Chelsea-bound Pulisic dazzles in U21 XI from Europe’s top five leagues
Here we run through the best rated XI from the weekend’s action in Europe’s top five leagues, comprising of players aged 21 and under, with additional information about their Football INDEX share prices.
Goalkeeper: Bartlomiej Dragowski (Empoli) – 9.46 rating
Football INDEX share price - £0.27
Empoli youngster Bartlomiej Dragowski is now responsible for the top two WhoScored ratings of goalkeepers in a Serie A match after another eye-catching display between the sticks for Empoli at the weekend. Dragowski made 10 saves in a remarkable 1-0 victory at home to Fiorentina and now Empoli are only two points adrift of safety with three games to go.
Left-back: Rogerio (Sassuolo) – 7.51 rating
Football INDEX share price - £0.45
Rogerio makes his first appearance in a best rated U21 XI this season after playing an important role in Sassuolo’s 2-2 draw with Frosinone on Sunday. The 21-year-old full-back kickstarted Sassuolo’s comeback with the assist for their first goal. It marked Rogerio’s first assist in a Serie A game since September and helped the Brazilian finish as the WhoScored Man of the Match.
Centre-back: Weston McKennie (Schalke) – 7.58 rating
Football INDEX share price - £0.56
Highly rated USA international Weston McKennie has been asked to play in a number of positions for Schalke this season and on Sunday he was asked to play centre-back for the first time. The 20-year-old impressive returned a WhoScored Man of the Match display in a 0-0 draw with Augsburg, helped by winning three aerial duels, making four clearances and completing five tackles and interceptions combined. The youngster also completed 90.8% of his passes.
Centre-back: Boubacar Kamara (Marseille) – 8.25 rating
Football INDEX share price – £0.63
Boubacar Kamara turned in a star man display in Marseille’s 1-1 draw away to Strasbourg on Friday night – his second of 2019. The 19-year-old weighed in with nine tackles and interceptions combined, including seven tackles – a personal best in a Ligue 1 game this season. Kamara also made five clearances and won two aerial duels, while also earning five fouls and completing two dribbles.
Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) – 8.20 rating
Football INDEX share price - £2.18
Trent Alexander-Arnold registered two assists in Liverpool’s 3-2 win over Newcastle, which earned the Reds three points to take the Premier League title race to the wire. Without his contribution, Manchester City would have been crowned Premier League champions on Monday. No defender has provided more assists than Alexander-Arnold in Europe’s top five leagues this season (11).
Central midfield: Oscar Rodriguez (Leganes) – 8.31 rating
Football INDEX share price – £0.48
On loan Real Madrid midfielder Oscar Rodriguez netted in Leganes’ shock 3-0 win away to Sevilla at the weekend to take his tally for the campaign to four. The 20-year-old had three shots in total against Sevilla, as many as his previous three league games combined, and also completed three dribbles and provided two key passes. Rodriguez also made three tackles, in no league game has he managed more this season.
Central midfield: Ismael Bennacer (Empoli) – 7.87 rating
Football INDEX share price - £0.71
Empoli goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski was the standout performer in their 1-0 win over Fiorentina but Ismael Bennacer turned in another eye-catching display on pitch. The 21-year-old dons the No.10 jersey for the Serie A strugglers but there was nothing creative about this latest display, instead shielding his back four admirably. Bennacer made seven tackles and interceptions combined, as Empoli boosted their chances of survival.
Central midfield: Jeff Reine-Adelaide (Angers) – 7.85 rating
Football INDEX share price - £0.50
Jeff Reine-Adelaide’s strong finish to the season may put potential suitors on red alert this summer. The former Arsenal graduate earned his second WhoScored Man of the Match award in his last five appearances at the weekend, this time in a 1-0 win away to Bordeaux. Reine-Adelaide completed six dribbles for the second game in a row and won two fouls against Bordeaux. The 21-year-old also completed three interceptions – a personal record in a Ligue 1 match this season.
Left wing: Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund) – 8.41 rating
Football INDEX share price - £1.84
Christian Pulisic has been forced for a bit-part campaign for Borussia Dortmund this summer but the 20-year-old at least provided Chelsea with a glimpse of what is to come when he moves to Stamford Bridge in the summer at the weekend. The 20-year-old scored a wonderful solo goal in a 2-2 draw with Werder Bremen on Saturday, while firing off another five shots. The USA international also won four aerial duels, as many as his previous seven appearances combined. Pulisic typically finished the match with five dribbles completed and five fouls won.
Striker: Youssef En-Nesyri (Leganes) – 8.43 rating
Football INDEX share price - £0.55
Youssef En-Nesyri ended a nine-game run without a goal in La Liga to help Leganes beat Sevilla 3-0 at the weekend. The 21-year-old mustered three attempts on goal, won six aerial duels and won four fouls. Leganes will hope for another improved display in their last two games of the season.
Right-wing: Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen) – 8.39 rating
Football INDEX share price - £2.91
Kai Havertz got in on the act in Bayer Leverkusen’s thumping 6-1 win over top four rivals Frankfurt on Sunday, netting his 15th league goal of the campaign. The 19-year-old will surely have a long list of suitors at the end of the season after what has been a staggering campaign for the teenager. Havertz had four shots for the third league game in a row and also completed two dribbles.
