Rampant Liverpool dominate Europa League Team of the Round
After two thrilling weeks of Europe League round of 16 action, we take a look back at the standout performers across both legs. Included in our Team of the Round are players from Roma, Marseille, Liverpool, Benfica, Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham and Qarabag FK.
24-year-old Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar continues to impress with his performances since coming into the starting XI on a full-time basis, with the Belgian crucial in what was ultimately a dominant two-legged victory over Brighton. Svilar made a total of eight saves across both matches, keeping a clean sheet in the first leg and limiting Brighton to just the one goal at the AMEX on Thursday night.
Jonathan Clauss (Marseille) - 7.35
Only Marseille teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (11) has been directly involved in more goals than Jonathan Clauss (8) in the Europa League this season. The 31-year-old Frenchman contributed to OM’s 5-3 aggregate victory over Villarreal, with an assist in the first leg and a goal in the second. Over both matches, Clauss also made two tackles, six clearances and three key passes, while he found the net with his only shot on goal.
Jarell Quansah (Liverpool) - 7.17
21-year-old defender Jarell Quansah made his sixth start in the Europa League this season on Thursday evening, as Liverpool swept aside Sparta Prague, progressing to the quarter-finals with an 11-2 aggregate victory. Quansah may have had little to do across both matches, but he still won three aerial duels, made five tackles, five clearances and three successful dribbles to earn an overall WhoScored rating of 7.17.
Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica) - 7.14
Joining Quansah at the heart of the defence is former Manchester City man Nicolas Otamendi, who, in his late-thirties, is showing no signs of slowing. The Argentina international was crucial as Benfica claimed a 1-0 second-leg victory at Ibrox on Thursday, a narrow win that saw the visitors progress to the quarter-finals of the competition by three goals to two on aggregate. Across both legs, Otamendi made a total of four tackles, four interceptions, 12 clearances and five aerial wins.
Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen) - 7.44
Bayer Leverkusen’s Alex Grimaldo provided his 11th and 12th assists of the season across all competitions against Qarabag on Thursday evening. The home side, who had so far gone unbeaten for the entire campaign, found themselves 2-0 down with just 23 minutes to play, before Grimaldo set-up wing-back partner Jeremy Frimpong after 72 minutes. And then, like in the first leg, it was Patrik Schick who was on hand to save Leverkusen deep into stoppage time, with Grimaldo’s cross turned home by the Czech striker in the 92nd minute. In just 31 minutes, Grimaldo registered two assists, had two shots, completed one dribble and made four key passes.
Mohammed Kudus (West Ham) - 8.29
West Ham star Mohammed Kudus played a defining role in West Ham’s second leg turnaround against Freiburg at the London Stadium on Thursday. The Ghana international found the net twice in a 5-0 thrashing for the Hammers, with his first strike particularly impressive. Across both legs, Kudus made a total of five tackles, three interceptions, four key passes and three dribbles to land an overall WhoScored rating of 8.29.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) - 7.94
Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai scored home and away for Jurgen Klopp’s side as they progressed past Sparta Prague with total ease. The Hungary international also provided the assist for Darwin Nunez’s opener in the second leg, that coming from one of three key passes made across both matches.
Harvey Elliott (Liverpool) - 7.75
The next Liverpool player to take their place in our XI is midfielder Harvey Elliott, who registered a hugely impressive three assists in the first leg in Prague, before coming on as a substitute in the return leg, to provide the assist for Cody Gakpo’s second goal of the night. Across both matches, Elliott made a total of seven key passes and two successful dribbles.
Cody Gakpo earns a place in our Team of the Round, having starred in Liverpool’s 6-1 second-leg victory over Sparta Prague on Thursday evening. The Netherlands international netted his second brace in the Europa League this season at Anfield, while he was a threat in the first leg too. Across both matches, Gakpo fired off a total of nine shots, while he also made three key passes and four successful dribbles.
Darwin Nunez (Liverpool) - 8.42
The fifth and final Liverpool representative in our best XI is, of course, Darwin Nunez, who scored in both legs as the Reds cruised through to the quarter-finals. Nunez netted a fabulous brace in Prague, before opening the scoring at Anfield on Thursday after just seven minutes. Over both matches, Nunez fired off a total of nine shots on goal, while he also made one key pass and completed one dribble.
Brazilian striker Juninho could hardly have done more to help Qarabag into the quarter-finals of the Europa League, and despite scoring in both legs against Bayer Leverkusen, the Azerbaijani side ultimately fell victim to yet another late comeback from Xabi Alonso’s men. To go with his goals - both home and away - Juninho also provided the assist for Yassine Benzia’s opener in the first leg, while across both games, he made a total of three key passes and three successful dribbles to return an overall WhoScored rating of 7.84.
