Bayern trio approach Liverpool game on high among Europe's player form rankings

For the third week running there is no change in the top two of Europe’s player form rankings across the top five leagues, though Lionel Messi has extended his lead at the top.

The Barcelona star registered a goal and assist in a 3-1 win over Rayo Vallecano, while completing six dribbles and creating three chances. Teji Savanier, meanwhile, clings onto second spot by the finest of margins despite his rating falling slightly this week. That said, the Nimes midfielder still chipped in with six tackles and four interceptions, along with three shots and three dribbles in a typically busy display.

Elsewhere there are two new qualifiers to the top 20, with James Rodriguez (11th) and Wissam Ben Yedder (19th) now eligible having started six of the last eight league games available. The latter scored a hat-trick as Sevilla stopped to rot in La Liga with a 5-2 win over Real Sociedad, earning a perfect ten rating in the process.

RISES

The most notable climber this week is Robert Lewandowski who, with a brace against favourite opponent Wolfsburg, is up from 16th into third. The Poland international has now scored twice in back-to-back matches to take up his customary spot atop the Bundesliga scoring charts.

Raheem Sterling has made an even bigger leap, however, jumping from 36th to fifth after a hat-trick against Watford, just behind non-mover Virgil van Dijk (fourth). Filip Kostic is now sixth (from 12th) having registered a seventh assist of the season to back up goals in consecutive games for Frankfurt, and the remainder of the top ten are all Bundesliga players too.

Julian Brandt is also on the rise, from tenth to seventh, having now registered six assists in his last six league games with two as Bayer Leverkusen won at Hannover. So too is Thiago Alcantara, who just missed out on the top 20 last week but is up to ninth this time around following Bayern’s crushing 6-0 victory.

Elsewhere Nicolas Pepe (12th), Mario Gotze (16th) and Eden Hazard (20th) all gain a place on the leaderboard this week, along with Getafe forward Jaime Mata (14th). The Spaniard scored twice in a 2-1 win over Huesca and has now found the net in his last five league games, registering a further two assists in that. All in all without his goal contributions since the start of February the unlikely Champions League chasers would be 13 points worse off.

FALLS

Nabil Fekir has taken the biggest tumble this week having occupied a spot on the podium in third last time around, only to be rested from kick-off this weekend. The Frenchman did make a cameo appearance, however, meaning he still qualifies but is now down in 15th.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Kevin Volland (eighth) and RB Leipzig’s Marcel Halstenberg (tenth) both slide slightly down the top ten from last week despite solid performances, while Salvatore Sirigu drops to 18th. The Torino keeper’s six-game clean sheet streak came to an end against Frosinone, although he did make three saves as his side came from behind to win and maintain a European push.

QUALIFYING RULES
 
Only ratings taken from each player’s last six league matches are considered, weighted chronologically, with the most recent match carrying greater importance and so on. To qualify each player must have featured in their side’s last league game and started at least six of the last eight available.