Two Chelsea stars named in Europa League team of the round

With the Europa League whittled down from 32 teams to 16 yesterday, we run through the team of the round of players to have featured in both of their side’s fixtures in the tournament over the past ten days.

GK: Tomas Koubek (Rennes) - 7.43

Rennes elimination of Quique Setien’s Real Betis was one of the shocks of the round, especially having conceded three away goals in the first leg, but despite letting in four goals over their double header with the Spanish side, Koubek was crucial to their progression. The Czech Republic international produced 12 saves over two legs - the most of any keeper - to ensure the Ligue 1 outfit progressed to the round of 16.

RB: Vladimir Coufal (Slavia Prague) - 7.53

Full-back Coufal was a key outlet on the right for Slavia Prague as they overcame Genk, coming from behind to do so in emphatic fashion. It was the 26-year-old who cancelled out Leandro Trossard’s early strike in Belgian before the Czech outfit romped to a 4-1 win, with Coufal creating four chances over the two legs and making a further four interceptions.

CB: Simon Kjaer (Sevilla) - 7.84

Sevilla continued their love story with the Europa League with a convincing aggregate win over last season’s quarter-finalists Lazio. The 2015/16 champions were one of just three sides to keep two clean sheets in the round of 32, with Kjaer marshalling the defence superbly, producing five tackles and nine clearances over the two legs, as well as blocking four shots.

CB: Ludek Pernica (Viktoria Plzen) - 8.13

Making the cut by virtue of a match-winning performance in Plzen’s first leg victory over Dinamo Zagreb, Pernica’s double in a 2-1 win was not enough to see his side through to the next round. The 28-year-old won seven aerial duels in the double header against the Croatian champions, as well as making five interceptions and 12 clearances.

LB: Alfonso Pedraza (Villarreal) - 7.84

Having scored the all-important goal in Villarreal’s first leg win in Lisbon against Sporting, Pedraza’s strike was enough to ultimately see his side through to the round of 16 with a 2-1 aggregate victory. The Europa League is proving to be a relief from the Yellow Submarine’s struggles in La Liga, but the 22-year-old has been a positive all season and completed seven dribbles over the two legs against solid opposition.

RW: Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea) - 7.79

The only player to make the XI having made one of his appearances in the round of 32 as a substitute, Hudson-Odoi’s sparkling performance at Stamford Bridge on Thursday certainly warranted a place in the side. The 18-year-old completed the scoring in a 3-0 win, created three chances for his teammates and completed nine dribbles as he ran riot down the right.

CM: Ross Barkley (Chelsea) - 8.16

Joining his young teammate in the lineup is England international Barkley, who found the net in both legs as Chelsea knocked out Malmoe. The 25-year-old had seven shots across said meetings but also chipped in defensively, winning five aerial duels, two tackles and three interceptions.

CM: Tomas Soucek (Slavia Prague) - 8.15

23-year-old Soucek has enjoyed an impressive Europa League campaign to now and saved his best performances for the last round to ensure Slavia Prague eliminated Genk. The defensive midfielder made eight tackles and ten interceptions across the two matches, as well as winning nine aerial duels and creating four chances to really dominate the middle ground.

LW: Ivan Perisic (Inter) - 8.26

The Croatian international’s performances have come under scrutiny from a number of Inter fans this season but Perisic was on top form as Inter brushed aside Rapid Wien. The winger scored one - a sumptuous chip over the defender having rounded the keeper - and set up another in the home win over the Austrian outfit, completing eight dribbles over the two legs.

FW: Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb) - 8.41

Having started just once in the group stages 24-year-old Petkovic led the line for Dinamo Zagreb in both matches against Viktoria Plzen and ended the round with the highest WhoScored.com rating of any player to do so. The striker registered an assist in both matches and scored the goal that put the tie beyond Pavel Vrba’s side’s reach in the second leg, mustering five shots, five dribbles and winning 14 aerial duels across the two games.

FW: Milan Skoda (Slavia Prague) - 8.12

Like his strike partner here, Skoda started just one group game but got the nod as Slavia Prague saw off Genk. Having been frustrated in the first leg, failing to score with any of his six attempts, the veteran found the net with two of four in Belgium, winning 11 aerial duels over the two legs.