Reflecting on the European season of 2024/25, the weekend of March 1-2 was stuffed 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 comfy positions of their respective leagues. Vincent Kompany’s facet 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 pacesetter. 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 remaining coming from seven completely different golf equipment throughout Europe’s different main leagues.
We used our Squawka Rating to pick the eleven gamers primarily based on their statistical management in metrics related to their positions.
GK: Brice Samba (Rennes)
Rennes had a simple outing, securing a 4-0 victory towards Ligue 1’s backside facet, 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 through the winter switch window.
Previously of Nottingham Forest, Samba now leads the shutout rankings within the French prime division. Within the match towards Montpellier, he was compelled to make no fewer than 5 saves, all of which had been contained in the penalty field. He proved his price by attaining a objective prevention rating of 1.01.
RB: Yan Couto (Borussia Dortmund)
Borussia Dortmund’s marketing campaign has been fairly uncommon this season. They comfortably certified for the Champions League spherical of 16 whereas presently 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, a minimum of 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 abilities, demonstrating to Pep Guardiola and his employees that he may probably be a part of Metropolis’s personal rebuilding efforts, though Rico Lewis presently occupies the right-back place firmly. In that match, Couto created one vital likelihood and made three interceptions to regain possession. He received two tackles, made seven clearances, and received the ball 5 instances within the defensive third.
CB: Jhon Lucumí (Bologna)
Bologna achieved their greatest Serie A end in over a decade final season, securing ninth place, and there’s a sturdy chance they will enhance on that this yr. At present, Bologna sits in sixth place, simply three factors away from the Champions League spots. Though they could not possess the strongest defence within the Italian league and conceded a objective 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 fee of 94.17%, received 80% of his floor duels, and regained possession six instances within the defensive third.
CB: Sead Kolasinac (Atalanta)
A well-known identify for longtime Bundesliga and Premier League watchers, Sead Kolasinac is now 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 type stays intact, as he will get caught in throughout matches.
Of their goalless draw towards 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 vital likelihood. He received possession eight instances within the center third, indicating that beneath Gian Piero Gasperini’s administration, he’s inspired to maneuver into midfield as typically as doable.
LB: Aarón Martín (Genoa)
Genoa is having one other unremarkable season, presently 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 vibrant spots, equivalent to left-back Aarón Martín. He performed a vital position of their 1-1 draw at dwelling towards Empoli, as Patrick Vieira’s facet got here again from a objective down. Martín not solely created the equaliser but additionally made two interceptions that helped regain possession. He additionally recorded 5 clearances and received 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 fairly 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 towards RB Leipzig, Amiri displayed his greatest type, scoring a objective in Mainz’s 2-1 victory and creating their different objective as properly. His efficiency included three profitable passes into the penalty space, and he accomplished two take-ons from the midfield, demonstrating his means 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 received 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 type. 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 prior to now, performed a vital position in Betis’ comeback. He assisted Joao Cardoso for the equaliser and later scored the profitable objective from the penalty spot. All through the match, Isco accomplished three profitable crosses, created six complete probabilities (considered one of which was labeled as a ‘large likelihood’), and made 28 passes into the ultimate third.
AM: Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain)
For a membership that has typically confronted criticism for the assumption that spending is the one path to success, it is very important recognise that Paris Saint-Germain is considered one of Europe’s prime golf equipment when it comes to expertise improvement. A main instance is Désiré Doué, a promising participant in whom the French champions have invested considerably. At simply 19 years previous, Doué is impressing everybody beneath the brilliant lights of Paris, together with his efficiency towards Lille highlighting his potential. In that match, he performed as considered one of PSG’s quantity 10s, scoring a objective and creating one other. Doué additionally showcased his willpower 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 almost unstoppable throughout a six-game stretch from October to November 2024, the place he scored 5 objectives and offered two assists earlier than lacking a match resulting from harm. He returned to type in Bologna’s 2-1 victory over Cagliari, scoring each objectives. He additionally achieved a 100% success fee 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 presently 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 accountability 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 objective 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 means to contain his teammates within the recreation.
LW: Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain)
Eyebrows had 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 giggle.
One cause for his optimism might stem from witnessing Ousmane Dembélé lastly start to satisfy his potential by taking cost of the assault. With out Mbappé round, Dembélé has turn out to be PSG’s major 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 towards Lille, which was sufficient for him to make an influence, scoring a objective 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.
