingent is youngster Fabian Ruiz, who chipped in with a man of the match display against Salzburg. The 22-year-old bagged his first Europa League goal of the season in the victory while four successful dribbles and two tackles was enough to help Ruiz return a WhoScored rating of 8.44.
Central midfield: Miroslav Stoch (Slavia Prague) - 7.88 rating
Partnering Ruiz in the middle of the park is Slavia Prague’s Miroslav Stoch, who had a direct hand in their two goals in a 2-2 draw with Sevilla in Spain. The 29-year-old returned the man of the match award with a 7.88 rating as he scored from one of his two shots and provided one assist from his two key passes.
Left midfield: Willian (Chelsea) - 7.96 rating
The fourth and final Chelsea player to make the cut, Willian enjoys scoring free-kicks against Dynamo Kyiv as he scored a sumptuous set-piece at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night. The Brazilian’s goal came from his only shot in the 3-0 win, while two key passes saw him gain a WhoScored rating of 7.96.
Striker: Hatem Ben Arfa (Rennes) - 8.85 rating
Our Europa League player of the week, and the second Rennes representative in this XI, is Hatem Ben Arfa. The Frenchman may have failed to have a direct hand in a goal in their 3-1 win over Arsenal, but Ben Arfa proved a point against former boss Unai Emery on Thursday as he completed nine dribbles and made three key passes to return a WhoScored rating of 8.85 against the Gunners.
Striker: Rodrigo Moreno (Valencia) - 8.58 rating
Rounding off this XI is Valencia striker Rodrigo Moreno after his man of the match display in their 2-1 win over FC Krasnodar. The Spaniard bagged a decisive brace in the victory as he hit the back of the net with each of his two shots. A 95% pass success rate, one key pass and two aerial duels won saw Rodrigo land a WhoScored rating of 8.58, the second highest in the Europa League this week.
