Three perfect 10s make first European best XI of the season
Goalkeeper: Steve Mandanda (Marseille) - 8.44 rating
Marseille have endured a disappointing start to the season having fallen to a 2-0 home loss to Reims on the opening weekend of the campaign. It would have been two defeats from two had Steve Mandanda not impressed between the sticks in their 0-0 draw at Nantes. The experienced Frenchman made six saves to keep the home side at bay and return a WhoScored rating of 8.44.
Right-back: Fabien Centonze (Metz) - 8.28 rating
Metz secured a fine 3-0 win over Monaco on Saturday with young full-back Fabien Centonze putting in a solid shift in defence. While the 23-year-old didn’t have a direct hand in a goal, he pressed forward well, completing three dribbles, mustering one shot and creating one goalscoring chance. He was defensively sound, too, as he made five tackles and four interceptions to help land a WhoScored rating of 8.28.
Centre-back: Martin Hinteregger (Eintracht Frankfurt) - 8.33 rating
Eintracht Frankfurt secured a 1-0 win over Hoffenheim on Sunday courtesy of an early Martin Hinteregger goal. The centre-back netted in the opening minute and was vital at the back as the home side eked out a narrow victory. The defender’s goal came from one of two shots, while Hinteregger shone at the back as he made six tackles and one clearance to gain a WhoScored rating of 8.33.
Centre-back: Nordi Mukiele (RB Leipzig) - 8.21 rating
Partnering Hinteregger in defence, Nordi Mukiele secured a WhoScored rating of 8.21 in RB Leipzig’s 4-0 thumping of Union Berlin in Sunday’s second Bundesliga match. The Frenchman won two aerial duels in the resounding win and found a teammate with 87.2% of his 94 attempted passes. Six clearances, five interceptions and two tackles capped a fine performance from Mukiele to make this XI.
Left-back: Sergio Reguilon (Sevilla) - 8.62 rating
The sole LaLiga representative in the best XI across Europe’s top five leagues, Sevilla made a winning start to life under Julen Lepetegui as they secured a 2-0 win at Espanyol. On-loan full-back Sergio Reguilon enjoyed a stunning debut as he landed a WhoScored rating of 8.62 having scored one and assisted another from respective returns of five shots and one key pass. Three successful dribbles and one interception capped a superb showing from the 22-year-old.
Right midfield: Marcel Sabitzer (RB Leipzig) - 10.0 rating
The first of three perfect 10s in the European best XI, Marcel Sabitzer enjoyed a fine first start of the season. The winger had a direct hand in all four goals in RB Leipzig’s 4-0 win at Union Berlin, mustering three assists and scoring once, with the former return matching his assist total from last season. Sabitzer’s hat-trick of assists came from six key passes and his goal from two shots, while one dribble, one tackle and one interception meant the 25-year-old was good value for his perfect rating.
Central midfield: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 8.56 rating
Manchester City absolutely battered Tottenham on Saturday, mustering 30 shots to Spurs’ three, and the defending Premier League champions felt they’d won the evening encounter in the dying embers when Gabriel Jesus struck in injury time. However, for the second time in as many weeks, the Brazilian saw a goal chalked off by VAR. Regardless of the 2-2 draw, Kevin De Bruyne pulled the strings from midfield again as he provided assists for Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero from nine key passes in the draw to help land a WhoScored rating of 8.56.
Central Midfield: Houssem Aouar (Lyon) - 10.0 rating
The second player to land a perfect 10 WhoScored rating, Lyon smashed Angers for six on Friday night, with youngster Houssem Aouar pulling the strings in their home 6-0 win. The 21-year-old scored one and assisted two in the resounding victory, those coming from respective returns of one shot and three key passes. Four successful dribbles, three tackles and one interception contributed to what was an exceptional midfield display from the 21-year-old.
Left midfield: Memphis Depay (Lyon) - 9.91 rating
The second Lyon player to make the grade this week is attacker Memphis Depay, who came away from the triumph over Angers with a WhoScored rating of 9.91. The Dutchman bagged his second and third league goals of the season in the victory and popped up with a fine assist for Jean Lucas’ goal in the latter stages of their victory. Three shots, two key passes and two successful dribbles rounded off a fine performance from Depay.
Striker: Paco Alcacer (Borussia Dortmund) - 9.42 rating
Borussia Dortmund outlined their intentions for the campaign with a solid 5-1 win over Augsburg on Saturday. Having been pipped to the title by rivals Bayern Munich, BVB are hoping to go one better this term and their opening weekend victory will boost morale. Paco Alcacer notched his 19th and 20th Bundesliga goals of his career with his brace coming from three shots, while his first assist in German top-flight football was for Marco Reus’ first goal of the campaign as Alcacer returned a WhoScored rating of 9.42.
Striker: Teemu Pukki (Norwich) - 10.0 rating
Saving one of the best until last, all four of Norwich’s goals this season have been scored by Teemu Pukki, who rattled in a hat-trick as the Canaries downed Newcastle on Saturday. The Finn mustered seven shots in the 3-1 win over the Magpies, six of which were on target, and returned a 100% pass success rate as he secured the first perfect WhoScored 10 rating of the 2019/20 Premier League campaign.
