Europa League's all-time top scorer Aubameyang makes Quarter-Final Best XI
With the Europa League’s quarter-finals now done and dusted, we’ve taken a look at the round’s standout performers. Included in our best XI are players from Atalanta, Benfica, Roma, Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen and West Ham.
Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso’s strong first-leg performance at Anfield last week played a huge part in the Italian side getting the better of Liverpool in the quarter-finals. The Argentine made five saves as La Dea claimed a remarkable 3-0 victory to all but seal qualification a week early.
Alexander Bah (Benfica) - 7.36
Benfica may have ultimately come up short on penalties in Marseille on Thursday, but Danish defender Alexander Bah earns a place in our Team of the Round following two strong performances against the French side. Across both legs, the 26-year-old made six tackles, four interceptions, seven clearances and 11 aerial wins to land a WhoScored rating of 7.36.
Gianluca Mancini (Roma) - 7.78
Roma centre-back Gianluca Mancini scored both home and away against AC Milan to help the Italian side to a European semi-final for the fourth successive season. The 28-year-old also made two tackles, four interceptions and nine clearances across both legs to help himself to a WhoScored rating of 7.78.
Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille) - 8.24
Joining Mancini at the heart of our backline is Argentine defender Leonardo Balerdi, who turned in two fine performances as Marseille progressed past Benfica in the quarter-finals. Over both games, the 25-year-old won eight aerial duels, made nine tackles, six interceptions and 12 clearances to register a WhoScored rating of 8.24 and earn the Player of the Round award.
Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen) - 7.11
Bayer Leverkusen’s star wing-back Alex Grimaldo continued his strong form this season with two solid displays against West Ham in their quarter-final tie. Across both legs, the Spain international made four tackles, four key passes and two successful dribbles to earn a WhoScored rating of 7.11.
Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma) - 7.39
Though he may not have been involved in any of Roma’s goals against AC Milan, 31-year-old winger Stephan El Shaarawy posed a threat throughout the tie, as he made four key passes and three successful dribbles, while also firing off two shots on goal, to return a 7.39 WhoScored rating.
Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen) - 7.42
Argentine midfielder Exequiel Palacios joins teammate Grimaldo in our best XI after two assured performances against West Ham. Over both legs, the newly-crowned Bundesliga champion made seven tackles, seven key passes and two successful dribbles to earn a WhoScored rating of 7.42.
Mohammed Kudus (West Ham) - 7.62
West Ham star Mohammed Kudus was ultimately unable to help his side across the line over two legs against Bayer Leverkusen, but not for want of trying. The Ghanaian attacker managed three shots on goal, three key passes and seven successful dribbles throughout the tie to post a WhoScored rating of 7.62.
Roma forward Paulo Dybala helped his side into the final four of the Europa League with a goal involvement in each of their quarter-final clashes with AC Milan. The 30-year-old provided the assist for Gianluca Mancini’s winner at San Siro last week, before finding the net himself at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday evening. Dybala also managed four shots on goal and three key passes across the tie on his way to a WhoScored rating of 7.54.
Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta) - 7.55
Former West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca all but sealed Atalanta’s place in the semi-finals with a well-taken brace at Anfield last week. The 25-year-old mustered five shots across the tie, along with one key pass and two successful dribbles for a WhoScored rating of 7.55.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Marseille) - 7.52
Rounding off our best XI is the Europa League’s all-time top goalscorer, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was involved in a goal in both of Marseille’s quarter-final clashes with Benfica. The ex-Arsenal striker kept the tie alive in Portugal last week as he pulled one back to halve the two-goal deficit, before providing the assist for Faris Moumbagna’s crucial leveller at the Stade Velodrome on Thursday.
